TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Pacific Bell Announces Telecommuting Relief Package: With Los Angeles-area residents facing nightmarish traffic because of earthquake damage to freeways, Pacific Bell announced a package intended to make it easier for workers to operate from home. The phone company said that for the next month it will waive installation charges on more than a dozen services for customers in the 818, 805, 213, 310, 714 and 909 area codes and is setting up a hot line for help and referrals, which will operate from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The company is also donating $1 million to fund loans of telecommuting equipment. GTE also announced plans to offer a wide array of telecommuting options to the public, but it does not yet have PUC approval. It also plans to waive certain fees.