With the financial troubles of WorldCom, customers of MCI, its long-distance subsidiary, may be wondering if they have reason to worry. A TIME phone-service customer called MCI to find out:
TIME: I was thinking about switching over to one of your plans, like this Neighborhood plan, but I keep reading about you guys in the news.
MCI: Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. MCI isn't going anywhere.
TIME: No?
MCI: No. I don't know what's going to happen with WorldCom, but nothing's going to happen with us. We'll be here.
TIME: Isn't it the same company, though?
MCI: Well, there was...