TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Ameritech Tries to Sell Plan to Justice Department: Attempting to win an endorsement from federal antitrust enforcers, Ameritech Corp. has offered to temporarily scale back its plan to get into the long-distance business, proposing a limited trial in the Chicago area, an executive said. If approved by a federal judge, Ameritech would be the first regional Bell company to provide long-distance service, an experiment that would cover roughly 8 million people and be closely watched by other Bells that are clamoring to get a piece of the $60-billion-a-year business. Ameritech wants the Department of Justice to back its plan before the court. The department is reviewing the plan and appeared receptive, Ameritech General Counsel Tom Hester said.