Short Take: Rhythms, Bell Atlantic sign DSL deal

Internet access competitor, have agreed to a "line sharing" deal under which Rhythms gets access to existing Bell Atlantic local phone lines for free. Part of a federal ruling that required compliance by June 6, local phone companies must allow competitors to gain access to the higher frequency portion of phone lines, effectively allowing digital subscriber line (DSL) service to "piggyback" on an existing voice line. Rhythms already has an agreement with US West, though not for free.