21.   Analysts said the carriers will benefit from robust calling volume and lower access charges to complete their calls over local phone networks.

22.   And he predicted that this new competition will force down the cost of local phone service.

23.   And analysts question whether GTE has the balance sheet to protect its local phone market while getting into new businesses such as long-distance and cable-TV.

24.   And it will be awhile before the local phone product is rolled out to all communities.

25.   And last week, the chairman of a key House committee put on fast track a bill that would remove restrictions from local phone companies offering high-speed Internet access.

26.   And MCI Communications Corp. and Cablevision Systems Corp. have begun setting up their own facilities to offer local phone service, primarily to business customers.

27.   And perhaps most distressing to some lawmakers, local phone companies are merging instead of competing with each other.

28.   And just Monday the largest of those cable partners, Tele-Communications, served notice that it would choose its local phone markets selectively.

29.   And late today, a renewed battle over local phone market competition raised another potential hurdle to wrapping up the legislation.

30.   And Texas Utilities also has bought a local phone provider, the Lufkin Conroe Communications Co.