The U.S. Census Bureau estimates tallied 36 million trick-or-treaters roaming the streets on All Hallows’ Eve in 2008. Previous years have shown Halloween as one of the heaviest wireless-calling days of the year. Halloween typically ranks among the most popular days for picture or video messaging.  Last year MMS volume spiked 44 percent on Halloween over the previous week!

That is why AT&T has compiled a list of safety tips to keep in mind before your children hit the streets in search of goodies:

1. Go mobile: Whether packing their personal cell or a temporary pre-paid phone, ensure each costumed child parading the streets has a fully-charged communication device in tow.
2. Secure the line of communication: Pre-program contact information of parents, neighbors and emergency services into your and your child’s speed dial, and be sure you know how to access these numbers with ease.
3. Ensure accessibility: Use a belt clip or carrying case to make sure phones do not get tangled in costumes.
4. Establish boundaries: Families should have in place a familiarized route for children to follow while out on the town. Mobile navigation tools can assist parents and kids in creating routes, and goblins on the go can reference maps throughout the evening. Similarly, AT&T’s FamilyMap Viewer allows parents to easily and immediately locate a family member’s whereabouts from their mobile device or PC so they can keep a close watch.
5. Be in touch: Set up periodic alarms with Halloween-themed tones as a reminder for trick-or-treaters to text or call home between candy collecting stops.
6. Keep ears on the ready: As part of a continued effort to remain aware of surroundings and keep smooth the lines of communication, sweet seekers should turn up their phone volume and listen for incoming call and message alerts.
7. Don’t miss a thing: Phones also come installed with photo, video and audio recorders, allowing spur-of-the-moment happenings to be captured and shared among friends and family in real time. AT&T’s Video Share allows you to see live video on your handset while a voice call is taking place.
8. Be a wireless Samaritan: Any suspicious behavior must be immediately reported to the proper authority and shared among neighbors, whose numbers should be on hand and in reach.
9. Drive safely: With pedestrians filling streets and sidewalks, it is more important than ever for drivers to stay alert behind the wheel. If a call needs to be made or a message checked, pull over. And remember, don’t text while driving.

Have fun and Happy Halloween!

Dallas – Text messaging has experienced a tenfold increase in the past three years*, according to CTIA — The Wireless Association. Unfortunately, this texting boom means that many may be tap-tapping away at perhaps the worst possible time: while driving.

Today, at the Detroit Economic Club, AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson will announce AT&T’s commitment to address this issue through an initiative to communicate to wireless consumers, especially youth, on the dangers of texting behind the wheel.

“Texting has increasingly become the way to communicate for many people, and the urge to quickly read and respond — even while driving — can be tempting,” said Stephenson. “Our goal is to send a simple, yet vital, message to all wireless users: don’t text and drive.”

Stephenson said AT&T will be participating in the Distracted Driving Summit, hosted by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the Department of Transportation, which started today in Washington, D.C.

“We commend the administration for putting a spotlight on this important issue and bringing the industry together to discuss solutions,” said Stephenson. “We hope others will join us in prohibiting their employees from texting while driving and helping educate the public about the dangers of texting while driving.”

The new campaign is expected to reach millions and includes:

• AT&T Employee Education: AT&T is in the process of revising its wireless and motor vehicle policies to expressly prohibit texting while driving. AT&T, one of the country’s leading employers and with one of the largest commercial fleets, is also incorporating a section on the dangers of texting while driving in its defensive driving classes for employees who drive on the job. All of the company’s nearly 290,000 employees are required to review AT&T’s policies periodically. Employees who drive as part of their job are also required to take refresher defensive driving classes.
• Handset Messaging: In time for the busy holiday selling season, the majority of new devices from AT&T will begin to include the don’t-text-and-drive message on the plastic clings that protect handset screens through AT&T’s more than 16,000 company-owned stores and kiosks, authorized dealers and third party retail locations throughout the U.S. AT&T is working with handset and device manufacturers to ensure that as many AT&T wireless devices as possible will eventually carry the campaign message — either via screen clings or in the user guides and other collateral.
• Public Service Announcements: AT&T will produce a series of public service announcements (PSAs). The PSAs, some of which will include high-profile spokespersons, will appear in the coming months and will be targeted to a variety of audiences — from adults to parents and teens — to discourage texting while driving. As one of America’s leading advertisers, AT&T will work with media outlets, both traditional and digital, to secure significant exposure for these educational spots.
• Online Resources: AT&T will create an online resource center for downloadable tools and tips for parents, high school educators and others on this issue. Tools will include a parent-teen pledge, posters for high school drivers’ education classes, as well as a teacher’s guide, tip sheet and fact sheet. AT&T’s Web site is a popular online destination, attracting millions of unique visitors each month.
• Customer Communications: AT&T reaches millions of customers every day through a variety of touch points that include catalogs, in-store signage and collateral, bills, e-mails, opt-in text messages and newsletters, as well as via AT&T U-verseSM TV on-air channels, which have the potential to reach 1.6 million subscribers. Campaign messaging on this issue will also be integrated throughout these and other customer touch points.
• Support Safety Organizations: AT&T will continue to work with CTIA — The Wireless Association (www.ctia.org), The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) and other third parties to support their efforts to educate the public about the dangers of texting while driving.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^SM and AT&T │DIRECTV^SM brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T’s Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE^® magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.

AT&T today announced the extension of its 3G mobile broadband network to Clarksville, providing access to accelerated data speeds that open the door to a new era of mobile services, devices and feature-rich audio and video content. AT&T is also expanding its existing 3G footprint in the Nashville and Memphis metropolitan areas.

The Clarksville extension is one part of AT&T’s ongoing initiatives to enhance the speed and performance of its 3G mobile broadband network – the fastest 3G network in the nation, according to independent testing. It is also part of AT&T’s ongoing investment to build the broadband networks that will create jobs and fuel economic growth, and enable its customers to quickly access the content, applications and services that matter most to them.

“We continue to make significant private investments to deliver dependable, high speed wireless access in more places across Tennessee for consumers and business customers who need to stay connected – and to help keep Tennessee a leader in technology and innovation,” said Gregg Morton, president of AT&T Tennessee.

Rep. Joe Pitts, Lanie Johnson, AT&T External Affairs Manager; Cathy Russell, AT&T store manager - Clarksville, Kim Drye, AT&T area sales manager, north Nashville and Clarksville.

About the Clarksville Expansion

The Clarksville 3G expansion builds on AT&T’s investment in 2008, which added 3G service to 110 cell sites, bringing wireless broadband capability to more areas across the Volunteer State. All told, from 2006 to 2008, AT&T’s total capital investment in Tennessee was more than $1.2 billion.

The 3G mobile broadband network expansion efforts help address the growing demand for advanced wireless data products and services as more and more people’s lives become increasingly mobile and fast-paced. With 3G speeds, customers can not only surf the Web and download files faster than ever, but they can also experience the very latest interactive mobile applications such as live video sharing and remote home monitoring.

The AT&T 3G network also opens the door to a new era of advanced mobile services, devices and feature-rich audio and video content, such as AT&T Video ShareSM, a first-of-its-kind technology that allows users to share live video during a wireless call.

“Demand for wireless bandwidth is growing, whether it’s for sharing video and photos with friends, watching a movie, checking the latest scores, or listening to music on a phone, 3G netbook or other mobile devices on the go,” added Jim Thorpe, vice president and general manager for Tennessee and Kentucky, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.

Recently, AT&T announced plans to upgrade its 3G network to deliver considerably faster mobile broadband speeds. The network upgrades are slated to begin later this year, with completion expected in 2011. The upgrade to High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology is part of AT&T’s plan for continued investments to deliver the nation’s best mobile broadband experience – the ideal combination of speed, coverage and best device line-up.

AT&T’s 3G mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most open and widely used wireless network platforms in the world. As a result, only AT&T can offer 3G data roaming in more than 80 countries, as well as voice calling in more than 215 countries. AT&T’s 3G network is now available in more than 350 U.S. major metropolitan areas.

AT&T also enables unsurpassed choice and openness in the range of devices, services and applications compatible with its 3G network. AT&T offers a wide variety of devices from more than a dozen manufacturers, including handsets that are compatible with six different operating systems and five different e-mail applications. Our Media Mall 2.0 offers more than 90,000 content options, and customers can download virtually any application over the Internet. Additionally, AT&T supports a community of more than 20,000 application developers via its devCentral portal.

“This investment for a stronger wireless network will help attract business and strengthen our local economy,” said Rep. Joe Pitts (House District 67, Montgomery County). “We appreciate AT&T for their continued investments in Tennessee and for bringing 3G to the residents of Clarksville.”

AT&T has more than 6,500 employees in Tennessee and operates 39 AT&T-owned retail locations across the state, including the local Clarksville store at 2560 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. AT&T’s products and services are also available at a number of other authorized dealers and national retail locations.

For more information about AT&T’s wireless coverage in Tennessee or anywhere in the United States, consumers can go to http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/. The online tool can measure the quality of coverage based on a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.

Dallas, TX

NFL RedZone, a new sports channel produced by NFL Network, gives football fans quick and easy access to the most important moments of NFL Sunday football. Once a team gets inside their opponent’s 20-yard line, U-verse TV customers will be able to experience the anticipation and excitement of each play within the red zone. NFL RedZone keeps fans up-to-date in real time by switching from game to game with live look-ins, highlights and a chance to see every important play.

“AT&T U-verse just got better, again. NFL RedZone is a new and exciting way to stay on top of Sunday football, and we’re proud to kick off the NFL football season by adding this channel to our lineup,” said Dan York, executive vice president of content and programming, AT&T Converged Services. “U-verse TV football fans will truly enjoy tuning to NFL RedZone to watch the touchdowns and the biggest plays as they happen on their big screen TV.”

“We’re excited to offer NFL RedZone to AT&T U-verse football fans so they can see the important plays from NFL games,” said Kim Williams, chief operating officer for NFL Network. “U-verse TV customers across the country are going to enjoy this special channel produced by NFL Network.”

NFL RedZone will be available on channel 1629 as part of the U-verse HD Premium Tier, which is available to U-verse HD subscribers for an additional $5 per month.

All U-verse TV packages include HD-ready equipment, and most packages include an HD-ready Total Home DVR, which gives you the ability to watch and manage recordings from a single DVR on any connected TV in the house. AT&T U-verse offers several additional features that improve the viewing experience for football fans and all customers, including the ability to record up to four programs (or can’t-miss games) at once; the ability to program DVR recordings from your Web-connected mobile phone or PC; fast channel change for football fans to channel surf without the delay experienced on other digital TV services; picture-in-picture browse capability that lets you preview games on other channels; the ability to follow your favorite sports teams — including your Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football team — through the AT&T U-bar; and more.

AT&T U-verse TV is the only 100 percent Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV) service offered by a national service provider, making AT&T U-verse one of the most dynamic and feature-rich services available today. For additional information on AT&T U-verse — or to order the HD Premium Tier — visit http://uverse.att.com or call 1-800-ATT-2020. Customers can get more information about U-verse TV programming and television events by visiting http://uconnect.att.com.

DALLAS — Since its launch three years ago, AT&T U-verse has continually evolved and added new features. This month, AT&T* will rollout another series of enhancements that make AT&T U-verse even better for customers. Today and over the coming weeks, AT&T U-verse will add — at no extra cost as part of customers’ existing subscriptions — upgraded DVR capabilities and user interface enhancements for all customers, increased downstream speeds for AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet Max residential and business customers, and a new On Demand Top Picks application for customers in select markets.

“Turning on the TV and seeing something new is what AT&T U-verse customers have come to expect from us,” said Jeff Weber, vice president of video services for AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “These latest upgrades are further examples of how we’re using Internet Protocol (IP) technology to give you more control and more value. With AT&T U-verse, you’re getting DVR capabilities you can’t find from any cable providers, exciting and useful apps, and faster broadband speeds. We’re giving you an advanced entertainment experience, and this is still only the beginning.”

The U-verse enhancements announced today include:

• Exclusive new AT&T U-verse Total Home DVR feature. AT&T U-verse Total Home DVR capabilities will be expanded market-by-market in the upcoming weeks to add the ability to schedule and manage recordings from any U-verse receiver — a feature exclusive to AT&T among multi-room DVRs. The feature adds even more convenience and control over recorded shows by allowing customers to set or delete recordings from any room in their home, instead of from the DVR receiver room only. The enhancement follows the launch of Total Home DVR in 2008, which allows all U-verse DVR customers to watch standard and High Definition recorded shows on up to eight connected TVs in the home — all from a single DVR.
• Free speed increase for AT&T U-verse Internet Max customers. All AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet Max customers have been given increased downstream speeds from up to 10 Mbps to up to 12 Mbps — a 20 percent increase in speed at no extra cost. The faster up to 12 Mbps downstream speed is available to all new and existing U-verse Internet residential and business customers who subscribe to the Max service.
• New On Demand Top Picks application. U-verse TV movie buffs will also have a new way to find that perfect movie with On Demand Top Picks. The new application will enable U-verse TV customers to view On Demand recommendations based on their past video rental history and view a list of the top ten On Demand titles U-verse TV customers are renting. The app will also give customers the ability to rate a movie they have previously rented, which will be averaged into other U-verse TV customer ratings and displayed next to the title in the On Demand recommendations list. On Demand Top Picks will be available to customers in Los Angeles, Cleveland, Hartford, St. Louis, Atlanta, Sacramento, San Antonio and Austin within the next few weeks. AT&T plans to make the app available to all U-verse TV customers next year.
• Web Remote Access to DVR enhancements. U-verse TV customers will soon have a new interface to schedule and manage their DVR recordings from any web-connected PC. Powered by Yahoo!, the enhanced functionality enables faster browsing of the program guide; sorting the program guide by genre, favorites or High Definition (HD) channels; easily referencing recently recorded shows and upcoming scheduled shows on a side panel; targeted searching by title, actor, and channel; and personalizing favorite channels. U-verse TV customers will also be able to utilize sub accounts — in addition to their U-verse master account login — to access this app. AT&T was one of the first providers to introduce online DVR control in November 2006, and brought three-screen DVR access to all U-verse TV customers with Mobile Remote Access to the DVR in April 2007. On average, more than 100,000 U-verse TV customers use Web Remote Access every month to schedule and manage their recordings.
• U-verse TV navigation improvements. U-verse TV customers will have a more simple and streamlined way to navigate and find programming with enhancements rolling out market-by-market along with the Total Home DVR upgrade. From within the U-verse programming guide, users will be able to select Enter to pull up a panel of options to jump to another channel, time or day to find the programming you want to watch. Customers will also be able to select Enter while watching live TV to bring up a side panel that allows them to select from zoom and audio options.
• Free movie month. As an added bonus, all U-verse TV customers will get even more options for their summer entertainment with unlimited access to Starz at no extra charge during July.

These upgrades are the latest examples of standard AT&T U-verse services and applications that give customers more freedom and flexibility over their entertainment experience. U-verse TV customers can also enjoy several other integrated applications, including personalized, on-screen weather, sports, traffic and stock information via AT&T U-bar; local and national weather forecasts on-demand; the ability to view personal photos on your TV that you have uploaded to flickr.com; remote access to the DVR from any web-connected PC or wireless phone; and more.

AT&T’s U-verse deployment is rapidly introducing competitive choice and next-generation services to more consumers. AT&T U-verse customers enjoy quadruple-play integration, enhanced features and greater value, all made possible by IP technology. AT&T U-verse TV ranked “Highest in Residential Television Service Satisfaction in the North Central, South, and West Regions,” according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction Study^SM.

Residential and small business customers who want additional information on AT&T U-verse — or to find out if it’s available in their area — can visit http://uverse.att.com.

Find More Information Online

NASHVILLE – Fans looking for a “Music City” experience out in the country are packing their bags and heading to Manchester, Tennessee for the 2009 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. There, they will experience four days of some of the best performers in rock and roll, along with dozens of artists in complementary styles such as jazz, Americana, hip-hop, electronica, and more.

Can’t make it? From June 12-14, AT&T Music will deliver an exclusive webcast of Bonnaroo 2009 featuring performances from select festival artists, including: Snoop Dogg, Ben Harper and Relentless7, Paul Oakenfold, The Decemberists, Animal Collective and St. Vincent. In addition, select performances will also be available on AT&T Music following the festival.  The full webcast schedule will soon be available at music.att.net. Fans can follow @ATTMusic on Twitter to get reminders and updates on the live webcast and more.

“Our goal is to keep music fans connected to their favorite artists even if they can’t make the trip to Bonnaroo,” said Dan York, executive vice president of content and programming, AT&T Converged Services. “With AT&T Music, every fan can enjoy the music and atmosphere of this unique festival live via the web.”

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is a four-day, multi-stage camping festival held on a beautiful 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee every June. In addition to dozens of epic performances, the 100 acres of Bonnaroo also provides entertainment around the clock with attractions and activities including an arcade & discotheque, on-site cinema, silent disco, comedy club, theater performers, art installations, a beer festival, and a variety of cafes and restaurants.

In preparation for Bonnaroo, we have taken steps to add capacity to our existing area cell site and have also added network capacity through the use of COWs and other temporary network equipment. In addition, on and off-site engineers will do everything possible to maximize network performance to keep our customers connected.

The live broadband video stream of Bonnaroo 2009 utilizes AT&T Intelligent Content Distribution^SM – a network-based Content Delivery Network (CDN) service that replicates information across the Internet. For more information, visit www.att.com/icds.

AT&T Music was launched in December 2008 to help deliver a more integrated consumer experience and expose music content to the approximately 11 million users of the ATT.net Internet portal. The portal offers exclusive access to the latest news, weather, Yahoo! search capabilities, sports and entertainment content. For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^SM and AT&T │DIRECTV^SM brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T’s Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE^® magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies.

DALLAS  – AT&T* today announced it will offer Apple iPhone 3G S, the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet, in its retail and online stores beginning June 19.  In addition, the company today will begin selling iPhone 3G starting at $99 for new and qualifying subscribers.  AT&T offers the nation’s fastest 3G network and the best worldwide coverage of any U.S. carrier.**

“iPhone 3G S is the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet, and we’re extremely proud to offer it to our customers on the nation’s fastest 3G network,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.  “We’re also pleased to offer these innovative phones and plans at incredible values, including free Wi-Fi access at nearly 20,000 hot spots.”

Based on independent market research, twice as many smartphone users have chosen AT&T over any other U.S. carrier.  “I expect this great new iPhone 3G S and a $99 iPhone 3G on our mobile broadband network will spur even more smartphone customers to choose AT&T,” said de la Vega.

Pricing

AT&T will offer iPhone 3G S and iPhone 3G at a variety of attractive prices:

• iPhone 3G S will cost $199 (16GB) and $299 (32GB) for new and qualifying customers.
• iPhone 3G will cost $99 (8GB) for new and qualifying customers.
• The 16 GB iPhone 3G will be available for $149 while supplies last.

Prices above require a 2-year service commitment and approved voice and data plan.  Options are available to purchase these phones without a 2-year contract commitment.

Preordering

Customers may preorder iPhone 3G S beginning at approximately 5 p.m. ET today in AT&T’s more than 2,200 company-owned retail locations or later this evening at www.att.com/iphone.  All preorders will be processed on a “first come, first served” basis beginning June 19.  Customers who preorder online will have iPhone 3G S delivered directly to their home or office; customers who preorder in a store can pick theirs up at the same store on or after June 19.  Stores will open early at 7 a.m. on June 19 exclusively for customers who have preordered.

Consumer Plans

AT&T customers can choose from several monthly plans that start as low as $69.99 per month for voice and unlimited data (e-mail and Web browsing).  All iPhone plans include nationwide long distance and roaming, Visual Voicemail, Rollover®, and unlimited Mobile to Mobile calling.

AT&T FamilyTalk® offers extra value for families who share minutes.  Plans start as low as $129.99 a month for two iPhone lines with bundled voice and unlimited data.  Up to three additional iPhone lines can be added for $39.99 each.

Business Plans

Small business customers may qualify for AT&T BusinessTalk®, a shared minute plan specifically for small businesses.  Companies can share up to 20,000 minutes per month between as many as 40 employees.  In addition, business customers and employees of many businesses are eligible for discounted service rates.  For more information, contact an AT&T business sales representative or visit www.att.com/iphoneforbusiness. 

Network

AT&T operates the nation’s fastest 3G network, delivering the power and benefits of mobile broadband to consumers and businesses.  iPhone 3G S will be compatible with High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology, which offers theoretical peak download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps, though actual speeds will vary as these capabilities become available.  AT&T plans to begin deploying HSPA 7.2 later this year, with completion expected in 2011.

In addition to the planned speed upgrade, AT&T is enhancing its mobile broadband coverage by nearly doubling the wireless spectrum dedicated to 3G in most metropolitan areas to deliver stronger in-building reception and more overall network capacity.

Today, AT&T offers 3G service in nearly 350 major metropolitan areas in the U.S., with more than 20 more planned for the end of this year.  AT&T also leads in Wi-Fi, offering free broadband connectivity to iPhone customers in nearly 20,000 hot spots including Starbucks and Barnes & Noble, and nearly 80,000 hot spots around the world.

Additional news regarding iPhone 3G S will be posted in the AT&T Media Newsroom at www.att.com/iphone_news.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

**Offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company.  Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world.  With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services.  AT&T offers the best coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verseSM and AT&T | DIRECTVSM brands.  The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.  In domestic markets, AT&T’s Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales.  In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies.

DALLAS – Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to providing affordable solutions for small businesses in a tough economy, AT&T* today announced the industry’s first bundled offer targeted at small businesses that includes wireless, wired and high speed Internet services, starting at less than $100 a month.

The “All for Less” bundle is now available to qualifying small business customers (one to four lines in a single location) across AT&T’s 22-state footprint. The services, which come on one consolidated bill, include:

• Wireless from AT&T: Customers will be able to conduct business on the go with 450 minutes each month per wireless device, which operates on the nation’s fastest 3G network, available in nearly 350 U.S. metropolitan areas. AT&T provides a full suite of wireless devices and solutions that are ideal for small businesses.
• AT&T High Speed Internet Business Edition: Available in a variety of speeds to accommodate the needs of any small business, the service includes U.S.-based business-class technical support, all-in-one protection suite for selected tiers, up to 11 e-mail accounts and AT&T Wi-FiSM connectivity at more than 20,000 hot spots at convenient locations nationwide and more than 90,000 hotspots worldwide.
• Local Voice: Unlimited local calling voice package, including Call Forwarding and Caller ID.
• Long Distance Voice: Unlimited domestic long distance calling.

To qualify, customers must already have wireless service or purchase new wireless service from AT&T in addition to new or existing local voice, long distance voice and broadband services.

“We know that small businesses today depend on communications services to keep their operations productive and to do business wherever they live and work,” said Ron Spears, Chief Executive Officer, AT&T Business Solutions. “Small business customers also tell us that they like the simplicity of bundles – one provider, one bill, and greater discounts. That’s why we’re introducing an offer that includes our portfolio of industry-leading services at a great value, helping jump start small business activity in a tough economy and giving them yet another reason to select AT&T.

“In addition, the wireless component of this bundle is enabling the anytime, virtually anywhere communications desired by small businesses on the go,” Spears said. “Through our nationwide capabilities and unparalleled product and service portfolio, we offer bundles that maximize productivity both inside and outside the office.”

According to industry research firm In-Stat, small businesses with one to four employees spent nearly $17 billion last year on telecom services and associated equipment in such areas as wireless, broadband, and local and long distance voice – all of which AT&T is positioned to serve.

For more information or to purchase All for Less, small businesses should call a small business advisor toll-free at 1-866-790-3712 or visit att.com/AllForLess. Businesses with more than four lines or businesses with multiple locations that are interested in similar bundled offers from AT&T should contact their small business advisor or designated AT&T account manager.

Small businesses looking to find information about all AT&T products and services or free business resources such as webinars, white papers, training, case studies and best practices can visit att.com/onwardsmallbusiness.

Clarksville area residents now have a new choice for their television and communications services powered by the most advanced technology. AT&T* today announced the launch of AT&T U-verseSM services in parts of Clarksville, including AT&T U-verse TV and AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet. The introduction of these new services in Clarksville is part of an ongoing expansion of AT&T U-verse availability across the Nashville-area and Middle Tennessee, where AT&T U-verse launched in December 2008.

Paul Mahaney, AT&T Supervisor; Greg Poston, AT&T Area Manager; Jonathan Bumpus, Outside Plant Technician; State Representative Curtis Johnson; Lanie Johnson, AT&T Legislative and External Affairs; State Representative Joe Pitts; Alison Hayes, AT&T Service Technician/U-verse Field Support; Mike Watson, AT&T Network Manager.

AT&T U-verse services, which are all delivered over AT&T’s advanced Internet Protocol (IP) network, offer a new alternative to cable and an unmatched experience for customers. AT&T U-verse brings together your TV, broadband and AT&T wireless services – all on one bill – with unique features that provide a new level of integration, convenience and control. AT&T U-verse TV ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the South Region,” according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction StudySM.

“Today’s expansion of AT&T U-verse reflects our commitment to make the investments necessary to bring consumers in Clarksville a new era of true video competition,” said Gregg Morton, AT&T Tennessee president. “We are thrilled to offer this innovative video choice to Clarksville consumers. Local residents have asked for more choices in television service and today we’re delivering.”

AT&T is introducing U-verse services in Tennessee thanks to The Competitive Cable and Video Services Act of 2008, HB 1421. The law, signed by Gov. Bredesen back in May, provides an environment that encourages new video providers, such as AT&T to invest in Tennessee to compete against incumbent cable providers. On the first day that this new law became effective, AT&T Tennessee filed its initial application for a state-issued certificate of franchise authority to offer video services in communities across the state.

“AT&T has invested heavily in our community in advanced wireless and wireline infrastructure and they’re a great community citizen,” said Rep. Curtis Johnson, House District 68 (Montgomery County).  “Making U-verse available to us as a video option shows AT&T’s continued commitment to Clarksville.”

More Choice, Advanced Features

AT&T U-verse TV is the only 100 percent Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV) service offered by a national service provider, making AT&T U-verse one of the most dynamic and application-rich services available today, with advanced capabilities that customers don’t get from other providers.

“Cable has been the only game in town for too long, and we’re excited to change that today in Clarksville,” said Bryan Klamer, general manager, AT&T Tennessee. “We know Clarksville customers want a better choice to break free from cable, and AT&T U-verse is the answer. And we’ll continue to make U-verse TV even better for customers with regular upgrades and new cool applications that enhance your TV experience.”

Where AT&T U-verse services are available, local U-verse TV customers can enjoy numerous TV benefits, including the ability to watch recorded programs from a single DVR on any connected TV in the house with U-verse Total Home DVR; an extensive High Definition (HD) channel lineup with more than 100 HD channels; the ability to program DVR recordings from your Web-connected mobile phone or PC; personalized, on-screen weather, sports, traffic and stock information via AT&T U-bar; the ability to view personal photos on your TV that you have uploaded to flickr.com; the ability to check the current weather conditions and forecasts in any U.S. city with Weather On Demand; and more.

“We are thrilled that AT&T has brought their cutting edge video service, U-verse TV, to the Clarksville area,” said Rep. Phillip Johnson, House District 78 (Cheatham, Montgomery and Williamson County).

With AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet services, every AT&T U-verse customer or small business broadband user can enjoy faster available speeds. Packages include a range of speeds, with the fastest downstream speeds up to 18 Mbps. All AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet packages include wireless home or office networking at no extra cost, and access to the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network with unlimited connectivity at nearly 20,000 hot spot locations.

AT&T U-verse offers multiple combinations of TV and Internet packages to customize your experience. The most popular AT&T U-verse TV offers start at $49 a month (taxes, fees and other monthly charges apply). Professional installation is included, and you also get a 30-day money-back guarantee.

“We are excited about this new cutting edge technology,” said Rep. Joe Pitts, House District 67 (Montgomery County). “The expansion of AT&T U-verse supports economic growth and increases consumer choice.”

AT&T U-verse customers who want the complete home entertainment experience can also benefit from AT&T ConnecTech, an in-home care solution for virtually any technology or entertainment need, including computer, networking, TV, home theater installation, repair and maintenance. For more information, visit www.att.com/connectech.

For additional information on AT&T U-verse – or to find out if it’s available in your area – visit http://uverse.att.com, call 800-ATT-2020 or visit the following AT&T retail location at 2560 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. in Clarksville.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world’s most advanced IP-based business communications services, the nation’s fastest 3G network and the best wireless coverage worldwide, and the nation’s leading high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of their three-screen integration strategy, AT&T operating companies are expanding their TV entertainment offerings. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.

Immigration measures see passage

Republicans scored two major victories this week as two measures that will combat illegal immigration passed out of subcommittees and will now be heard before a full committee. Republicans have supported the legislation for several years, dating back to the “Tennessee Trust” initiative House Republicans proposed in 2006 as a “contract” with voters.

English in the Workplace

The “Protecting English in the Workplace,” or House Bill 480, legislation was overwhelmingly approved this week by the Employee Affairs Subcommittee, with Republicans praising the bi-partisan nature of the committee. The bill sponsor said he believes there is a pressing need for the legislation, which would clarify that it is not against the law for businesses to require that English be spoken on the job. Having worked on the legislation for several years, House Republicans argue that the legislation is needed so that businesses may take the necessary safety precautions without fear of being sued. Businesses where employees are continuously handling toxic products or food containers have a need to require English so that employees understand what they are handling. In the same vein, businesses such as factories have signs displayed in English that communicate critical
safety information to employees that can protect them. The sponsor pointed out there is a provision in the bill that exempts employees during scheduled breaks such as lunch.
The bill closely mirrors legislation brought to the U.S. Senate in 2008 by Senator Lamar Alexander, who said that the legislation was necessary to prevent frivolous lawsuits targeting businesses that felt English should be spoken on the job due to safety concerns. “Protecting English in the Workplace” now faces the House Consumer and Employee Affairs Committee.

Sanctuary Cities

A “sanctuary city” is a term given to a city in the United States that follows  certain practices to protect illegal aliens. Thirty-eight cities in the U.S. have been recognized as sanctuary cities, but many sources have identified over 200 city or county governments nationwide as having practiced such policies. As originally written, the bill would cut off economic and community grant money to any Tennessee city that might declare itself a “sanctuary city” for illegal aliens. Because of the difficult economic times facing the state and local governments, the sponsor agreed to work with other members to change that penalty provision, and maintained the bill aims to be a pre-emptive strike to guard against the adoption of such policies by cities in the state.

The legislation, House Bill 1354, cleared the Criminal Practice and Procedure Subcommittee and will now face the full House Judiciary Committee.

Republicans pass legislation to honor fallen Tennessee National Guardsmen

House Bill 1346 passed on the House floor Thursday, with an overwhelming number of House members applauding the measure, and signing onto the legislation as co-sponsors. The bill requires the Adjutant General to notify the Governor in the event of the death of any Tennessee National Guard member that is called into active military service and who is stationed outside the United States. In any month in which one or more notifications of death are given to the Governor, the Governor will be required to proclaim a day of mourning and order the state flag to be flown at half mast to honor the deceased National Guard member or members.

The law will only apply to the Tennessee National Guard because the Adjutant General is not notified of deaths from other military branches. The Republican sponsor explained that he would be interested in expanding the legislation in the future to include all those serving in the military from Tennessee who are killed overseas as a result of their service, if possible.

Common-sense legislation continues to die along party lines in Elections Subcommittee

For the third week in a row, the Democrat-controlled Elections Subcommittee has killed common-sense voting legislation along party lines. The Republican-sponsored House Bill 639 was presented in the Elections Subcommittee this week, and would require photo identification to vote. Republicans have fought for the provision for several years, arguing that the measure is needed to combat voter fraud and ensure that every vote counts. The legislation eventually died on a tie vote.

The bill is the third common-sense Republican legislation to protect the integrity of elections that has been bottled up in the Elections Subcommittee. Another bill, one that would have required photo identification to register to vote, died last week by a tie vote in the same subcommittee. Two weeks ago the subcommittee killed legislation that would have made it easier for military men and women serving overseas to vote by absentee ballot.

House Republicans vowed to revive the legislation, if possible, in another form. The Senate has already passed the Senate version of the bill with an overwhelming 29-3 vote.

In case you missed it…

• A proposal that would change jail cell regulations advanced out of the House State Government Subcommittee on Wednesday. The Republican-sponsored measure was approved unanimously, and would prohibit the Tennessee Corrections Institute from decertifying a jail facility based on square footage of a jail cell if the measurement meets the requirements of the American Correctional Association’s Manual of Correctional Standards. The sponsor said the bill was needed to ensure that local governments across the state are not required to pay more money than they have to on either existing jail facilities or construction of new jail facilities.
• Legislation that would prohibit sending or reading text messages while driving cleared the Calendar and Rules Committee this week. House Bill 107 will now move to the House floor. Transportation Committee members last week discussed the possibility that texting while driving fell under the “distracted driving” statute, but ultimately determined that the legislation would clarify the law and allow law enforcement some discretion.
• House Bill 431 was passed by the K-12 Education Subcommittee this week, and seeks to expand the recognition of home schoolers’ diplomas. The bill requires that diplomas issued by home schools be recognized by all state and local governmental entities as having the same rights and privileges of diplomas issued by public school systems.
• A bold education initiative called “Education Pays” was passed out of the House Education Committee today, winning approval from representatives from both sides of the aisle. House Bill 556 seeks to encourage  student academic achievement through award of Education Pays rewards. An “Education Pays reward” is a reward of cash or other thing of value given to students or the parent or guardian of a student or both in recognition of academic achievement. The bill authorizes funding of an Education Pays pilot program through private funds.
• A bill to curb aggressive driving passed out of the House Budget Subcommittee this week, and will now face the Finance, Ways and Means Committee. House Bill 18 creates a new violation of aggressive driving if the driver is guilty of at least three of the following violations in one continuous episode:
  • Overtaking on the right
  • Overtaking and passing in no passing zones
  • Following too closely
  • Failing to yield for emergency vehicles
  • Failing to yield to pedestrians
  • Failure to signal turn
  • Speeding
  • Stopping, standing, or parking in prohibited places
  • Following fire trucks
  • Improper use of HOV lanes
• The Budget Subcommittee passed the “Market Regulation Act of 2009″ this week, which is legislation brought forth by AT&T Tennessee that would deregulate much of AT&T’s operations. The Republican sponsor of the bill said the proposal can lower rates and level the playing field, and would maintain Tennessee’s probusiness and pro-job reputation. In addition, the state could see more companies relocating here, investing, and creating jobs with the passage of the legislation. The Senate has already passed the legislation.
• House Bill 959 passed out of the Budget Subcommittee this week and will next be presented to the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee. The bill would seal the records of handgun carry permit holders that are currently public record. Tennesseans became outraged earlier this year when the Commercial Appeal, a Memphis-based newspaper, published the handgun carry permit database in an easily searchable format on their website. Republicans criticized the paper, calling the action ‘irresponsible’ and ‘dangerous.’ The House GOP contended that in addition to printing a list that would make it easier for criminals to steal weapons, non-gun owners were also at risk because it would be easy for criminals to use the database to find homes that likely did not have a firearm.

The week ahead…

House Sessions: 4:00 p.m. Monday, April 27, 2009 in the House Chambers  and 9:00 a.m. Thursday, April 30, 2009 in the House Chambers

Now everyone knows that it is not polite to intrude on people in their private moments. The problem is that big brother doesn’t seem to know that peeking into people’s private communication is wrong and it should be illegal. Unfortunately President Bush wants to continue to grant immunity to telecommunications companies in the name of the so called ‘war on terror’ which in actuality is a war on the American people and the telecommunications infrastructure is the front line in the gradual diminishment of civil rights that Congress has permitted in recent years.

We need representatives in Washington DC who support protecting Americans instead of distrusting us. As a candidate for federal office I support legislation to abolish the Department of Homeland Security, that Orwellian agency constructed in the days after 9-11, which has crafted the war on the American people and their rights since. I support the elimination of FISA loopholes and the closing of Guantanamo Bay and the return of all detainees to their countries of origin. I believe that the American people deserve full and open disclosure on all activities related to government spying conducted against her citizens. Finally, I support the elimination of discreet, undocumented funding of the Central Intelligence agency.

Our rights are not negotiable. Telecommunication companies have violated those rights and have broken the law in order to appease a corrupt and power hungry administration that is willing to throw out Habeus Corpus, the right to privacy and international law in a reckless drive down the road to never-never land. Corporations must be held accountable and the President and his cronies must be called to account for violating our basic constitutional rights. Unfortunately, Senator Obama has been a disappointment on this issue and has refused to honor his commitment to filibuster this legislation. As a result, we are once again adrift without a rudder, a captain, a ship or an engine, being dragged along by the tides of fear.

It is time to reject the efforts of George Bush and anyone else who wants to grant retroactive immunity to corporations that spy on Americans. Congress has proven itself to be too weak-kneed to stand up to the fear mongers, but there is a new line of candidates running for office who are not so willing to roll over and play dumb. Treason is not patriotic. We all know that the government spying on us is wrong, and that any agency or corporation that assists in breaking into our most intimate communications is not behaving in a democratic fashion. The new reality is that our privacy is being compromised until we roll back FISA protections and strip immunity for corporations that spy on Americans.

For more information on this issue please visit: http://www.usalone.com/no_following_orders.php

House GOP leaders pleased with Supreme Court verdict upholding lethal injection

House GOP leaders said this week that they were pleased with the opinion issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Baze vs. Rees case that upheld the use of lethal injection as a means of execution. In a 7-2 ruling Wednesday, the Supreme Court held that Kentucky’s three-drug protocol did not amount to cruel and unusual punishment.

In September of 2007, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger ruled that Tennessee’s method of lethal injection was unconstitutional. Soon after, Governor Phil Bredesen issued a moratorium pending the outcome of the death penalty case facing the U.S. Supreme Court. As a result, two executions were put in jeopardy of not being carried out. Pervis T. Payne was scheduled to be executed on December 12, 2007, for two counts of murder stemming from a brutal stabbing he committed in Shelby County. Mass-murderer Paul Dennis Reid gunned down seven victims execution style, killing more people than anyone else on Tennessee’s death row, and drawing seven death sentences.

The Republican leaders pointed out that by the time a criminal in this state reaches the point of execution, they have been afforded every opportunity—appeals, access to lawyers, and judicial review—to ensure that their rights are properly carried out and protected. The leaders called for the Governor to lift the moratorium and carry out the executions as planned, adding that the justice a jury of their peers determined should be administered.

Ninety-six inmates reside on death row in the state of Tennessee, with the  next execution scheduled to take place in April of 2009.

Immigration provision killed on House floor

House Republicans attempted to add a commonsense immigration provision to a bill before the House on Thursday. The Republican-sponsored amendment would have clarified that employers are able to require that their employees speak English on the job. The move sparked outrage on the other side of aisle, and the amendment was killed, with a 51 to 46 vote.

Earlier this year, Republicans introduced legislation that would have enacted the “Protecting English in the Tennessee Workplace Act.” The bill, similar to that of Senator Lamar Alexander’s legislation on the federal level, specified that it is not an unlawful practice to require an employee to speak, or an applicant for employment to agree to speak, English while engaged in work. The sponsor argued that it was not unreasonable to protect businesses by clarifying that they are allowed to set their own policies, and that requiring that English be spoke on the job often boils down to a safety precaution. He cited businesses where employees are continuously handling toxic products or food containers, or in factories, where critical safety information is displayed in English. The bill eventually failed in the Employee Affairs subcommittee.

Long Term Care proposals moving forward

Republicans have been at the forefront of legislation to help elderly and disabled citizens “age in place” by receiving more home and community based care options — and generally to give them more choices about their health care.  This week marked the passage of House Bill 941 out of Health and Human Resources Committee, legislation that would offer financial allowances to consumers, giving them the freedom to choose which services they want within their spending plans.

The program began as a demonstration in Arkansas, Florida, and New Jersey. Currently, 12 more states are implementing self-directed personal care programs. Findings of a demonstration project jointly supported by the U.S. House and Human Services and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation showed that recipients with disabilities who direct their own supportive services were significantly more satisfied and appeared to get better care than those receiving services through homecare agencies.

Another piece of legislation championed by Republicans for several years was rolled into an Administration’s bill and passed unanimously in the House this week. The bill encourages personal responsibility by rewarding those who purchase long term care insurance. Currently, to receive state dollars for long term care, participants are required to “spend down” their assets—sometimes losing family heirlooms or land. House Bill 4206 would allow those types of assets to be retained, dollar for dollar, to equal the amount of a long term care  insurance purchase, rewarding the participants and allowing them more freedom.

• House Bill 2750 passed out of Finance, Ways and Means this week and is making its way to the House floor. The bill would authorize a governing body to use electronic forms of communication that would be available to the public in an effort to solve some of the problems associated with the dust-up over the Sunshine Law in Knoxville. The sponsor said he believes that with technology expanding the way people communicate, using this technology could solve some of the problems with the Open Meetings Act.
• House Bill 1421, the “Competitive Cable and Video Services Act,” passed out of the Commerce Committee this week and is headed to Finance, Ways and Means. The Senate bill is moving forward as well, with legislators having announced last week that a compromise was finally reached on the legislation after nearly two years of negotiations.
• Two DUI bills saw passage this week, as Republican lawmakers continue their efforts to strengthen the state’s DUI laws. House Bill 831 requires a judge to impose on a DUI offender certain conditions such as participation in an alcohol and drug safety school, or a drug and alcohol assessment or treatment. House Bill 3661 would create within the TBI a “Repeat DUI Offender” registry of persons who have two or more DUI convictions and whose license is currently suspended or revoked. The registry would be available on the Internet, similar to the way sexual offender information is provided.
• The much-anticipated spring Sales Tax Holiday is approaching, and will occur April 25-27, 2008. The date, originally set for March 21-23 on Easter weekend, was changed by the General Assembly in order for consumers to enjoy the full three days of tax-free items. Consumers and retailers can call (800) 342-1003 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit www.state.tn.us/revenue/salestaxholiday for more information.

• House Bill 2484 exempts places of worship from posting of signage to indicate nonsmoking enclosed areas as required by the Non-Smoker Protection Act. (Agriculture Committee)
• House Bill 3602 creates a statewide board of building appeals. (Commerce Committee)
• House Bill 3807 requires a utilization review of medical services in workers’ compensation cases to be done by a physician licensed in Tennessee in the same specialty as the physician providing the services. (Consumer & Employee Affairs Committee)
• House Bill 4029 creates a pilot program to make laptops available to juniors and seniors attending high school who are also enrolled in college courses at the eligible postsecondary institutions. (Education Committee)
• House Bill 2876 creates a Class D felony for fifth and subsequent DUI offenders with a minimum 360 consecutive day sentence; counts all convictions within 10 years of DUI date when calculating prior offenses and includes convictions of vehicular assault, vehicular homicide while intoxicated, and aggravated vehicular homicide. (Finance, Ways and Means)
• Senate Joint Resolution 0687 provides for the popular election of the lieutenant governor. (State & Local Government Committee)
• House Bill 2513 requires the Tennessee lottery corporation to use numbered balls in selecting lottery winners. (State & Local Government Committee)
• House Bill 2860 creates a presumption when determining the amount of bail that any defendant not lawfully present in the United States is a risk of flight; requires jailers to determine citizenship status of persons charged with a felony or with a second or subsequent DUI. (Budget Subcommittee)
• House Bill 2903 requires the general appropriations act to first fund K-12 education and then remaining functions of state government. (Budget Subcommittee)

Verizon’s notion of “progress” may not agree with your notion of free speech

Over the last several weeks we learned that the nation’s two largest telecommunications firms want to get into the business of censorship as well — blocking the free flow of information over phones and the Internet.

We saw an unsettling example of just how bad this can get last week. Verizon Wireless blocked text messages that national pro-choice group NARAL wanted to send to their members. That they reversed the decision after the censorship was exposed should offer little comfort.

While they may have scrambled to fix one “dusty policy” and let these messages through, we can see in the details of this and other episodes a worrisome pattern of abuse. And it’s not just at Verizon. Over the weekend, the technophiles at Slashdot exposed what many of us failed to read in the fine print of our AT&T customer agreements.

Censorship Is in the Details

Deep in its “terms of service” for high-speed services AT&T had buried this tidbit: The phone company may “immediately terminate or suspend all or a portion of your service … without notice, for conduct that AT&T believes … tends to damage the name or reputation of AT&T, or its parents, affiliates and subsidiaries.”

We have since sifted the agreements of other access providers and found even more explicit language over at Verizon: The company “reserves the right and sole discretion to change, limit, terminate, modify at any time, temporarily or permanently cease to provide the Service or any part thereof to any user or group of users, without prior notice and for any reason or no reason.”

You got that?

You’re Busted!

These multi-billion dollar network giants are telling their Internet and cell phone customers this: If you want “your world delivered,” you better play nice with the phone companies.

That means no speaking out of turn against AT&T and Verizon’s slow services, high prices or anti-competitive practices.

An Editorial cartoon by Adam Zyglis of the Buffalo News. Visit his website at http://www.adamzyglis.com/

Speak out for Net Neutrality and you could find your self on the wrong side of the digital divide. Losing an Internet connection would hit especially hard those millions of Americans in markets where the phone company is the only Internet service in town.

It gets weirder. Listed among AT&T’s “prohibited activities” are “creating or attempts to utilize a domain or domain name that is defamatory, fraudulent, indecent, offensive, deceptive, threatening, abusive, harassing, or which damages the name or reputation of AT&T.” [my emphasis]

This seems to take AT&T’s content policing one further. It is not enough that you can be disconnected for conduct that damages the reputation of AT&T, but you can lose your feed for simply visiting a Web site — or “domain” — that does the same.

Guess what? You’re doing that right now.

Free Speech Everywhere

Perhaps you think we’re making much out of nothing — that such fine print is created by lawyers to cover a company’s but in rare, worst case scenarios.

Try thinking about it this way: If a phone company can’t tell you what to say on a phone call, then it shouldn’t be able to tell you what to say in a text message, an e-mail, a blog or anywhere else. Speech should be free wherever it occurs – on the Internet, over cell phones, on the streets – everywhere. And it should be protected.

More and more of our communications occur in digital formats. It’s time Americans safeguarded free speech in this new media with the passion that we protect it in old. A good place to start is with the two companies that control Internet and cell phone access for more than 120 million Americans.

My organization Free Press has called on Congress to convene hearings that address phone company censorship policies. You can support this effort by writing your member of Congress and urging them to stand with the rest of us and investigate this abuse.

The biggest threat to free speech in America is public complacency. We must have this discussion about our democratic rights while we still can.

Phone lobbyists exert immense power over both Democrats and Republicans in the halls of Washington. As an alternative to opening their doors wide to AT&T and Verizon lobbyists, the least our elected officials could do for us is keep new communications open for everyone.

About Free Press

Free Press is a national nonpartisan organization working to increase informed public participation in crucial media policy debates, and to generate policies that will produce a more competitive and public interest-oriented media system with a strong nonprofit and noncommercial sector.

About Timothy Karr

Timothy Karr is Campaign Director at Free Press. He manages both the SavetheInternet.com and StopBigMedia.com Coalition campaigns, in addition to his work on fake news and propaganda, and journalism in crisis. Prior to Free Press, Tim served as executive director of MediaChannel.org and vice president of Globalvision New Media and the Globalvision News Network. He has also worked extensively as an editor, reporter and photojournalist for the Associated Press, Time Inc., New York Times and Australia Consolidated Press.

In reality, there is a certain synchronicity to merging images of an era that saw the origination of television with the reality of fiber-optics “lightning express” [in this case, Lightband] into the future of telecommunications. It is the kind of creative, futuristic thinking that fueled 1950s imaginations in Disney’s Tomorrowland, that erupted and amazed in the futuristic exhibits at World Fairs. Many of us are old enough to have read about “the future” of technology in books by authors like Ray Bradbury or Isaac Asimov. Yesterday’s imaginings turned reality today.

Tuesday evening, the Clarksville Department of Electricity stepped into the future with the unveiling of their new logo, sign, branding and price information for their new Fiber to the Home (FTTH) services that place Clarksville, Tennessee on the cutting edge — nationwide. CDE Lightband is the culmination of years of planning and design, an informational campaign, and legalities including an endorsement by the voters of Clarksville on the referendum question that allowed this far-reaching development to occur.

CDE officials screened a brief video on state of the art high definition televisions that opened with images of cave art, moving quickly forward to those cumbersome console TV sets and the screens with rounded corners, on to early computers with a single “brain” filling an entire room, culminating with today’s pinpoint size fiber optic lines and microchips.

CDE President Kenneth Spradlin said that the CDE was founded 70 years ago based on  “consumer dissatisfaction with what was and a need to look to the future.” He added that a similar displeasure with existing services combined with the growing needs of a community poised for development and already experiencing massive growth made this project a idea whose time had come.

This is the largest deployment of fiber optics in America, according to Cornerstone Information Systems, another of the Project Partners.

“There are few projects anywhere [in America] as ambitious as this,” said Cornerstone’s David Smith. And with those words, a diverse group of city officials, community leaders and businesspeople toured the new facility on Madison Street, eyeing banks of towers, miles of wiring, office space, and potential studio space (not on the plans yet but a distinct possibility) large enough for the inevitable growth this service will experience.

Stephen Hopkins, Vice-President of Telecommunications, CDE Project Partners, said the first customers would be able to access this new network in March, 2008.

The design, construction and implementation of the city-wide project continues to involve companies such as Atlantic Engineering, TCC, World Wide Packet, ETI, Kassena, and Cornerstone Information Systems.

As for the service packages, more details will be coming soon but  judging by preliminary numbers Charter customers would see a savings of around $40 per month for their combined phone, internet, and cable TV service.

When will you be able to get the new CDE Lightband services?

Rotary Park Service Area

Rotary Park to Exit 11

• Construction Completion: January 2008
• Service Available: March 2008

Barkers Mill Service Area

Exit 1 to around Outlaw Field

• Construction Completion: April 2008
• Service Available: June 2008

Dunbar Cave Service Area

Exit 8 to Needmore to the Red River

• Construction Completion: March 2008
• Service Available: May 2008

New Providence Service Area

Red River to 374 and 101st includes Peachers Mill and Lafayette Roads

• Construction Completion: April 2008
• Service Available: June 2008

Primary Service Area (Downtown)

Downtown and APSU areas

• Construction Completion: April 2008
• Service Available: June 2008

Ladd Service Area

Fort Campbell BLVD north of 101st Division Parkway to Tiny Town Road

• Construction Completion: May 2008
• Service Available: July 2008

District Service Area

South Clarksville, roughly Madison to Highway 13 to 41A Bypass.

• Construction Completion: August 2008
• Service Available: October 2008

St. Bethlehem Service Area

101st Division Parkway to North of 1-24 around exit 4

• Construction Completion: May 2008
• Service Available: July 2008

East Service Area

Hospital Area to Red River and 374

• Construction Completion: October 2008
• Service Available: December 2008

Edgeton Service Area

Fort Campbell BLVD North of Tiny Town Road

• Construction Completion: May 2008
• Service Available: July 2008

The standard disclaimers also apply here…

Construction Dates and service availability time-lines are subject to change.

To confirm what area you are in check the map (PDF)

Clarksville Online’s Editor Christine Piesyk contributed to this piece also.

DEFINITIONS:

• Astroturf—An organization set up by a large corporation or corporations to put forward the corporate agenda but to look like an authentic ‘grass-roots’ group.
• Co-opted—An authentic group that is given funding by a large corporation or corporations, where the group lobbies for corporate initiatives even if they are contrary to the needs of its members.
• Skunkworks—A well coordinated campaign funded by large corporations (or industries) that incorporates Astroturf and co-opted groups, research think tanks, PR firms, lobbying firms, state and federal politicians to put forward the corporate agenda on a specific topic.

Over the last few weeks numerous groups have been lobbying and hyping the corporate position of AT&T and Verizon for relaxed cable franchise requirements or to stop any net neutrality legislation.

Some of these groups are working together to supply a message that blacks, Hispanics, seniors, low income, deaf or disabled persons care about these issues – and that they back the AT&T and Verizon positions.

A release from a group called Video Access Alliance in mid-March, for example, titled “Video Industry Organization Voices Support for Broadband Deployment and Consumer Choice,” outlines how numerous groups support what it refers to as the FCC’s “bold” cable television decision.

“Last week’s video franchising order by the FCC was a bold and necessary step in providing consumers and new content providers alike with a more competitive and fair marketplace for cable television and broadband services. The Video Access Alliance commends the FCC and Chairman Kevin Martin for this decision, and we are not alone. Below are the words of just a few of the organizations representing a broad spectrum of constituencies and interests that support this action.”

The press release goes on to quote Astroturf and co-opted groups representing the deaf, disabled, black, low income and others, all touting a plan to loosen cable franchise rules for the phone companies.

Some of the organizations quoted in the release are the American Association of People with Disabilities, the Internet Innovation Alliance, and the National Association of the Deaf, the Alliance for Public Technology, and the Video Access Alliance itself.

Other groups that sent out releases supporting the telecoms on this and related topics include the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Consumers for Cable Choice, Netcompetition, and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

What do these groups have in common? They all receive funding from AT&T and/or Verizon, and then lobby for them.

[Click here for a description by my group, Teletruth, of the FCC decision in question and why it’s anti-consumer. Also for background: America is 15th in the world in broadband, in part because the phone companies failed to deliver on their promises to rewire America with fiber optics. Customers have already paid billions per state for that. On these issues, read our summary, written a year ago, for Nieman Watchdog.]

These “consumer” groups now are congratulating the FCC for doing a runaround of Congress (which did not pass legislation last session), by allowing the phone companies to pick and choose which communities, if any, will get new competition and without having to worry about commitments to the public, which is still paying for services not yet received.

Worse, AT&T and MCI (Verizon) are now raising local and long distance rates, especially harming low-income and low-volume customers, including seniors and the disabled.

You would think the consumer groups would be outraged and want an investigation of where all the money allocated for fiber optic broadband went or about the large increases to the price of service. Instead, the AT&T and Verizon-funded groups—some authentic but ‘co-opted’, others, such as Video Access Alliance, simply made up—are now attempting to confuse Congress, the FCC and the public into thinking that the phone companies have the support of blacks, Hispanics, seniors, the disabled and low-income families. (Click here to see what we’ve written on many these groups.)

This is all very sleazy. It is about deception. It is about playing on America’s caring about the public interest and about minorities getting a fair shake. Video Access Alliance claims that blacks and Hispanics care about Verizon and AT&T cable plans and it is important to help these ‘poor’ misunderstood companies deliver cable services.

“This issue is extremely important for minority businesses and minority consumers,” said VAA Chairman Julia Johnson. “Blacks and Hispanics spend more on telecommunications and media products and services than non-minorities. Studies indicate minorities have higher penetration rates for digital television. Minorities subscribe to more premium television channels like HBO and Showtime and minorities are the industry’s best pay per view customers. We are high value customers with enormous buying power.”

The conclusion one should draw is that these groups, while they themselves benefit from the phone companies’ funding, certainly harm their own constituents. Minorities typically live in areas that are not the rich neighborhoods that will be the first to be rewired. Seniors are not worrying about broadband issues and certainly spend less than most customers on telecom issues. And we doubt that the disabled are worried about ‘premium’ television programming.

Teletruth has no problem with large corporations donating money to non-profits. In fact, we encourage it. But the line should be drawn when a group starts lobbying for the phone companies, even if the money it received has nothing to do with the corporation’s business, or when a group takes the money in exchange for doing corporate favors – like lobbying.

The reason Astroturf, co-opted, and skunkworks groups should be ‘outed’ is simple – these organizations have very deep-pocketed funders with lobbying groups, PR firms, and others to get them the loudest “volume” in the media or access to regulators and legislators. They often overwhelm the message of independent consumer groups.

Teletruth suggests national legislation be created to stop deceptive practices. Imagine the removal of thousands of groups’ non-profit status for lobbying for their large corporate benefactors. IRS regulations state that for a citizens group “to be tax-exempt as an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3) of the Code … it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate at all in campaign activity for or against political candidates”.

In our view, every organization should be required to identify all major contributors before taking part in public meetings, filing comments, and so on. This would clear up the deceptive practices issue.

In the movie Man of the Year, Robin Williams, playing a comedian running for president, recommended that all politicians and organizations be required to wear a ‘NASCAR’ jacket, showing all of the sponsors on their ’sleeve’, as it were.

When AT&T and MCI were separate long distance companies they had their own ‘Astroturf groups, research firms, etc., that gave balance to the political forces. Today, with the mergers and consolidations, AT&T and Verizon not only own the local phone companies and the long distance companies, but they are also the largest wireless companies. There is no longer a serious ‘other side’. The Cable companies are simply not going to defend customers’ rights against the abuse of other large corporations.

The public voice needs to be on equal footing with the deceptive organizations that are using ethnic diversity or disabilities as ‘marketing’, putting corporate initiatives over the public interest.

[Click here for additional Nieman Watchdog reports by Bruce Kushnick.] Re-published here with the author’s permission

The author of this article, Bruce Kushnick has been a telecom analyst for 24 years, and is currently the chairman of Teletruth, an independent customer advocacy group focusing on broadband and telecom issues, as well as executive director of New Networks Institute, a market research firm. Teletruth was a member of the FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee in 2003-2004 and has worked with the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy on competitive issues. It also helped to create the Broadband Bill of Rights, and research through Teletruth’s phone bill auditing services has led to class action suits and major refunds for phone bill overcharging. His new ebook, The $200 Billion Broadband Scandal, is available online. His email address is  if you wish to contact him directly.