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Reports that SBC Communications Inc. sued the United States government on July 2, 1997, seeking to overturn a large portion of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Reason SBC filed the suit; The suit as the first time a company has attacked the law itself; Possible impact of the suit on the telecommunications industry.

Reports that the US Department of Justice recommended on June 25, 1997 that the Ameritech Corporation be barred from offering long-distance service in Michigan. When the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will make its final decision concerning Ameritech; The Department of Justice alleging that Ameritech failed to adequately open its existing local market; Details surrounding the recommendation.

Focuses on developments in the United States telecommunications industry. Microsoft Corp. to acquire an 11.5 percent stake in the Comcast Corp.; Implications of the acquisition; Background of he deal; Technological developments and key deals in the industry from 1993-1997. INSET: Paradigm surfing.; The transition years..

Discusses a premature disclosure of merger talks between the AT&T Corporation and SBC Communications Inc. Lawyer, lawmakers and lobbyists who were almost unanimous in predicitng that such a deal would never pass regulatory muster; Reaction of analysts to the plans; Lawyers at AT&T who maintain that they can make a legal case for the merger.

Reports that the AT&T Corporation is discussing a merger with SBC Communications Inc. The deal, if completed, to be the largest corporate merger in history; Value of the deal; Number of customers the new company would have; Time frame for an agreement; Fears that the size of the merger could create difficulties in obtaining United States government approval; Financial figures on the companies; Types of business they handle.

Considers a report compiled by the Yankee Group which states that fewer than half of one percent of Americans receive their residential telephone service from a competitor to the monopoly provider. The reluctance of such likely local monopoly rivals as AT&T and MCI to enter the residential market; How the report reflects on the Telecommunications Act of 1996; Whether long-distance carriers will use the report to delay the Bell companies from entering the long-distance market.

Reports that on June 26, 1998, during a series of meetings with Chinese officials in Beijing, China, United States (US) Secretary of the Treasury, Robert E. Rubin was assured that China would not devalue the US currency. Focus of the talks; Reference to plans by American President Bill Clinton, who is on a state visit to China, meeting with President Jiang Zemin on June 27, 1998; Details on China's economic crisis, which was caused by a decline in the Japanese yen.

Details about possibility of a merger deal between Time Warner Inc. and Turner Broadcasting Company (TBC). Analysis by media experts on the proposed accord; Status of TBC shares in the market; Brief account of other media mergers in the US.

Informs about the bid made by Time Warner Inc. to acquire Turner Broadcasting System Inc., the cable television created by Ted Turner. Turner yet to decide; Prospective impact of the deal, if it materializes; Note on other mergers of the tele-communication industry.

Focuses on the possibility of a rise in the monthly rates of the cable networks, as a result of the deregulation of the cable rates in the House's communication bill.

Discusses the threat posed to localism by concentration of media ownership in the light of recent acquisitions of networks by large organizations. Consequences of the Senate's communications bill passed by legislators on telecommunication networks; Issue of station ownership and dealings of Disney, Westinghouse and Capital Cities/ABC; Likely impact of media concentration on viewers.

Informs about the approval of a bill by the House of Representatives on August 4, 1995, that would rewrite rules for phones and television. Details of the bill; Debate over some provisions of the bill; Views of the analysts on the bill. INSETS: Changes the public would feel.;The V chip: Regulating violence on broadcasts..

Questions the bill to deregulate the communications industry in the light of takeover of ABC and CBS by Walt Disney Company and Westinghouse Electric Corporation respectively. Provisions of the bill; Focus on US President Bill Clinton's stand on the bill. INSET: Debating points..

Discusses the response of the cable industry on the Senate's vote to lift regulations on rates for basic programming services. Views of the consumer advocates; Information on the situation prior to the bill passed by the Senate; Impact of the Senate's vote.

Reports the initiative of cable firms to provide on-line computer services to its consumers. Meeting on the issue; Firms taking the initiative; Advantages enjoyed by cable firms in the field; Note on data transmission benefits. INSET: Bandwidth battle..

Informs about the proposal of the California Public Utilities Commission to open the state's local telephone market to competition and the voting over the same which occurred on April 26, 1995. Impact of this on Pacific Bell, a unit of Pacific Telesis; Comments of Lee Bauman, vice president in charge of competition issues at Pacific Bell.

Reports on the move of several telephone companies in the direction of acquiring wireless technology before their fiber optic telephone network is ready. Acquisition by the Pacific Telesis Group, of Cross Country Wireless Inc., which holds the right to beam cable programs applying microwave signals; Similar move by other companies; Their comments on the move. INSET: Three ways to distribute `wireless cable.'..

Focuses on the Federal Communications Commission's (F.C.C.) efforts to resolve a standoff over how to refinance the debts of a group of troubled companies that are seeking to offer a type of cellular service. Likelihood that chairman of the F.C.C. Reed E. Hundt will support a plan that would include proposals backed by the commission's other members; Names of the members; Detailed information on the plan; Debate over the issue.

Presents information on Shant S. Hovnanian's Cellularvision company introduction of its wireless technology services to New York City. Background information on the company; Details on the services; Information on other companies in the industry; Reasons for the company's advantage over competitors.

Reports that plans by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deregulate the telephone industry could affect businesses. Terms of the plan; Comments from Reed E. Hundt, chairman of the FCC, and Brian Moir, representative of the International Communications Association; Reasons for the deregulation plan.

Comments on the impact of a ruling by the United States Supreme Court that cable operators must carry broadcast stations on their systems. Reaction of cable broadcasters systems and television broadcasters to this ruling; What this means for cable operators; Information on Rupert Murdoch and his company, News Corporation; How the ruling helps independent stations.

Reports that communication systems in the United States are going from wired to wireless technology. Details on the war between wired and wireless communication technology; Wireless technology that is being implemented by telecommunication companies.

Announces the resignation of AT&T Corporation's chief financial officer and architect of the company's three-way split, Richard W. Miller on February 3, 1997. Previous position held by Miller; Reason cited by Miller for his resignation; Reference to a number of executive departures at AT&T.

Focuses on the sound recording industry in the United States, with emphasis on the four top 10 best selling albums which included soundtracks of `Evita,' `William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliette,' `Space Jam,' and `The Preacher's Wife.' Amount of copies sold; Effect of the popularity of the albums on the ticket sales; Comments made by Karen Crowe, the vice president of soundtracks at Arista Records; Reference made to other popular music recordings.

Presents information on the telecommunication industry in the United States. Why phone companies will pursue mergers or takeovers; Comments from Pierce J. Roberts Jr., an investment banker at Bear, Stern and Company; Reference to the Telecommunication Act of 1996; Mergers which took place in 1996.

Reports that no decision has been reached in the agreement on a uniform standard for digital television in the United States. Groups involved in negotiations; Views of Federal Communications Commission; Benefits of digital television.

Informs that competition is about to sweep into the local telephone business in the United States in 1996, a fact which is causing fights among the Bell companies and their rivals. Battles among local phone companies, long-distance carriers, cable-television operators and alternative local phone companies; Controversy over service demands by the AT&T Corp.; Answers to various consumer questions about choosing local phone service.

Informs that James H. Quello of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decided to oppose proposed rules relating to children's educational programming. The rules' requirement that broadcasters run three hours of such programming each week; Quello's previous support for the three-hour standard, with the stipulation that broadcasters were given some leeway; Actions by FCC Chairman Reed E. Hundt, which caused Quello's decision.

Relates that Liberty Cable, a cable-television company, plans to offer residential telephone service in New York City. Challenge to the Nynex Corp.; Liberty's plan to use the brand name of RCN Corp., its parent company; Additional plans to offer expanded cable service and high-speed access to the Internet; RCN's plans to offer cable and telephone service in Boston and other Northeastern cities later on.

Relates the continuing legislative battle in the United States over high-definition television (HDTV), despite the fiat from the US Congress. Top Congressional leaders' demand to Reed E. Hundt, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to turn over more digital channels to existing broadcasters; Hundt's forestalling of the Congress; Likelihood that broadcasters will get a second channel; Questions about how this will happen.

Discusses the announced merger between radio broadcasters Westinghouse Electric and Infinity Broadcasting, and raises concerns about monopoly. The control which the merged company would have over advertising revenue and programming in the United States' largest radio markets; Focus on what Westinghouse would control in New York City alone; The United States government's deregulation of radio-station ownership, which allowed the deal.

Reports that John C. Malone, head of cable company Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI), is keeping a low profile regarding the planned merger of Time Warner Inc. and Turner Broadcasting System Inc. The US Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) threat to block the merger; TCI's 23-percent stake in Turner; Rumors regarding Malone's silence about the deal.

Informs that the staff of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has threatened to try to block the merger between Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting System. Fears that the deal would concentrate too much power over cable programming and distribution; The two sets of unpredictable negotiations which the government's plan could set off.

Reports on a speech by United States Vice President Al Gore, regarding competition between the cable industry and the regional Bell telephone companies. Gore's about-face on telecommunication, from opponent to supporter of the cable industry; Reasons for this switch.

Informs that Bell Atlantic and Nynex are getting static from Wall Street after announcing their plans to merge. Slip of their shares on the New York Stock Exchange; Reasons for this, including shareholders' disappointment that Nynex had accepted a low valuation for its shares.

Tells that the Bell Atlantic Corp. and the Nynex Corp. have agreed to merge, ending a prolonged and public courtship. One of the largest corporate mergers in United States history; The merger to create the nation's largest local-telephone company; Statistics on each company; The union's opposition to the deal. INSET: Culture clash in the making? (the companies' top executives).

Reports that Bell Atlantic and Nynex may soon conclude their merger negotiations. Why the deal might be difficult for the Bell companies to sell to investors, regulators and their own employees; The plan of the Communications Workers of America labor union to campaign against a merger; The terms which are under discussion.

Looks at issues raised by deal-making among the regional Bell telephone companies. Planned merger between SBC Communications and the Pacific Telesis Group, which some consider a blow to competition; Other deals which have been set off since Congress passing sweeping telecommunications legislation in 1996.

Reports that SBC Communications has announced that it would acquire the Pacific Telesis Group for $17 billion. The first merger of two regional Bell telephone companies; One of the largest corporate mergers ever; Size of the combined company and its potential market; Significance of the merger in light of the United States' rewritten telecommunications law; Map showing the territories of the regional Bell operating companies.

Reports that Discovery Zone has filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code. The company as the United States' largest operator of children's indoor-recreation centers; Discovery Zone's financial mess.

Ponders what the V-chip and a ratings system will mean for television programming in the United States. Use of these means to protect children from violence and sexual content; View of many producers and writers that the ratings will be ruinous, partly because few parents agree on what is suitable viewing for children.

Reports that regional telephone company U S West is seeking to expand its presence in telephone service and cable television across the North American continent. The acquisition of Continental Cablevision Corp.; How changes in communications laws are allowing U S West to expand; Map showing how the Denver-based U S West would gain a local-network presence throughout the United States through the acquisition.

Relates that many telephone companies and cable operators are taking their battles to the airwaves in order to infiltrate their rivals' markets. Companies beaming telephone or television signals directly to customers, rather than waging a ground war for each other's wired network; The amount that Americans spent on wireless communications services in 1995; Reasons why long-distance carriers are particularly keen on taking to the air waves.

Considers the controversy surrounding public relations consultant John Scanlon, who was hired by Brown & Williamson Tobacco to help discredit their former executive Jeffrey S. Wigand. Wigand's accusations that the tobacco company lied about whether cigarettes are addictive; The company's accusations of spousal abuse and shoplifting; Question in the public relations industry about whether Scanlon went too far; Scanlon's defense of his actions.

Reflects on the consolidation of the media companies that has resulted in the dismissals of well-known top executives. Frank J. Biondi Jr., former president and chief executive of Viacom Inc., as the latest dismissla; The volatility of the media industry; Other executives who have been fired; Biondi's relationship with Sumner Redstone, Viacom's chairman; The effect of technological changes on the corporate structure. INSET: Situation wanted (Frank J. Biondi Jr.).

Profiles investment analysts Dan Reingold and Jack Grubman and their opposing views on investing in telecommunications stocks, specifically in the `Baby Bells.' Reingold's view that the Bells will be the big winners from the telecommunications bill passed by Congress; Grubman's view that the Bells stand to gain little from the legislation, even after President Bill Clinton signs it into law.

Considers findings of Time Warner Cable's Internet-access service in Elmira, New York. Speed differences between cable and conventional copper telephone lines, in accessing the Internet by modem; The opportunity that the Internet offers to the cable industry. INSETS: Separate strategies (Time Warner and Tele-Communications);Adventures in downloading.

Declares that AT&T plans to invest in DirecTV, the United States' leading satellite broadcasting service. AT&T planning to market the service's programming to an audience including 90 million telephone customers. Other developments in the satellite television industry.

Remarks on how 1995 saw the biggest single-year increase in new residential phone lines in the United States since the end of World War II. The percentage of households which have more than one line; Reasons for the boom; Response from telephone companies; Prospects for the future.

Relates that the United States' telephone companies are jockeying furiously in preparation for a wide-open race for customers and profit. Congress on the verge of sweeping away six decades of communications laws; Rumors concerning a possible merger between Nynex and Bell Atlantic; Negotiations by Pacific Telesis Group with several telephone companies including Bell Atlantic and Nynex; What the deals would mean for Wall Street.