Within the next several weeks the local telephone market will be opening up to free market competition just as the long distance monopoly was broken apart in the early 1980's. Throughout the country, companies that control local phone lines are scrambling to protect themselves as regulators welcome outside competitors into what's been their territory. In Minnesota US West says it's being forced to offer newcomers an unfair advantage that could lead to a deterioration of the local phone network. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.