As long as neither Sprint nor WorldCom responds substantively to overtures from other companies, neither is violating the agreement.

But Calpers said three companies - Dial, Polaroid and Control Data - had not "substantively responded" to its concerns.

Benjamin Brafman, Mr. Combs's lead lawyer, said it was unfortunate that the court's prohibition against speaking with the news media prevented him from "substantively responding to this absurd allegation."

The exercise will test the ability of Bob Dole and Lamar Alexander to respond substantively to Mr. Buchanan's simplistic, but highly emotive harangues.

The Department need not respond substantively to frivolous or repetitive requests for correction.

Nor does the Department have to respond substantively to requests that concern information not covered by the guidelines or from a person whom the information does not affect.

Davis did not detail the cover-up, describe any lies or say when he would substantively respond to Allen.

Many Massachusetts rural communities first tried to petition the legislature in Boston, but the legislature was dominated by eastern merchant interests and did not respond substantively to those petitions.

"We did not substantively respond to the proposal other than to ask questions about the rationale for it," Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said.

The Commission will listen attentively to Parliament and try to respond substantively to your observations.