TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

PacBell Ordered to Route Local Calls to Competition: The California Public Utilities Commission said it ordered the Pacific Telesis Group unit to connect Centrex local calls to competing companies. The commission said that by limiting the use of Centrex, a service available only through Pacific Bell, the company appeared to be pursuing a monopoly in the local toll call market. The PUC opened that phone market to competition in January. The complaint alleged that Pacific Bell failed to adhere to its tariffs and violated PUC regulations. The company’s stock closed down 37.5 cents at $29.75 on the New York Stock Exchange.