"And that raises the key question: is SBC serious? "

What in hell is SBC? I found site for SBC = Silver Bullet Comic Books.
I found another site SBC = Small Business Coalition
I found another site = Southwestern Bell Corporation

I did a search and found this link:

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/business/6783649.htm

excerpts:
"...SBC Communications has emerged as the only major Internet service provider that has so far refused to identify computer users whom the industry suspects of copyright infringement."

and

"But SBC, the No. 2 regional phone company and a major local telecommunications service provider in the Midwest and West..."

Hope that helps.

Yup. That would be my phone service provider. It used to be Ameritech 'round these parts. Michigan Bell before that.