31.   Colt relies heavily on debt and equity markets to fund its construction of phone networks.

32.   Companies building independent local phone networks must negotiate agreements with the existing phone company so that calls can pass freely between their territories.

33.   Computer users place extraordinary demand on phone networks because they tie up more lines for much longer than ordinary voice calls, phone company officials say.

34.   Currently, China is served by a national phone network run by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

35.   Datum, which makes equipment used to track information in phone networks, said yesterday it expects to break even in the quarter.

36.   Declining prices for long-distance calls largely reflect the decline in regulated fees collected by regional phone companies to provide access to local phone networks.

37.   During the quarter, Qualcomm signed contracts to provide equipment for wireless phone networks in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia.

38.   Digital phone networks work much like compact disc players.

39.   Drastic cuts in the fees could raise local phone rates and damage the local phone networks, they say.

40.   DSC makes switches that route phone calls throughout a phone network, wireless communications products and other telecom equipment.