SBC Assures Line Sharers

SAN ANTONIO -- SBC Communications (NYSE:SBC - News) today became the first regional Bell company to assure its wholesale customers that it will continue providing line sharing under existing terms, despite a recent court decision vacating the FCC's rules. "SBC's wholesale customers who use line sharing can rest assured that we will not unilaterally change the way we provide these services," said SBC President Bill Daley. "By implementing this policy, we have eliminated any uncertainty facing the companies in our thirteen-state territory." On May 24, the D.C. Court of Appeals vacated the FCC's line sharing rules. When the Court's final order is issued in July, it could allow companies like SBC to invoke provisions that would allow them to stop providing line sharing. Many competitors have expressed concern that uncertainty in the line sharing rules is potentially harmful to their businesses. SBC's new commitment is to defer making any changes in the terms, conditions or prices in its current line sharing agreements and contracts until at least February 15, 2003. The FCC is expected to conclude its review of the line sharing rules by the end of this year, leading to an anticipated final order in mid-February, 2003. SBC Communications Inc.