Statement of SBC Texas Regarding SB 5 Being Signed into Law

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2005--Texas Gov. Rick Perry today signed into law Senate Bill 5, legislation to reform the state's telecommunications laws and establish rules that encourage new competitors to enter the TV market. The following statement can be attributed to SBC Texas President Jan Newton:

"A decade ago, Texas consumers benefited through more choices and better prices when state legislators opened the door to greater competition in telecommunications. With the governor's signature today on Senate Bill 5, the door to greater competition in the video marketplace is opened. And again, it's the consumers of our state who will reap the rewards.

“We applaud the leadership of the governor and state legislative leaders in passing and signing this consumer-focused legislation and maintaining Texas' position at the forefront of progressive communications policy in this country.”

"Consumers want and deserve more choices, new technologies and better prices in the TV and video market. Texas lawmakers recognized that fact when crafting this legislation. New providers are now poised to invest and compete in Texas in order to deliver a next generation video entertainment product to a marketplace sorely lacking adequate competition.

"We applaud the leadership of the governor and state legislative leaders in passing and signing this consumer-focused legislation and maintaining Texas' position at the forefront of progressive communications policy in this country."

SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) is a Fortune 50 company whose subsidiaries, operating under the SBC brand, provide a full range of voice, data, networking, e-business, directory publishing and advertising, and related services to businesses, consumers and other telecommunications providers. SBC holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which serves 51.6 million wireless customers. SBC companies provide high-speed DSL Internet access lines to more American consumers than any other provider and are among the nation's leading providers of Internet services. SBC companies also offer satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC products and services is available at www.sbc.com.