The regional Bells and long-distance carriers have been fighting over access since the 1980's.

The regional Bells, though, have acquired 35 million long-distance customers over the years.

But the company, which along with the regional Bells dominates the local phone business, may be a buy.

With revenues of more than $10 billion each, the regional Bells have enormous financial power.

All seven of the regional Bells want to expand into the long-distance business.

To prepare themselves for the competition, many of the regional Bells have cut costs and laid off workers.

Another is to create a timetable for when the regional Bells could stop having to share their networks.

A. The problem with waiting is that the regional Bells are getting into long distance.

The impact on some of the other regional Bells is even broader.

True, labor issues will probably not be the defining factor in the fate of the regional Bells over the next few years.