TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

PUC to Investigate PacTel Spinoff Plan: The California Public Utilities Commission voted to investigate Pacific Telesis Group’s plan to spin off its cellular telephone operations. Several labor and community groups, including the union representing about 40,000 of the San Francisco-based firm’s Pacific Telesis employees, claim that more than $2 billion in capital invested in the cellular business was generated by ratepayers and should be returned to them. The spinoff plan was announced in December. The PUC said it would study possible effects on Pacific Bell’s 9 million customers and on regulated cellular firms. The PUC’s move was fully expected.