21.   Declining prices for long-distance calls largely reflect the decline in regulated fees collected by regional phone companies to provide access to local phone networks.

22.   DSL provides a high-speed connection to the Internet over regular telephone lines, which the regional phone companies control.

23.   Ecuadorean lawmakers are considering a proposal to allow potential bidders to acquire both regional phone companies.

24.   Even if Microsoft does not become a network carrier, they present a potentially formidable foe to regional phone companies.

25.   Fidelity last year bought a building from Digital Equipment Corp. in Merrimack to house a regional phone center.

26.   For at least five years, BellSouth has joined other regional phone companies in trimming workforces.

27.   Further, Internet service providers, known as ISPs, are exempt from a substantial access charge to regional phone companies that long-distance companies pay.

28.   Gingrich plans to push the telecommunications bill through the House this session but with less regulation of regional phone companies and less money to fund experimental technology projects.

29.   He said he expects that early next year regional phone companies will start filing state-by-state petitions with the FCC to enter the long-distance business.

30.   ICG officials said the addition of Netcom will let it compete better against regional phone carriers such as Pacific Bell, which offer both voice communications and Internet access.