ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 19, 1996 TAG: 9603190067
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
MCI, AT&T duking it out on cyber rates
NEW YORK - MCI Communications Corp. launched an aggressive pitch for its Internet access service Monday after being stung by the interest AT&T Corp. has generated for its new connection to the global data network.
Although MCI has offered Internet access to consumers for more than a year, it has barely promoted it. MCI said it has 2 million Internet subscribers, chiefly through services it runs for universities and businesses. It doesn't list subscribers by market segment, such as home users.
MCI will match AT&T's offer of five hours of free Internet time to people who use its long-distance service. Unlimited access will cost $19.95, the same as it charges now and AT&T will charge. Both MCI and AT&T charge $5 more to people who use other long-distance companies.
Worried about its technical ability to handle a large number of customers, AT&T has said it will not promote its Internet service with a big-dollar advertising campaign. MCI will not do so until summer.
- Associated Press
Green Thumb sets job-training sessions
Green Thumb Inc. Employment and Training of Roanoke will offer free job training and placement help for the low-income elderly March 25 and 26 at the Virginia Employment Commission's Roanoke office, 5060 Valley View Boulevard NW.
March 25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., a Green Thumb official will explain training opportunities with the federally funded organization. An official of the J.C. Penney department store chain will give job-hunting tips geared to senior citizens and talk about job opportunities at the company. A VEC official will explain how the state agency helps job seekers find work.
March 26, from 9 a.m. to noon, counselors will be on hand to coach those who want to write resumes.
For more information, call (540) 473-3256 or (800) 419-5627.
- Staff report
Dee's Art & Framing moving to Townside
Dee's Art & Framing will move May 1 to leased space at Townside Festival shopping center, according to Tom Turner of Hall Associates Inc. The store now occupies a stone house at 2329 Franklin Road north of Wonju Street.
Dee Watson, owner, said the space will be remodeled into a gallery for fine arts and sculpture, along with a design area for custom framing.
The new space will let the shop continue its Saturday morning art classes for children and offer parent-child art programs and art seminars.
- Staff report
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