Voices

‘This historic merger is about growth--growth in jobs, markets and services to our customers. It is not about downsizings or reduced employment opportunities.’

EDWARD E. WHITACRE Jr.

Chairman and chief executive, SBC Communications Inc.

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‘We believe this merger will enhance our ability to deliver what customers want.’

P.J. ‘PHIL’ QUIGLEY

Chairman, president and chief executive, Pacific Telesis Group

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‘There’s not a lot of overlap between the companies, and no apparent reason why they’d be downsizing.’

JEFFREY MILLER

Spokesman in Washington for the Communications Workers of America

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‘I think that California should have no reason to be fearful, with 33 million customers and some of the most advanced telecommunications technology in the world, plus the state’s place as a gateway to the Pacific and Latin America.’

JULIE MEIER WRIGHT

California secretary of Trade and Commerce

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‘It’s a slap in the face to residents of California; they won’t be able to ask for and receive as great a level of corporate accountability.’

DAN SCHILLER

Professor, communications department, UC San Diego

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‘They [SBC] are the Iraq of the Baby Bells in terms of their belligerence in trying to protect their home turf.’

ROYCE HOLLAND

President of MFS Communications, which has fought a long battle with Texas regulators to win access to the local phone service market served by SBC

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‘If this [merger] goes through, we’ll be No. 2 in the industry. We’ll be bigger than MCI. I think this is a great opportunity. Everyone in the industry is probably freaking out.’

MICHAEL MIGLIACCIO

Corporate network sales agent for Pacific Bell in Los Angeles