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The long distance market fell out. The Bells didn't mind a bad deal when they were getting a good deal on LD but now that's gone.

Sure the public didn't take the hit from failed CLEC's. Lucent and Nortel stockholders did though.

That's business. Lucent gambled and Lucent lost. Lucent made claims about products that were a bit of a reach. I am saddened by the amount of money that was lost in this industry. Believe me when I tell you that I have very selfish reasons for prefering that this was not the case. What's done is done, and there are competitors out here who are going to survive, IF the FCC, State PUCs, State Legislatures and yes, even the ILECs do the right thing.

I think the industry as a whole, and certainly consumers will be better off in this new environment. It is even very possible that BellSouth employees might profit from working for a leaner, more competitive BellSouth. In the end it is my sincere hope that we can all compete fairly and openly and that the whole industry becomes more prosperous. To blame the pain of the last 2 years on CLECs who are just now beginning to capture market share is completely insane.

But there was a deal, right? You admit that. And it was an ILEC deal, right? CLECs did not write the Telcom Act. We didn't even really have meaningful input into the creation of "The Checklist." That was an ILEC creation too, right? I'm sure you know all this.