SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The United States Court of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit declined to BellSouth's request to rehear an earlier ruling that allows Covad Communications Company (OTCBB:COVD) to pursue certain antitrust and tort claims against BellSouth Corporation.

In 2000, Covad asserted a variety of antitrust claims against BellSouth alleging that BellSouth used its monopoly power to engage in a concerted effort to thwart competition in the Internet access market. The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia dismissed Covad's claims, holding that Covad's claims were barred by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. In August 2002, the Eleventh Circuit reversed the district court's ruling, reinstated Covad's antitrust claims, and remanded the case back to the district court for further proceedings.

Subsequently, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling in the Trinko case, which upheld the dismissal of an antitrust case alleging a single breach of an incumbent phone company's duty under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to share its network with competitors. The Supreme Court subsequently remanded the 11th Circuit decision for further proceedings in light of the Trinko decision. In June of this year, a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court ruled that the Trinko decision did not foreclose key Covad claims.

BellSouth requested that the full court review the panel's June decision. This week, the Eleventh Circuit issued an order denying BellSouth's request.

James Kirkland, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Covad, said: "The Court's decision confirms that Covad's antirust case can move forward, and we intend to vigorously pursue our claims."

Covad Communications Inc.