FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
  April 3, 2000                           Michael Balmoris (202) 418-0253
                                     Email: mbalmori@fcc.gov
                              
  
  Statement of FCC Chairman William E. Kennard on SBC 271 Filing
  
  Washington, D.C.   In an ex parte filed on Friday, March 31, SBC indicated that it
  intends to supplement its pending application for long distance service in Texas, and asked
  that the 90-day clock for Commission review be restarted.  The Commission's primary
  objective in evaluating long distance applications is to ensure that the local markets are
  open to competition.  I am therefore hopeful that this submission will respond to my
  concerns and those of the United States Department of Justice.  
  
  Specifically, I believe the company needs to address the following issues that have
  been raised in this record:
  
            - -  the coordination, timing, and quality of providing unbundled loops to
            competitors, referred to as the "hot cut" process;
            
            --   the non-discriminatory provisioning of loops used by competitors to provide
            advanced services; and
            
            --   the integration of operations support systems used by competitors to obtain
            unbundled elements.      
  
  If the clock is restarted, I want to underscore that all parties to this proceeding will
  have a full opportunity to comment on any additional materials submitted in support of the
  application.  In restarting the clock, we would follow the same comment periods as we
  followed in the original application.
  
  Throughout this process, the Texas Public Utility Commission has done an extraordinary
  service by steadfastly insisting on an open market in Texas.  I personally appreciate the
  commitment of Chairman Wood and Commissioners Walsh and Perlman, and look
  forward to working with them in ensuring that Texas consumers receive the benefits of full
  and open competition in the State of Texas.   
  
  
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