TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Pacific Bell Seeks FCC OK to Offer New Service: California’s largest phone company applied to the Federal Communications Commission for approval to offer so-called Video Dialtone service in four of the state’s markets, including the Los Angeles area, beginning late next year. The service would provide an alternative to cable television and eventually would let customers take advantage of “video on demand,” a much-touted service that would let viewers choose when to watch TV programs, movies and other shows. PacBell’s application would cover 1.3 million homes in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties and several Bay Area cities.