ASPEN, Colo. — WorldCom Inc. chief executive Bernie Ebbers said the monopolies of Qwest and the Baby Bells are being protected at the expense of large long-distance companies like his.

"There is no concern out there that we're headed toward a train wreck, where there will be a new monopolization of local and long-distance markets with the Bell companies as victors," Ebbers said.

Ebbers made the remark at the Colorado Governor's Commission on Science and Technology Monday in Aspen.

Ebbers said the federal government has not pressed the Baby Bells, including the former US WEST, which was taken over by Qwest last June, to provide timely, fairly priced access to long-distance services similar to those provided by WorldCom, AT&T Corp., Sprint Corp. and others.

The federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 mandated that the Baby Bells allow competitors access to their local networks before they can offer long-distance services within their home territories.

Qwest spokesman Michael Tarpey objected to Ebbers' comments.

"First of all, there is competition in the Colorado market," Tarpey said. "Qwest is working with anybody who wants to work with us. I think Ebbers' comments lacked facts about the competition that's in place."

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Ebbers also warned lawmakers that a proposed state bill to limit telemarketing would influence his company's opinion of Colorado.

"I think it's entirely inappropriate to limit our ability to conduct free speech and to limit our ability to conduct our business the way it needs to be conducted," Ebbers told about 200 business leaders, legislators and educators.

"There are all kinds of methods for people not to listen to telemarketing calls if they so choose without legislating it," he said. "Let me also send a word of caution to you . . . and that is that people tend to do business where they're allowed to do business, not where they're not allowed to do it."

WorldCom employs more than 7,700 workers in the state.

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