AT&T Offers Assistance to the EPA in Effort to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release

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11.25.2008 - 05:26pm ET

AT&T Offers Assistance to the EPA in Effort to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

'As a Nation, We Can Limit Greenhouse Gas Emissions and, at the Same Time, Expand Our Potential for Economic Growth,' says CEO Stephenson

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T Inc. today announced it would welcome the opportunity to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other stakeholders to explore and develop cutting-edge approaches to combat the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The EPA is currently evaluating the provisions of the Clean Air Act that may be applicable to regulating greenhouse gas emissions. In a filing with the EPA, AT&T advised federal regulators that its company and the information and communications technology (ICT) industry at large are uniquely positioned to develop and advance solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while protecting and promoting economic opportunities.

"Protecting the environment and economic growth can go hand in hand," said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman, chief executive officer and president. "As a nation, we can limit greenhouse gas emissions and, at the same time, expand our potential for economic growth. Communications and broadband infrastructure, like the network and services AT&T provides, will be essential components in driving economic growth and achieving meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions."

In its filing, AT&T advised that there are numerous opportunities for ICT to increase energy efficiency and productivity while reducing carbon emissions. Some examples include:

Decreasing energy-intensive travel through telecommuting, teleconferencing and other services.
Providing centralized data management, Internet, communications and software service for customers.
Dematerializing public and commercial activities through electronic billing, online provision of governmental services and online delivery of goods and services, such as education, libraries, research, medicine, videos and music.
Rationalizing transportation and distribution systems using next-generation dispatching and planning software combined with satellite-based GPS systems.
Improving energy efficiency in commercial and residential buildings through more sophisticated monitoring and dispatching systems for more accurate control and delivery of energy.

"Recent findings from the SMART 2020 study clearly illustrate the potential of ICT," said Paul Dickinson, co-founder and CEO of the Carbon Disclosure Project. "In the U.S., ICT-enabled solutions could cut annual emissions by as much as 22 percent by 2020, which translates to energy savings of up to $240 billion. Not only that, but ICT can also be a strong catalyst for economic growth not just in the United States but across the globe."

AT&T is working to better assess the role that ICT products and services can play in reducing emissions and increasing energy efficiencies. For example, AT&T worked with Cisco Systems, Inc. earlier this year to launch the AT&T Telepresence Solution, which provides a unique in-person experience via video conferencing. Additionally, AT&T offers a host of capabilities out of its Internet data centers, which provide centralized and virtual computing capability to enterprises of all sizes. For example, AT&T's Synaptic Hosting product allows users to plug into their enterprise's computing system from anywhere around the globe to seamlessly access a full range of applications on demand at any time.

AT&T's own energy needs continue to expand as the company works to connect customers around the globe. To tackle this challenge, AT&T has a number of initiatives under way to ensure the company uses energy as efficiently as possible. Some of those efforts include:

A new fleet of alternative-fuel vehicles that lowers vehicle operating costs while contributing to a cleaner environment.
Investment in alternative and renewable energy sources, including the use of wind power for 10 percent of the electricity for all AT&T facilities in Austin, Texas, and the installation of a 1 megawatt solar power system on its sprawling facility in San Ramon, Calif.
Rolling out new energy-saving software on 310,000 desktop computers across AT&T's domestic operations to reduce the energy consumption and environmental impact of its personal computers.
Implementing energy-saving measures by installing more efficient lighting and heating and air systems, using motion detectors to eliminate unnecessary energy use and consolidating operations to shed building space.

AT&T is also an active participant in collaborative industry efforts, such as The Green Grid consortium, the EPA's ENERGY STAR data center initiative and the ATIS Network Interface, Power and Protection-Telecommunications Energy Efficiency subcommittee, to find solutions for improved energy efficiency.

A copy of today's EPA filing is available at http://www.att.com/Common/merger/files/pdf/sustainability/EPA_ANPRM.pdf.

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 and the nation's leading wireless, 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 its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked No. 1 on Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list and No. 1 on America's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list. 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.

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