FOCAL COMMUNICATIONS BONDS ELECTRONICALLY WITH AMERITECH.

Focal Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: FCOM), one of the fastest growing national competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), has implemented electronic bonding with Ameritech, one of the world's largest and most successful communications companies. Using Mantiss Information's CLECware product suite, Focal has electronically processed unbundled loop orders for DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) service with Ameritech. Focal can also utilize the CLECware product suite to order unbundled loops for its HDSL2 deployment. Electronic bonding means that Focal's operations support system is connected on-line and in real time to Ameritech's operations support system. This gateway allows Focal to provision services faster and more efficiently.

"This joint effort with Ameritech and Mantiss is a significant step towards providing our sophisticated customer base with best of class DSL service and exceptional customer care," said John Barnicle, chief operating officer of Focal. "Through Mantiss' superior OSS solutions, we are able to process orders in an efficient manner and avoid the costs associated with manual processes. This will enable us to provision and install unbundled loops at an accelerated pace."

"I am pleased that this enhanced interconnection with Ameritech's system has been accomplished," said Joset Wright, president, Ameritech Illinois. "Focal is among a growing number of CLECs that have established this type of connection with Ameritech's Operations Support Systems in recent months to provide better service to their customers. It is all part of our continuing commitment to open our local telephone network to other companies, which results in more competition, better service and ultimately lower costs for consumers."

"We are extremely pleased that Focal has chosen us as their nationwide OSS vendor. Working with Ameritech and other ILECs, Mantiss will play a strategic role in building Focal's OSS capabilities as they continue to expand their nationwide footprint," said Rachit Dhingra, CEO and co-founder at Mantiss.

With electronic bonding, Focal will submit orders, obtain firm order commitment dates and track the status of orders all on-line, leading to faster installations. In addition, the level of service Focal can offer its customers should be significantly enhanced.

Focal anticipates using its state-of-the-art, integrated back office systems and Mantiss' CLECware product suite to implement electronic bonding with other incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) nationwide.

About Focal

Focal Communications Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a national facilities-based communications provider that offers data, voice and colocation services to large corporations, Internet service providers and value-added resellers. Focal currently services 14 large, metropolitan markets and has announced plans to deploy service in a total of 20 markets nationwide by the end of year 2000, encompassing 50 metropolitan statistical areas. Additional information is available on Focal's Web site at www.focal.com .

About Ameritech

Ameritech is the premier provider of communications services in the Upper Midwest, with 13 million customers and more than 21 million access lines across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. It is a company of SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) www.sbc.com, a global communications leader. Through its trusted brands -- Southwestern Bell, Ameritech, Pacific Bell, SBC Telecom, Nevada Bell, SNET and Cellular One -- and world-class network, SBC provides local and long-distance phone service, wireless and data communications, paging, high-speed Internet access and messaging, cable and satellite television, security services and telecommunications equipment, as well as directory advertising and publishing. In the United States, the company currently has 87.3 million voice grade equivalent lines, 10.3 million wireless customers and is undertaking a national expansion program that will bring SBC service to an additional 30 markets. Internationally, SBC has telecommunications investments in 22 countries. With more than 200,000 employees, SBC is the 14th largest employer in the U.S., with annual revenues that rank it among the largest Fortune 500 companies.

About Mantiss

Mantiss is the leader in providing OSS and business-to-business e-commerce solutions to the deregulated telecommunications marketplace. Mantiss has extensive experience in designing and building OSS gateways for ILECs and deploying OSS solutions for CLECs. Mantiss was the first OSS vendor to enable electronic provisioning in the Ameritech region.

CLECware OSS is an integrated OE/OM, provisioning, customer care and OSS interconnection gateway that enables carriers to electronically provision voice and data services, reducing order error rates, and maintaining the highest level of service at the lowest cost. Mantiss also has a telecom consulting practice, which provides systems integration expertise.

Mantiss has a customer base of over 20 CLECs using CLECware nationwide including Cable, ISP, facilities-based and switch-less local carriers.

For more information, call 312-220-2377.