Williams Communications (Tulsa, OK) began construction of several more segments of its fiber-optic

Williams Communications (Tulsa, OK) began construction of several more segments of its fiber-optic network, including a 500-mi route from Kansas City, MO, to Minneapolis, MN, and a 250-mi leg linking Washington, DC and New York City. Part of a $2.7-billion investment, Williams expects the network to extend 32,000 mi by 2001. Currently, 17,000 mi are lit and 16,500 mi are in service. The Kansas City-Minneapolis route is expected to be in service by the end of this year, while the Washington, DC-New York City route should be completed in the second quarter of 1999.