But Briggs insists WorldCom can catch up. The company will offer connections as fast as 7 megabits a second, while rivals rarely offer service faster than 3 megabits. These superspeedy DSL lines will allow WorldCom to offer digital TV as well as Net access so fast that people can watch video clips off of Web sites. Still, the track record of companies trying to provide television over phone lines is spotty. Clearly, Ebbers and WorldCom have miles of ground to make up in the consumer Internet business.
Most analysts think the odds are against the company becoming one of the sector's top players.
Still, Ebbers has poked his nose up from under his cowboy hat. And he looks ready for a shootout. The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.