WorldCom Dropping Cable TV Service

<br>CLINTON, Miss. (AP) _ WorldCom Inc. is discontinuing its cable television service offered through its Wireless One subsidiary effective Jan. 1. <br><br>WorldCom bought Wireless One out of bankruptcy

Thursday, November 29th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CLINTON, Miss. (AP) _ WorldCom Inc. is discontinuing its cable television service offered through its Wireless One subsidiary effective Jan. 1.

WorldCom bought Wireless One out of bankruptcy court in 1999, mainly to use and expand the company's wireless Internet service.

``We're no longer going to be offering television service,'' company spokeswoman Debbie Lewis said Wednesday. ``The (airwaves) that had been used by Wireless One's television service will be reallocated to provide (more) two-way wireless Internet service.''

The switch will affect about 6,000 Wireless One subscribers in metro Jackson. Wireless One also serves customers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.

WorldCom declined to give the total number of subscribers using the service.

Through a deal between WorldCom and satellite company EchoStar Communications Corp., former Wireless One customers will be able to subscribe to Dish Network's television service without paying for equipment or installation, Lewis said.

WorldCom said it notified customers of the change in letters mailed Nov. 12.