<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-06-02</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732717</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183426</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ELLIS JAMES D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. Exec. VP and Gen. Cnsl.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy) - SSP</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>25.800</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-06-02</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>63042.000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2004-06-02</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2013-05-31</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>63042.000</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>63042.000</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Options were acquired pursuant to the SBC Stock Savings Plan, where two options are issued for each share purchased by a particip
ant's contributions.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Represents number of options granted.  Employee may purchase one share of SBC common stock per option.  </footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">Also beneficially holds SBC shares as follows: 64,764 held directly; 323,642.930 by benefit plans; 350 by daughter; 1,210.976 by
PAYSOP; 11,740 by spouse's trust.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>JAMES D. ELLIS</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-06-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>By: Joy Rick, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-06-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0101
4
2003-06-02
0
0000732717
SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC
SBC
0001183426
ELLIS JAMES D
0
1
0
0
Sr. Exec. VP and Gen. Cnsl.
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) - SSP
25.800
2003-06-02
4
A
0
63042.000
0
A
2004-06-02
2013-05-31
Common Stock
63042.000
63042.000
D
Options were acquired pursuant to the SBC Stock Savings Plan, where two options are issued for each share purchased by a particip
ant's contributions.
Represents number of options granted.  Employee may purchase one share of SBC common stock per option.
Also beneficially holds SBC shares as follows: 64,764 held directly; 323,642.930 by benefit plans; 350 by daughter; 1,210.976 by
PAYSOP; 11,740 by spouse's trust.
JAMES D. ELLIS
2003-06-04
By: Joy Rick, Attorney-in-fact
2003-06-04