TELECOMMUNICATIONS

AT&T; Asks PUC to Arbitrate PacBell Talks: The dispute between the long-distance company and the Baby Bell revolves around terms for linking their local networks in California. It means a months-long delay before New York-based AT&T; Corp. can begin competing for local phone business in California. The California Public Utilities Commission opened the state’s $6-billion local phone market to competition in January but left it up to the phone companies to work out the details of linking their networks. AT&T; and Pacific Bell, the main unit of San Francisco-based Pacific Telesis Group, have been in talks since March 14. The PUC has until Nov. 18 to settle the dispute.