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Focal Communications Corporation
200 North LaSalle Street
Suite 1100
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Judiciary Plaza
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: Focal Communications Corporation
Registration Statement on Form S-3 - Application for Withdrawal
(Registration No. 333-34440)
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Gentlemen and Ladies:
In accordance with Rule 477 promulgated under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, Focal Communications Corporation (the "Company") hereby
requests that the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
333-34440) (the "Registration Statement"), and all exhibits thereto, be
withdrawn effective immediately. The Company is withdrawing the Registration
Statement, which has not been declared effective, because the proposed public
offering under the Registration Statement was abandoned due to market
conditions. No securities were sold or will be sold under the Registration
Statement.
The Company further requests that, pursuant to Rule 477(c), an
order with the date of the granting of the withdrawal be included in the file
for the above-captioned Registration Statement in the following manner:
"Withdrawn upon the request of the registrant, the Commission consenting
thereto."
If you have any questions with respect to this letter, please
call either Elizabeth C. Kitslaar of the law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue
at (312) 269-4114 or me at (312) 895-8400.
Sincerely,
FOCAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
By: /s/ Joseph A. Beatty
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Joseph A. Beatty
Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
cc: Robert F. Doherty
Elizabeth C. Kitslaar
Leigh P. Ryan
