January 21, 2002 -- According SBC, the company has met its obligations under the SBC/Ameritech Merger Conditions to provide competitors with shared access to our networks in the Ameritech region and elsewhere. The company says "that's one reason why CLECs are serving 12 million access lines in our territory."

"We are confident that when the full Commission reviews our response, it will conclude that SBC acted reasonably and in good faith," said the company in a recent press release. "Since this has been a restricted proceeding, SBC has been permitted no chance to speak with the Commission on this."

"The issues surrounding "shared transport" are very complex and ambiguous," the company continued in the release. "Our obligations on this cave been reviewed during the past year by not only the Enforcement Bureau's Market Disputes Resolution Division, but also its Investigations and Hearings Division. In fact, the issues remain under review at the Bureau because they are so complicated. Nevertheless, one arm of the Bureau has decided for itself that the facts are clear and unambiguous and worthy of forfeiture. The irony is that while the Enforcement Bureau is leaping to conclusions on very technical matters such as shared transport-in the name of protecting competitors-vigorous competition continues to intensify in our territory."

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