What we're [seeing] in several cases is the insurance company refusing to stand behind these schools saying that's an intentional act.

They are basically saying students can't express themselves by wearing anything with a Confederate flag on it.

We've been going and visiting schools, and we have either met at, or plan to meet at, every elementary school. We're inviting people to give us ideas, and to address the enrollment issues. It's a very open process.

Out of all the T-shirts that are worn to school every day, a student cannot express pride in his Southern heritage at William Blount High School.

They're out there selling the product, saying 'Here's the latest handset,' and pushing the latest services, and when you do that, you raise expectations. Customers expect it to be simple, which, technically, wireless isn't. Wireless is a very technical application and technology. It's not an exact science. It really takes a lot to deliver that call. But the industry hasn't done a very good job of explaining that side of the story.

As we've been saying since last year, the company plans to spend approximately $130 million in 2000 developing a number of new businesses. We think each of these businesses is highly promising, though all are riskier than our traditional businesses.