WorldCom to appeal EU decision on Sprint

WorldCom will challenge the European Commission's decision this summer to block the company's proposed merger with Sprint, although WorldCom officials reportedly do not plan to try to revive the deal. European regulators cited concerns that a WorldCom/Sprint combination would dominate the Internet transport industry. The June decision followed an effort by WorldCom and Sprint to withdraw the EU merger application after learning the U.S. DOJ planned to recommend that the FCC nix the deal unless WorldCom agreed to divest Sprint's long-distance and local market assets.