US Sprint announced a 9% rate reduction.

The new joint venture that merged GTE Sprint and US Telecom’s long-distance telephone services said its new rates will be as much as 35% below those of AT&T;, the market leader, which triggered the round of rate trimming on June 1, followed on July 1 by MCI, the No. 2 service. To achieve its goal, Sprint had to cut some rates by 48%, but the result will be residential rates that are pegged 5.6% below AT&T; and 1.6% below MCI, the company said.