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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C. 20554

                        October 6, 2000
Mr. James W. Calloway
Group President   SBC Services
SBC Communications, Inc.
175 E. Houston Street
San Antonio, TX 78205

RE:  SBC/Ameritech Merger Order, CC Docket No. 98-141, ASD File No. 99-49

Dear Mr. Calloway:

     The quarterly service quality reports filed by SBC Communications, Inc. ("SBC") pursuant to the
SBC/Ameritech Merger Order indicate that the quality of service provided by SBC's incumbent local
exchange carriers ("LECs") has been deteriorating in several states since approval of the merger in October
1999.  This concerns me, and I would like you to explain the causes of this trend and discuss the
steps that SBC plans to take to reverse it.

In particular, I am concerned that SBC's performance data indicates that consumers in
SBC's region are experiencing increasing installation delays, longer repair times, and greater
difficulties contacting SBC's incumbent LECs about service quality and other issues.  I note also
that consumer complaints regarding service quality have increased in recent months in spite of
SBC's explicit commitment when the merger was pending to devote greater resources to service
quality after the merger closed.   

As a final matter, I understand that the Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and other
state commissions in SBC's region are closely monitoring SBC's performance in this area.  The Bureau
shares the concerns of these state commissions, and looks forward to working with them and SBC to
improve quickly service quality in SBC's region.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  You may also contact
Anthony Dale or Mark Stone of my staff at (202) 418-2260 and (202) 418-0816, respectively.

                         Sincerely,


                              Dorothy T. Attwood
                              Chief, Common Carrier Bureau