31.   One of the most explosive battles is over a seemingly obscure question about the access fees that local telephone companies charge long-distance carriers for connections to individual customers.

32.   Profits from access fees evaporated as the company offered customers low monthly flat rates.

33.   So the FCC, wanting to expand the Internet, reaffirmed earlier this year that Internet companies receive a special exemption from long-distance access fees.

34.   Such charges, called access fees, would force the providers to increase rates that consumers pay to surf the World Wide Web.

35.   The Commerce Committee is weighing whether to extend a three year moratorium on instituting new Internet access fees.

36.   The commission also said that Nynex must reduce the access fees it charges long-distance carriers for switching calls from their networks to its local customers.

37.   The commission also cut access fees that long-distance carriers pay to local phone companies for completing calls.

38.   The commission could fashion a better plan by shortening its term and further reducing residential rates and access fees.

39.   The fight over access fees is being played out at the Federal Communications Commission, which is working to change the existing access-fee rules.

40.   The deal will give Yahoo monthly user access fees and the opportunity to sell more subscriptions for services such as multiplayer video games.