ASHINGTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives has approved two bills that would free U.S. telecommunications companies to offer an array of new services and devices.


One bill would let telephone and cable companies into each others' businesses. The other would allow regional phone companies to offer long-distance service and manufacture telecommunications equipment. Both easily passed the House on Tuesday.


The U.S. Senate has its own version of the bills, which some large phone companies strongly oppose. The Senate Commerce Committee plans to vote next month on one bill, which would make it more difficult for regional companies to provide long-distance services. The bills of the two houses need to be reconciled before they can go to the president for signature.


Backers say the House bills will lead to more rigorous competition and lower consumer prices. They said the bills' incentives for companies to build advanced telecommunications networks should bring consumers a wider choice of services -- some not yet imagined.