att1q10.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q
 

 
(Mark One)
   

 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
       
   
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010
 
       
   
or
 
       
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
       
For the transition period from       to     
 
Commission File Number 1-8610

AT&T INC.

Incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware
I.R.S. Employer Identification Number 43-1301883
 
208 S. Akard St., Dallas, Texas 75202
Telephone Number:  (210) 821-4105


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes [X]   No [   ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes [X]   No [   ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer
[X]
 
Accelerated filer
[   ]
Non-accelerated filer
[   ]
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
[   ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes [   ]   No [X]
 
At April 30, 2010, there were 5,909 million common shares outstanding.

 
 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Financial Statements
 
   
AT&T INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Operating Revenues
           
Wireless service
  $ 12,850     $ 11,646  
Voice
    7,479       8,503  
Data
    6,631       6,281  
Directory
    1,041       1,249  
Other
    2,648       2,892  
Total operating revenues
    30,649       30,571  
Operating Expenses
               
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)
    12,329       12,195  
Selling, general and administrative
    7,484       7,753  
Depreciation and amortization
    4,826       4,886  
Total operating expenses
    24,639       24,834  
Operating Income
    6,010       5,737  
Other Income (Expense)
               
Interest expense
    (767 )     (849 )
Equity in net income of affiliates
    217       137  
Other income (expense) – net
    (22 )     (15 )
Total other income (expense)
    (572 )     (727 )
Income Before Income Taxes
    5,438       5,010  
Income taxes
    2,876       1,809  
Net Income
    2,562       3,201  
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
    (87 )     (75 )
Net Income Attributable to AT&T
  $ 2,475     $ 3,126  
                 
Basic Earnings Per Share Attributable to AT&T
  $ 0.42     $ 0.53  
Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to AT&T
  $ 0.42     $ 0.53  
Weighted Average Number of Common
               
Shares Outstanding Basic (in millions)
    5,905       5,896  
Dividends Declared Per Common Share
  $ 0.42     $ 0.41  
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

AT&T INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
           
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Assets
 
(Unaudited)
       
Current Assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 2,617     $ 3,802  
Accounts receivable – net of allowances for
               
doubtful accounts of $1,125 and $1,205
    14,167       14,978  
Prepaid expenses
    1,820       1,572  
Deferred income taxes
    1,293       1,274  
Other current assets
    2,465       2,708  
Total current assets
    22,362       24,334  
Property, plant and equipment
    232,466       230,552  
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (133,106 )     (130,459 )
Property, Plant and Equipment – Net
    99,360       100,093  
Goodwill
    73,052       73,259  
Licenses
    49,028       48,759  
Customer Lists and Relationships – Net
    6,624       7,420  
Other Intangible Assets – Net
    5,680       5,644  
Investments in Equity Affiliates
    3,278       2,921  
Other Assets
    6,317       6,322  
Total Assets
  $ 265,701     $ 268,752  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Current Liabilities
               
Debt maturing within one year
  $ 9,437     $ 7,361  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    18,087       20,999  
Advanced billing and customer deposits
    4,061       4,170  
Accrued taxes
    2,639       1,696  
Dividends payable
    2,482       2,479  
Total current liabilities
    36,706       36,705  
Long-Term Debt
    60,024       64,720  
Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities
               
Deferred income taxes
    25,520       23,803  
Postemployment benefit obligation
    27,709       27,849  
Other noncurrent liabilities
    13,276       13,350  
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities
    66,505       65,002  
                 
Stockholders’ Equity
               
Common stock ($1 par value)
    6,495       6,495  
Additional paid-in capital
    91,557       91,707  
Retained earnings
    39,373       39,366  
Treasury stock (at cost)
    (21,137 )     (21,260 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (14,265 )     (14,408 )
Noncontrolling interest
    443       425  
Total stockholders’ equity
    102,466       102,325  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 265,701     $ 268,752  
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

3
 

 

AT&T INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
Dollars in millions, increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Operating Activities
           
Net income
  $ 2,562     $ 3,201  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
               
net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    4,826       4,886  
Undistributed earnings from investments in equity affiliates
    (201 )     (124 )
Bad debt expense
    350       509  
Deferred income tax expense
    1,612       126  
Net loss from impairment and sale of investments
    50       82  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    461       573  
Other current assets
    88       (51 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (2,084 )     (1,931 )
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
    (87 )     (75 )
Other - net
    (324 )     719  
Total adjustments
    4,691       4,714  
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
    7,253       7,915  
                 
Investing Activities
               
Construction and capital expenditures
               
Capital expenditures
    (3,156 )     (3,173 )
Interest during construction
    (184 )     (185 )
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
    (178 )     -  
Dispositions
    1       181  
Sales of securities, net of investments
    (20 )     15  
Other
    8       5  
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
    (3,529 )     (3,157 )
                 
Financing Activities
               
Net change in short-term borrowings with
               
original maturities of three months or less
    323       (3,909 )
Issuance of long-term debt
    -       5,450  
Repayment of long-term debt
    (2,512 )     (1,261 )
Issuance of treasury stock
    3       1  
Dividends paid
    (2,479 )     (2,416 )
Other
    (244 )     (603 )
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
    (4,909 )     (2,738 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (1,185 )     2,020  
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of year
    3,802       1,792  
Cash and Cash Equivalents End of Period
  $ 2,617     $ 3,812  
                 
Cash paid during the three months ended March 31 for:
               
Interest
  $ 1,072     $ 1,276  
Income taxes, net of refunds
  $ 41     $ (30 )
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 
 
AT&T Inc.
 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited)
 
Dollars and shares in millions except per share amounts
 
   
March 31, 2010
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
 
Common Stock
           
Balance at beginning of year
    6,495     $ 6,495  
Balance at end of period
    6,495     $ 6,495  
                 
Additional Paid-In Capital
               
Balance at beginning of year
          $ 91,707  
Issuance of treasury shares
            73  
Share-based payments
            (223 )
Balance at end of period
          $ 91,557  
                 
Retained Earnings
               
Balance at beginning of year
          $ 39,366  
Net income attributable to AT&T ($0.42 per share)
            2,475  
Dividends to stockholders ($0.42 per share)
            (2,482 )
Other
            14  
Balance at end of period
          $ 39,373  
                 
Treasury Stock
               
Balance at beginning of year
    (593 )   $ (21,260 )
Issuance of shares
    7       123  
Balance at end of period
    (586 )   $ (21,137 )
                 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to AT&T, net of tax:
               
Balance at beginning of year
          $ (14,408 )
Other comprehensive income attributable to AT&T (see Note 2)
            143  
Balance at end of period
          $ (14,265 )
                 
Noncontrolling Interest:
               
Balance at beginning of year
          $ 425  
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
            87  
Distributions
            (68 )
Translation adjustments applicable to noncontrolling interest, net of taxes
            (1 )
Balance at end of period
          $ 443  
                 
Total Stockholders’ Equity at beginning of year
          $ 102,325  
Total Stockholders’ Equity at end of period
          $ 102,466  
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
               
 


 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 1. PREPARATION OF INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Basis of Presentation  Throughout this document, AT&T Inc. is referred to as “AT&T,” “we” or the “Company.” The consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to Regulation S-X and other applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that permit reduced disclosures for interim reporting. We believe that these consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the results for the presented interim periods. The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those for the full year. You should read this document in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

In preparing the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements, we have reviewed all known events that have occurred after March 31, 2010, and through the date that our Form 10-Q was available for issuance for possible inclusion in this Form 10-Q (see Note 7).

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and our majority-owned subsidiaries and affiliates. Our subsidiaries and affiliates operate in the communications services industry both domestically and internationally, providing wireless and wireline communications services and equipment, managed networking, wholesale services, and advertising solutions.

All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in the consolidation process. Investments in partnerships and less than majority-owned subsidiaries where we have significant influence are accounted for under the equity method. Earnings from certain foreign equity investments accounted for using the equity method are included for periods ended within up to one month of our period end.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes, including estimates of probable losses and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates. We have reclassified certain amounts in prior-period financial statements to conform to the current period’s presentation—see Note 4 for a discussion of our change in approach to intersegment activity, effective January 1, 2010.

Recent Accounting Standards

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures  In January 2010, the FASB issued “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures—Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements” (Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2010-06), which requires new disclosures and explanations for transfers of financial assets and liabilities between certain levels in the fair value hierarchy. ASU 2010-06 also clarifies that fair value measurement disclosures are required for each class of financial asset and liability, which may be a subset of a caption in the consolidated balance sheets, and those disclosures should include a discussion of inputs and valuation techniques. For financial assets and liabilities subject to lowest-measurements, ASU 2010-06, further requires that we separately present purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements instead of netting these changes. With respect to matters other than lowest-level measurements, we adopted ASU 2010-06 beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2010 with the remaining disclosure requirements becoming effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010 (i.e., the quarter ending March 31, 2011, for us). We are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2010-06 on our pension and other postretirement benefits disclosures for 2011 reporting. See Note 6 for fair value measurements and disclosures for our investment securities and derivatives.


 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Valuation and Other Adjustments Included in the current liabilities reported on our consolidated balance sheets are acquisition-related accruals established prior to 2009. The liabilities include accruals for severance, lease terminations and equipment removal costs associated with our acquisitions of AT&T Corp., BellSouth Corporation, and Dobson Communications Corporation. Following is a summary of the accruals recorded at December 31, 2009, cash payments made during 2010, and the adjustments thereto:

   
12/31/09
   
Cash
   
Adjustments
   
3/31/10
 
   
Balance
   
Payments
   
and Accruals
   
Balance
 
Severance accruals paid from:
                       
Company funds
  $ 6     $ (1 )   $ (2 )   $ 3  
Pension and postemployment
benefit plans
    98       (1 )     -       97  
Lease terminations
    212       (10 )     (10 )     192  
Equipment removal and other related costs
    23       -       (5 )     18  
Total
  $ 339     $ (12 )   $ (17 )   $ 310  

Employee Separations  In accordance with GAAP, we established obligations for expected termination benefits provided under existing plans to former or inactive employees after employment but before retirement. These benefits include severance payments, workers’ compensation, disability, medical continuation coverage, and other benefits. We had severance accruals of $438 at March 31, 2010 and $676 at December 31, 2009. The decrease in balance was due to payments during the period.

Income Taxes  In March 2010, the President of the United States signed into law comprehensive health care reform legislation under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Reconciliation Act), which included a change in the tax treatment related to Medicare Part D subsidies. We recorded a $995, or $0.17 per diluted share, charge to income tax expense in our consolidated statement of income for the three months ended March 31, 2010, and increased our deferred income taxes liability balance as of March 31, 2010, to reflect the impact of this change. The charge also contributed to an increase of our effective tax rate to 52.9% for the first quarter of 2010 compared to 36.1% for the first quarter of 2009.


 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 2. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The components of our comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 include net income, adjustments to stockholders’ equity for foreign currency translation adjustments, net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges and defined benefit postretirement plans. Foreign currency translation adjustments were due to exchange rate fluctuations in our foreign affiliates’ local currencies and the reclassification adjustment on cash flow hedges was due to the amortization of losses from our interest rate locks.

Following is our comprehensive income with the respective tax impacts for the three months ending March 31, 2010 and 2009:

   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Net income
  $ 2,562     $ 3,201  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
               
Foreign currency translation adjustments (includes $(1) and $(7) attributable to noncontrolling interest), net of taxes of $50 and $(20)
    93       (35 )
Net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
               
Unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes of $48 and $(51)
    90       (90 )
Less reclassification adjustment realized in net income, net of taxes of $(13) and $44
    (25 )     77  
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
               
Unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes of $(16) and $96
    (30 )     184  
Less: Reclassification adjustment realized in net income, net of taxes of $2 and $3
    3       3  
Defined benefit postretirement plans:
               
Net actuarial gains (losses) and prior service benefit (cost) arising during the period, net of taxes of $(12)
    (19 )     -  
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss and prior service benefit included in net income, net of taxes of $18 and $32
    30       57  
Other
    -       (1 )
Other comprehensive income
    142       195  
Total comprehensive income
    2,704       3,396  
Less: Total comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest
    (86 )     (68 )
Total Comprehensive Income Attributable to AT&T
  $ 2,618     $ 3,328  









 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 3. EARNINGS PER SHARE

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share for net income for the first quarter, 2010 and 2009, are shown in the table below:

   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Numerators
           
Numerator for basic earnings per share:
           
Net income attributable to AT&T
  $ 2,475     $ 3,126  
Dilutive potential common shares:
               
Other share-based payment
    3       3  
Numerator for diluted earnings per share
  $ 2,478     $ 3,129  
Denominators (000,000)
               
Denominator for basic earnings per share:
               
Weighted-average number of common
               
shares outstanding
    5,905       5,896  
Dilutive potential common shares:
               
Stock options
    3       2  
Other share-based payment
    27       24  
Denominator for diluted earnings per share
    5,935       5,922  
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.42     $ 0.53  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.42     $ 0.53  

At March 31, 2010 and 2009, we had issued and outstanding options to purchase approximately 142 and 193 million shares of AT&T common stock. The exercise prices of 120 and 176 million shares were above the market price of AT&T stock at March 31, 2010 and 2009. Accordingly, we did not include these amounts in determining the dilutive potential common shares for the respective periods. At March 31, 2010, the exercise prices of 18 million stock options were below market price.


 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 4. SEGMENT INFORMATION

Our segments are strategic business units that offer different products and services over various technology platforms and are managed accordingly. We analyze our various operating segments based on segment income before income taxes. Interest expense and other income (expense) – net are managed only on a total company basis and are, accordingly, reflected only in consolidated results. Therefore, these items are not included in the calculation of each segment’s percentage of our consolidated results. The customers and long-lived assets of our reportable segments are predominantly in the United States. We have four reportable segments: (1) Wireless, (2) Wireline, (3) Advertising Solutions and (4) Other.

The Wireless segment uses our nationwide network to provide consumer and business customers with wireless voice and advanced data communications services.

The Wireline segment uses our regional, national and global network to provide consumer and business customers with landline voice and data communications services, AT&T U-verseSM TV, high-speed broadband and voice services (U-verse) and managed networking to business customers. Additionally, we receive commissions on sales of satellite television services offered through our agency arrangements.

The Advertising Solutions segment includes our directory operations, which publish Yellow and White Pages directories and sell directory advertising and Internet-based advertising and local search.

The Other segment includes results from Sterling Commerce, Inc., customer information services and all corporate and other operations. This segment includes our portion of the results from our international equity investments. Also included in the Other segment are impacts of corporate-wide decisions for which the individual operating segments are not being evaluated.

Historically, intersegment activity has been reported as revenue in the billing segment and offsetting operating expense in the purchasing segment. Upon consolidation, the intersegment revenue and expense were eliminated with the consolidated results reflecting the cash operating and depreciation expense of providing the intersegment service. As part of AT&T’s ongoing initiatives to manage its business from an external customer perspective, we no longer report intersegment revenue and report the cash operating and depreciation expense related to intersegment activity to the purchasing segment which provided services to the external customer. While this change did not impact AT&T’s total consolidated results, the impact to each operating segment varied. In particular, the Wireless segment, as a purchaser of network, IT and other services from the Wireline segment, experienced a reduction in cash operating expense partially offset by increased depreciation expense with the net result being increased operating margins. This change was effective with the reporting of operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. We have reclassified certain amounts in 2009 financial statements to conform to the current period’s presentation.

In the following tables, we show how our segment results are reconciled to our consolidated results reported. The Wireless, Wireline, Advertising Solutions and Other columns represent the segment results of each such operating segment. The consolidation column adds in those line items that we manage on a consolidated basis only: interest expense and other income (expense) – net.

Segment assets for the three months ended March 31, 2010 are materially unchanged from the year ended December 31, 2009 with the exception of Other segment assets. Our Other segment assets totaled $6,211, which decreased $6,145 (net of restatements of $1,211), or 49.7%, primarily due to a decrease in cash and accounts receivable.


10 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

For the three months ended March 31, 2010
                               
               
Advertising
         
Consolidation
   
Consolidated
 
   
Wireless
   
Wireline
   
Solutions
   
Other
   
and Elimination
   
Results
 
Total segment operating revenues
  $ 13,897     $ 15,421     $ 1,041     $ 290     $ -     $ 30,649  
Operations and support expenses
    8,183       10,612       675       343       -       19,813  
Depreciation and amortization expenses
    1,558       3,099       138       31       -       4,826  
Total segment operating expenses
    9,741       13,711       813       374       -       24,639  
Segment operating income (loss)
    4,156       1,710       228       (84 )     -       6,010  
Interest expense
    -       -       -       -       767       767  
Equity in net income of affiliates
    13       5       -       199       -       217  
Other income (expense) – net
    -       -       -       -       (22 )     (22 )
Segment income before income taxes
  $ 4,169     $ 1,715     $ 228     $ 115     $ (789 )   $ 5,438  

For the three months ended March 31, 2009
                               
               
Advertising
         
Consolidation
   
Consolidated
 
   
Wireless
   
Wireline
   
Solutions
   
Other
   
and Elimination
   
Results
 
Total segment operating revenues
  $ 12,838     $ 16,161     $ 1,249     $ 323     $ -     $ 30,571  
Operations and support expenses
    7,886       10,928       721       413       -       19,948  
Depreciation and amortization expenses
    1,499       3,176       176       35       -       4,886  
Total segment operating expenses
    9,385       14,104       897       448       -       24,834  
Segment operating income (loss)
    3,453       2,057       352       (125 )     -       5,737  
Interest expense
    -       -       -       -       849       849  
Equity in net income of affiliates
    -       3       -       134       -       137  
Other income (expense) – net
    -       -       -       -       (15 )     (15 )
Segment income before income taxes
  $ 3,453     $ 2,060     $ 352     $ 9     $ (864 )   $ 5,010  




11 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 5. PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Substantially all of our employees are covered by one of various noncontributory pension and death benefit plans. We also provide certain medical, dental and life insurance benefits to substantially all retired employees under various plans and accrue actuarially determined postretirement benefit costs as active employees earn these benefits. Our objective in funding these plans, in combination with the standards of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), is to accumulate assets sufficient to meet the plans’ obligations to provide benefits to employees upon their retirement. No significant cash contributions are required under ERISA regulations during 2010.

The following details pension and postretirement benefit costs included in operating expenses (in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses) in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. We account for these costs in accordance with GAAP for employers’ accounting for pensions and other postretirement benefits. In the following table, gains are denoted with parentheses and losses are not. A portion of these expenses is effectively capitalized as part of the benefit load on internal construction and capital expenditures, historically averaging approximately 10%.

   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Pension (benefit) cost:
           
Service cost – benefits earned during the period
  $ 269     $ 272  
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
    787       845  
Expected return on assets
    (1,143 )     (1,140 )
Amortization of prior service (benefit) cost
    (4 )     27  
Recognized actuarial loss
    171       166  
Net pension cost
  $ 80     $ 170  
                 
Postretirement (benefit) cost:
               
Service cost – benefits earned during the period
  $ 87     $ 88  
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement
               
benefit obligation
    563       630  
Expected return on assets
    (284 )     (239 )
Amortization of prior service benefit
    (156 )     (90 )
Recognized actuarial gain
    (2 )     -  
Postretirement cost
  $ 208     $ 389  
                 
Combined net pension and postretirement cost
  $ 288     $ 559  

Our combined net pension and postretirement cost decreased $271 in the first quarter of 2010. The decrease was primarily related to lower interest costs due to a lower obligation, as a result of retiree medical and drug coverage changes, partially offset by a change in the discount rate from 7% to 6.5%. An increase in amortization of prior service benefit, driven by the utilization of market interest rates for lump sum pension distributions, under the Pension Protection Act and changes in future retiree benefits, also contributed to the decrease in combined net pension and postretirement cost. As allowed under GAAP, we use a method in which gains and losses are amortized only when the net gains or losses exceed 10 percent of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the market-related value of assets (MRVA). Under GAAP, the expected long-term rate of return is calculated on the MRVA. GAAP requires that actual gains and losses on pension and postretirement plan assets be recognized in the MRVA equally over a period of up to five years. However, we use a methodology, allowed under GAAP, under which we hold the MRVA to within 20% of the actual fair value of plan assets, which can have the effect of accelerating the recognition of excess actual gains and losses in the MRVA in less than five years. Due to investment losses on plan assets experienced in 2008, this methodology contributed $1,577 to our 2009 combined net pension and postretirement costs. This methodology will not have a material impact on our combined net pension and postretirement cost in 2010.
 

12
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

 
We have varying types of pension programs providing benefits for substantially all of certain non-U.S. operations. In addition to the pension and postretirement costs above, we recorded net pension cost for non-U.S. plans of $2 in the first quarter of 2010 and $1 in the first quarter of 2009.

We also provide senior- and middle-management employees with nonqualified, unfunded supplemental retirement and savings plans. Net supplemental retirement pension benefits cost, which is not included in the table above, was $42 in the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, of which $34 was interest cost and $3 was service cost for first quarter of 2010 and $35 was interest cost and $3 was service cost for first quarter of 2009.

In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the PPACA and the Reconciliation Act. Included among the major provisions of these laws is a change in the tax treatment of the Medicare Part D subsidy. The subsidy came into existence with the enactment of the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) in 2003 and is available to sponsors (including AT&T) of retiree health benefit plans with a prescription drug benefit that is actuarially equivalent to the benefit provided by the Medicare Part D program. Prior to the enactment of PPACA and the Reconciliation Act, we were allowed to deduct the full cost of our retiree drug plans without reduction for subsidies received.

Under GAAP, we record a liability on our balance sheet for the expected cost of earned future retiree health benefits. When MMA was enacted in 2003, this liability was reduced to reflect expected future subsidies from the Medicare Part D program. In addition, we recorded a reduction to our deferred tax liability on our balance sheet for the value of future tax deductions for these retiree health benefits. Each year, as additional benefits are earned and benefit payments are made, we adjust the postretirement benefits liability and deferred tax liability.

After the passage of the PPACA and the Reconciliation Act, we must reduce our tax deduction for retiree drug benefits paid by the amount of the Medicare Part D subsidy beginning in 2013. GAAP requires the impact of a change in tax law to be recognized immediately in the income statement in the period that includes the enactment date, regardless of the effective date of the change in tax law. As a result of this change in tax law, AT&T recorded a non-cash charge of $995 in the first quarter to increase our deferred tax liability. As a result of this legislation, AT&T will be evaluating prospective changes to the active and retiree health care benefits offered by the company.

NOTE 6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND DISCLOSURE

GAAP requires disclosures for financial assets and liabilities that are remeasured at fair value at least annually. GAAP establishes the Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure framework which provides a three-tiered fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure are described below:

Level 1
Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that AT&T has the ability to access.
   
Level 2
Inputs to the valuation methodology include:
· Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets;
· Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;
· Inputs other than quoted market prices that are observable for the asset or liability;
· Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
   
 
If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
   
Level 3
Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
· Fair value is often based on internally developed models in which there are few, if any, external observations.
 
 

13 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

 
The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The valuation methodologies described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. AT&T believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants. The use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

Long-Term Debt and Other Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our long-term debt, including current maturities and other financial instruments, are summarized as follows:

 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2010
 
2009
 
 
Carrying
 
Fair
 
Carrying
 
Fair
 
 
Amount
 
Value
 
Amount
 
Value
 
Notes and debentures
  $ 68,868     $ 72,372     $ 71,811     $ 75,212  
Commercial paper
    318       318       -       -  
Bank borrowings
    38       38       33       33  
Available-for-sale securities
    2,140       2,140       1,885       1,885  

The fair values of our notes and debentures were estimated based on quoted market prices, where available, or on the net present value method of expected future cash flows using current interest rates. The carrying value of debt with an original maturity of less than one year approximates market value.

Investment Securities

Our investment securities consist of available-for-sale instruments, which include $1,707 of equities, $334 in fixed income bonds and $99 of other securities. Our equity investment securities are comprised of $883 in domestic equities and $824 in international equities. Substantially all the fair values of our available-for-sale securities were estimated based on quoted market prices. Realized gains and losses on these securities are included in “Other income (expense) – net” in the consolidated statements of income using the specific identification method. Unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, on available-for-sale securities are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (accumulated OCI). Unrealized losses that are considered other than temporary are recorded in other income (expense) – net, with the corresponding reduction to the carrying basis of the investment.

Our short-term investments, other short-term and long-term held-to-maturity investments (including money market securities) and customer deposits are recorded at amortized cost, and the respective carrying amounts approximate fair values.

Our investment securities maturing within one year are recorded in “Other current assets,” and instruments with maturities of more than one year are recorded in “Other Assets” on the consolidated balance sheets.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We employ derivatives to manage certain market risks, primarily interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange risk. This includes the use of interest rate swaps, interest rate locks, foreign exchange forward contracts and combined interest rate foreign exchange contracts (cross-currency swaps). We do not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes. We record derivatives on our consolidated balance sheets at fair value which is derived from observable market data, including yield curves and foreign exchange rates (all of our derivatives are Level 2). Cash flows associated with derivative instruments are presented in the same category on the consolidated statements of cash flows as the item being hedged.
 

14 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

The majority of our derivatives are designated as either a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (fair value hedge), or a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (cash flow hedge). Only a portion of our foreign exchange forward contracts is not designated to receive hedge accounting.
 
Fair Value Hedging We designate our fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps as fair value hedges. The purpose of these swaps is to manage interest rate risk by managing our mix of fixed-rate and floating-rate debt. These swaps involve the receipt of fixed rate amounts for floating interest rate payments over the life of the swaps without exchange of the underlying principal amount. Accrued and realized gains or losses from interest rate swaps impact interest expense on the consolidated statements of income. Unrealized gains on interest rate swaps are recorded at fair market value as assets, and unrealized losses on interest rate swaps are recorded at fair market value as liabilities. We record changes in the fair value of the swaps, along with the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that is attributable to the hedged risk. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps offset changes in the fair value of the fixed-rate notes payable they hedge due to changes in the designated benchmark interest rate and are recognized in interest expense, though they net to zero. Realized gains or losses upon early termination of our fair value hedges would be recognized in interest expense.
 
Cash Flow Hedging Unrealized gains on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are recorded at fair value as assets, and unrealized losses on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are recorded at fair value as liabilities, both for the period they are outstanding. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion is reported as a component of accumulated OCI until reclassified into interest expense in the same period the hedged transaction affects earnings. The gain or loss on the ineffective portion is recognized in income from continuing operations in each current period.

We designate our cross-currency swaps as cash flow hedges. We have entered into multiple cross-currency swaps to hedge our exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that are attributable to foreign currency risk generated from the issuance of our Euro- and British-pound-sterling-denominated debt. These agreements include initial and final exchanges of principal from fixed foreign denominations to fixed U.S.-denominated amounts, to be exchanged at a specified rate, which was determined by the market spot rate upon issuance. They also include an interest rate swap of a fixed foreign-denominated rate to a fixed U.S.-denominated interest rate. We evaluate the effectiveness of our cross-currency swaps each quarter. In the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, no ineffectiveness was measured.

Periodically, we enter into and designate interest rate locks to partially hedge the risk of changes in interest payments attributable to increases in the benchmark interest rate during the period leading up to the probable issuance of fixed-rate debt. We designate our interest rate locks as cash flow hedges. Gains and losses when we settle our interest rate locks are amortized into income over the life of the related debt, except where a material amount is deemed to be ineffective, which would be immediately reclassified to income. In the quarter ended March 31, 2010, no ineffectiveness was measured. Over the next 12 months, we expect to reclassify $18 from accumulated OCI to interest expense due to the amortization of net losses on historical interest rate locks. Our unutilized interest rate locks carry mandatory early terminations, the latest occurring in April 2012.

We hedge a large portion of the exchange risk involved in anticipation of highly probable foreign currency-denominated transactions. In anticipation of these transactions, we often enter into foreign exchange contracts to provide currency at a fixed rate. Some of these instruments are designated as cash flow hedges while others remain non-designated, largely based on size and duration. Gains and losses at the time we settle or take delivery on our designated foreign exchange contracts are amortized into income over the next few months as the hedged funds are spent by our foreign subsidiaries, except where a material amount is deemed to be ineffective, which would be immediately reclassified to income. In the quarter ended March 31, 2010, no ineffectiveness was measured. No transactions were designated in the first quarter of 2009.

Non-designated and Discontinued Hedging Instruments Changes in the fair value of non-designated derivatives are recorded in other income (expense) – net, along with the change in fair value of the underlying asset or liability, as applicable. When hedge accounting is discontinued, the derivative is adjusted for changes in fair value through other income (expense) – net. For fair value hedges, the swap asset or liability and the underlying hedged liability or asset will no longer be adjusted for changes in fair value, and the net adjustment to the hedged item at that time will be amortized into earnings over the remaining life of the hedged item. For cash flow hedges, gains and losses that were in accumulated OCI as a component of stockholders' equity in connection with hedged assets or liabilities or forecasted transactions will be recognized in other income (expense) - net, in the same period the hedged item affects earnings.

15 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Collateral and Credit-Risk Contingency  We have entered into agreements with most of our derivative counterparties, establishing collateral thresholds based on respective credit ratings and netting agreements. At March 31, 2010, we held $96 of counterparty collateral (a receipt liability) and had posted collateral of $54 (a deposit asset). Under the agreements, if our credit rating had been downgraded one rating level, we would have been required to post additional collateral of $39. At December 31, 2009, we held $222 of counterparty collateral. We do not offset the fair value of collateral, whether the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a payable), against the fair value of the derivative instruments.

Following is the notional amount of our outstanding derivative positions:

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Interest rate swaps
  $ 10,500     $ 9,000  
Cross-currency swaps
    7,502       7,502  
Interest rate locks
    3,600       3,600  
Foreign exchange contracts
    263       293  
Total
  $ 21,865     $ 20,395  

Following are our derivative instruments and their related hedged items affecting our financial position and performance:

Fair Value of Derivatives in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments and reflected as other assets, other liabilities and, for a portion of interest rate swaps, accounts receivable.

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
Asset Derivatives
 
2010
   
2009
 
             
Interest rate swaps
  $ 429     $ 399  
Cross-currency swaps
    385       635  
Interest rate locks
    110       150  
Foreign exchange contracts
    1       2  
Total
  $ 925     $ 1,186  

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
Liability Derivatives
 
2010
   
2009
 
             
Cross-currency swaps
  $ (548 )   $ (390 )
Interest rate locks
    (21 )     (6 )
Foreign exchange contracts
    (14 )     (7 )
Total
  $ (583 )   $ (403 )


16 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Effect of Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income
   
Three months ended
   
Three months ended
 
Fair Value Hedging Relationships
 
March 31, 2010
   
March 31, 2009
 
             
Interest rate swaps (Interest expense):
           
Gain (Loss) on interest rate swaps
  $ 52     $ (59 )
Gain (Loss) on long-term debt
    (52 )     59  

In addition, the net swap settlements that accrued and settled in the quarter ended March 31 were also reported as reductions of interest expense.

Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
 
Three months ended
   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31, 2010
   
March 31, 2009
 
             
Cross-currency swaps:
           
Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI
  $ 21     $ 220  
Other income (expense) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income
    -       -  
                 
Interest rate locks:
               
Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI
    (54 )     60  
Interest income (expense) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income
    (5 )     (6 )
                 
Foreign exchange contracts:
               
Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI
    (13 )     -  
Other income (expense) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income
    -       -  

Non-designated Hedging Instruments
Three months ended
 
Three months ended
 
 
March 31, 2010
 
March 31, 2009
 
             
Foreign exchange contracts Other income (expense)
  $ -     $ (10 )

The balance of the unrealized derivative gain (loss) in accumulated OCI was $115 at March 31, 2010 and $142 at December 31, 2009.

NOTE 7. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
Equity Method Investments  On January 13, 2010, América Móvil S.A. de C.V. (América Móvil) announced that its Board of Directors had authorized it to submit a tender offer for 100% of Carso Global Telecom, S.A. de C.V. (CGT), a holding company that owns 59.4% of Télefonos de México, S.A. de C.V. (Telmex) and 60.7% of Telmex Internacional, S.A.B. de C.V. (Telmex Internacional), in exchange for América Móvil shares and an offer for Telmex Internacional shares not owned by CGT, to be exchanged for cash or América Móvil shares, at the election of the shareholders. On April 30, 2010, we disclosed that we intend to tender our shares in Telmex Internacional for América Móvil shares, at the offered exchange rate and that we may make additional market purchases of América Móvil shares with a market value of up to an aggregate of $600 in order to maintain our pre-exchange offer percentage ownership in América Móvil. Such purchases may be funded with the proceeds of market sales of shares and/or American Depository Shares in Telmex with a market value of up to an aggregate of $600. We are in the process of evaluating the impact to our results from these potential transactions.


17 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Fianancial Condition and Results of Operations
Dollars in millions except per share amounts


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

For ease of reading, AT&T Inc. is referred to as “we,” “AT&T,” or the “Company” throughout this document, and the names of the particular subsidiaries and affiliates providing the services generally have been omitted. AT&T is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates operate in the communications services industry in both the United States and internationally, providing wireless and wireline telecommunications services and equipment as well as advertising services. You should read this discussion in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, accompanying notes and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. A reference to a “Note” in this section refers to the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. In the tables throughout this section, percentage increases and decreases that are not considered meaningful are denoted with a dash.

Consolidated Results  Our financial results in the first quarter of 2010 and 2009 are summarized as follows:

   
First Quarter
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
Percent Change
 
 
Operating Revenues
  $ 30,649     $ 30,571       0.3 %
Operating expenses
                       
Cost of sales
    12,329       12,195       1.1  
Selling, general and administrative
    7,484       7,753       (3.5 )
Depreciation and amortization
    4,826       4,886       (1.2 )
Total Operating Expenses
    24,639       24,834       (0.8 )
Operating income
    6,010       5,737       4.8  
Income before income taxes
    5,438       5,010       8.5  
Net Income Attributable to AT&T
  $ 2,475     $ 3,126       (20.8 )%

Overview
Operating income  Our operating income increased $273, or 4.8%, in the first quarter of 2010. This increase was due to the continued growth in wireless service revenue, driven mostly by our subscriber growth, along with an increase in wireline data revenue resulting from our growth in Internet Protocol (IP) data revenue. The increase was partially offset by continuing declines in voice and directory advertising print revenues. Operating income also increased in part due to a decrease in operating expenses, including pension and other postemployment benefits (OPEB) expense. These factors were the primary causes of our operating income margin increasing from 18.8% to 19.6% in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the same period last year.

Operating revenues  Our operating revenues increased $78, or 0.3%, in the first quarter of 2010. This increase was primarily due to the continued growth in wireless service revenue, driven by our subscriber growth, along with an increase in wireline data revenue largely due to IP data growth, including AT&T U-verseSM and broadband subscriber growth. These increases were largely offset by the continuing decline in voice revenues due to decreasing access lines and a decline in directory revenue driven by lower print revenue.

The declines in our voice and advertising revenues reflect continuing economic pressures on our customers as well as increasing competition. Total switched access lines decreased 10.9%. Business customers also disconnected switched access lines and reduced print advertising. Customers disconnecting access lines switched to wireless, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and cable offerings for voice and data or terminated service permanently as businesses closed or consumers left residences. While we lose the voice revenues, we have the opportunity to increase wireless service or wireline data revenues should the customer choose us as their wireless or VoIP provider. We also continue to expand our VoIP service for customers who have access to our U-verse video service.

Cost of sales expenses increased $134, or 1.1%, in the first quarter of 2010. The increase was primarily due to higher cost of goods sold related to the growth in U-verse subscribers, higher Universal Service Fund (USF) costs, and higher upgrade equipment costs related to the continued demand for wireless smartphones. These increases were partially offset by lower pension/OPEB expenses and other employee-related costs.

18 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Fianancial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $269, or 3.5%, in the first quarter of 2010. The decrease was primarily due to lower bad debt expense, lower contract services expense and lower indirect commissions expenses along with lower pension/OPEB expenses and other employee-related costs. These decreases were partially offset by higher advertising & promotions expense as well as increases in various support expenses.

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $60, or 1.2%, in the first quarter of 2010. The decrease was due to lower amortization of intangibles related to customer lists of $183 associated with acquisitions, partially offset by increased depreciation of $123 associated with ongoing capital spending for network upgrades and expansion.

Interest expense decreased $82, or 9.7%, in the first quarter of 2010. The decline in interest expense was due to a decrease in our average debt balances, primarily driven by a decrease in our average long-term debt maturing within one year, along with a slight drop in our weighted average interest rate.

Equity in net income of affiliates increased $80, or 58.4%, in the first quarter of 2010 primarily due to increased operating results at Telefonos de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (Telmex) and América Móvil S.A. de C.V. (América Móvil) and foreign currency translation gains at América Móvil, Telmex and Telmex Internacional, S.A.B. de C.V. (Telmex Internacional).

Other income (expense) – net We had other expense of $22 in the first quarter of 2010 and $15 in the first quarter 2009. Results included a $50 net loss from impairment and sale of investments, partially offset by $23 of interest, dividends, leveraged lease income and foreign exchange gains. Results in the first quarter of 2009 primarily included expenses of $102 related to asset impairment partially offset by $58 of gains on sales of a professional services business and Yahoo shares, and $25 of interest, dividend and leveraged lease income.

Income taxes increased $1,067, or 59.0%, in the first quarter of 2010. The increase in income taxes primarily resulted from a change in the tax treatment of the Medicare Part D subsidy included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Reconciliation Act), which we recorded as a charge of $995, along with higher income before income taxes, offset slightly by favorable adjustments related to audit issues (See Note 5). Our effective tax rate for first quarter 2010 was 52.9%, compared to 36.1% for first quarter 2009. The net increase in the effective tax rate was due to the enactment of the aforementioned health care legislation.

19 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Fianancial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts


Selected Financial and Operating Data
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
 
2009
Wireless customers (000)
    86,987       78,232  
Postpaid wireless customers (000)7
    65,108       60,535  
Prepaid wireless customers (000)7
    5,377       5,961  
Reseller wireless customers (000)7
    10,717       8,931  
Connected devices (000)7
    5,785       2,805  
Consumer revenue connections (000)1,2
    45,044       46,847  
Network access lines in service (000)2
    48,083       53,992  
Broadband connections (000)2,3,7
    17,532       16,736  
Video connections (000)4
    4,423       3,534  
Debt ratio5,7,8
    40.4 %     43.2 %
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges6
    5.22       4.70  
Number of AT&T employees
    276,280       294,600  
1
Consumer revenue connections includes retail access lines, U-verse VoIP connections, broadband and video.
2
Represents services by AT&T’s local exchange companies (ILECs) and affiliates.
3
Broadband connections include DSL, U-verse High-Speed Internet access, satellite broadband and 3G LaptopConnect cards.
4
Video connections include customers that have satellite service under our agency arrangements and U-verse video connections (of 2,296 in 2010 and 1,329 in 2009).
5
See our “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section for discussion.
6
See Exhibit 12.
7
Prior year amounts restated to conform to current period reporting methodology.
8
Debt ratios are calculated by dividing total debt (debt maturing within one year plus long-term debt) by total capital (total debt plus total stockholders’ equity) and does not consider cash on hand available to pay down debt. Cash on hand was $2,617 as of March 31, 2010, and $3,802 as of December 31, 2009.
 

Segment Results

Our segments represent strategic business units that offer different products and services over various technology platforms and are managed accordingly. We analyze our various operating segments based on segment income before income taxes, reviewing operating revenues, expenses (depreciation or non-depreciation) and equity income for each segment. Interest expense and other income (expense) – net are managed only on a total company basis and are, accordingly, reflected only in consolidated results. We have four reportable segments: (1) Wireless, (2) Wireline, (3) Advertising Solutions and (4) Other.

The Wireless segment uses our nationwide network to provide consumer and business customers with wireless voice and advanced data communications services.

The Wireline segment uses our regional, national and global network to provide consumer and business customers with landline voice and data communications services, AT&T U-verseSM TV, high-speed broadband and voice services (U-verse) and managed networking to business customers. Additionally, we receive commissions on sales of satellite television services offered through our agency arrangements.

The Advertising Solutions segment publishes Yellow and White Pages directories and sells advertising in various media, including directory and Internet-based advertising, and local search.

The Other segment includes results from Sterling Commerce, Inc. (Sterling), customer information services and all corporate and other operations. This segment includes our portion of the results from our international equity investments. Also included in the Other segment are impacts of corporate-wide decisions for which the individual operating segments are not being evaluated.

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AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Fianancial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Historically, intersegment activity has been reported as revenue in the billing segment and offsetting operating expense in the purchasing segment. Upon consolidation, the intersegment revenue and expense were eliminated with the consolidated results reflecting the cash operating and depreciation expense of providing the intersegment service. As part of AT&T’s ongoing initiatives to manage its business from an external customer perspective, we no longer report intersegment revenue and report the cash operating and depreciation expense related to intersegment activity to the purchasing segment which provided services to the external customer. While this change did not impact AT&T’s total consolidated results, the impact to each operating segment varied. In particular, the Wireless segment, as a purchaser of network, IT and other services from the Wireline segment, experienced a reduction in cash operating expense partially offset by increased depreciation expense with the net result being increased operating margins. This change was effective with the reporting of operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

The following tables show components of results of operations by segment. Significant segment results are discussed following each table. Capital expenditures for each segment are discussed in “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Wireless
Segment Results
   
First Quarter
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
Percent Change
 
 
Segment operating revenues
                 
Service
  $ 12,850     $ 11,646       10.3 %
Equipment
    1,047       1,192       (12.2 )
Total Segment Operating Revenues
    13,897       12,838       8.2  
Segment operating expenses
                       
Operations and support
    8,183       7,886       3.8  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,558       1,499       3.9  
Total Segment Operating Expenses
    9,741       9,385       3.8  
Segment Operating Income
    4,156       3,453       20.4  
Equity in Net Income of Affiliates
    13       -       -  
Segment Income
  $ 4,169     $ 3,453       20.7 %

Wireless Properties Transactions
In May 2009, we announced a definitive agreement to acquire certain wireless assets from Verizon Wireless (VZ) for approximately $2,350 in cash. The assets primarily represent former Alltel Wireless assets. We will acquire wireless properties, including licenses and network assets, serving approximately 1.5 million subscribers in 79 service areas across 18 states. In April 2010, the Department of Justice (DOJ) cleared our acquisition of these properties, and we are awaiting the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) approval. We anticipate that we will close this acquisition during the first half of 2010. Since the properties we will acquire use a different network technology than our Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) technology, we expect to incur additional costs to convert that network and subscriber handsets to our GSM technology.

We have entered into definitive agreements to sell eight Centennial Communications, Corp. (Centennial) service areas in Louisiana and Mississippi, required by the DOJ as a condition to our acquisition of Centennial, and we are in the process of seeking regulatory approvals. We anticipate we will close the sales mid-year 2010. As of March 31, 2010, the fair value of the assets subject to the Centennial sale, net of related liabilities, was $282.

Wireless Customer and Operating Trends
As of March 31, 2010, we served 87.0 million wireless customers. Gross customer additions were 5.2 million in the first quarter of 2010, compared to 4.8 million in the first quarter of 2009. Customer net additions totaled 1.9 million for the first quarter of 2010, compared to 1.2 million in the first quarter of 2009. Net additions for the first quarter of 2010 included a 1.1 million net addition in connected device subscribers. Postpaid net additions of 512,000 were down 42.9%, compared to the first quarter of 2009, reflecting slowing growth in the industry subscriber base and lower postpaid churn throughout the industry. We expect that during 2010 postpaid customer net additions will decrease from prior-period levels, and revenue growth will continue to shift toward data revenues as penetration rates for integrated devices continue to rise and as sales of connected devices also continue to increase. For the first quarter of 2010, we continued to see an increase in gross and net additions related to the sale of smartphones and connected devices, such as eReaders and alarm monitoring devices. We expected continued growth in these product areas.

21 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

As the wireless industry continues to mature, we believe that future wireless growth will increasingly depend on our ability to offer innovative services, which will encourage existing customers to upgrade their current services and add connected devices, attract customers from other providers, and minimize customer churn. Average service revenue per user (ARPU) in the first quarter of 2010 declined 0.4% compared to the first quarter of 2009, reflecting strong growth in connected device subscribers with a lower ARPU. While connected device subscribers generate significantly lower ARPU compared to postpaid customers, connected device subscribers tend to have lower churn rates than postpaid customers. ARPU from postpaid customers increased 3.9% in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009, reflecting usage of more advanced integrated devices, such as Apple iPhone, by these customers, evidenced by a 21.9% increase in postpaid data services ARPU in the first quarter of 2010. The continued increase in postpaid data services revenue was related to increased use of text messaging, Internet access, e-mail and other data services. The growth in data services ARPU in the first quarter of 2010 was offset by a 7.0% decline in voice and other service ARPU. We expect continued growth from data services, as more customers purchase advanced integrated devices and connected devices, such as eReaders, alarm monitoring, and mobile navigation devices, and as we continue to expand our network. Voice and other service ARPU in the first quarter of 2010 declined due to lower access charges, roaming revenues, and long-distance usage. Increases in our Family Talk® and reseller customer base, which have lower ARPU than traditional postpaid customers, have also contributed to these declines. We expect continued pressure on voice and other service ARPU.

The effective management of customer churn is also critical to our ability to maximize revenue growth and to maintain and improve margins. Customer churn is calculated by dividing the aggregate number of wireless customers who cancel service during each month in a period by the total number of wireless customers at the beginning of each month in that period. Ongoing improvement in our total and postpaid churn levels—now at our lowest recorded level—contributed to our net additions in the first quarter of 2010. The improvement was attributable to network enhancements, attractive products and services offerings, including Apple iPhone, customer service improvements, and continued high levels of advertising. Our customer churn rate was 1.30% for the first quarter of 2010, down from 1.56% for the first quarter of 2009. The churn rate for postpaid customers was 1.07% for the first quarter of 2010 down from 1.15% for the first quarter of 2009. These churn rate declines reflect network enhancements and broader coverage, more affordable rate plans and exclusive devices, and free mobile-to-mobile calling among our wireless customers.

Wireless Operating Results
Our Wireless segment operating income margin was 29.9% in the first quarter of 2010, compared to 26.9% for the first quarter of 2009. The higher margin in the first quarter of 2010 was primarily due to revenue growth of $1,059 in the first quarter of 2010, which exceeded the corresponding operating expense increase of $356.

Service revenues are comprised of local voice and data services, roaming, long-distance and other revenue. Service revenues increased $1,204, or 10.3%, in the first quarter of 2010, compared to the first quarter of 2009. The increase consisted of the following:
·  
Data service revenue increased $947, or 29.8%, in the first quarter of 2010, compared to the first quarter of 2009. The increase was primarily due to the increased number of subscribers and heavier text and multimedia messaging by subscribers using integrated devices and other data-centric connected devices, such as eReaders and mobile navigation devices. The increase in data service ARPU of 17.2% in the first quarter of 2010, compared to the first quarter of 2009, reflects this trend. Our significant data growth also reflects an increased number of subscribers using our 3G network. Data service revenues represented approximately 32.1% of our Wireless segment service revenues in the first quarter of 2010, an increase from 27.3% for the first quarter of 2009.
·  
Voice and other service revenue increased $257, or 3.0%, in the first quarter of 2010, compared to the first quarter of 2009. The increase was due to a 10.8% increase in the average number of wireless customers, partially offset by a voice and other service ARPU decline of 7.0% in the first quarter of 2010.

Equipment revenues decreased $145, or 12.2%, in the first quarter of 2010, compared to the first quarter of 2009. The decrease was due to lower traditional handset sales and increased sales of lower priced integrated devices.

22 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Fianancial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Operations and support expenses increased $297, or 3.8%, in the first quarter of 2010, compared to the first quarter of 2009. The increase was primarily due to the following:
·  
Equipment cost increases of $191, reflecting the higher cost of acquiring more advanced integrated devices;
·  
Interconnect, USF, and network system cost increases of $181 due to higher network traffic, revenue growth, and a USF rate increase; and
·  
Selling expense increases (other than commissions) of $106, primarily due to increased advertising in response to competitive pressures.

These increases were offset by the following:
·  
Commission expense decreases of $96;
·  
Bad debt expense decrease of $49; and
·  
Customer service cost decreases of $31.

These decreases were due in part to lower gross and net postpaid additions in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009.

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $59, or 3.9%, in the first quarter of 2010. Depreciation expense increased $151, or 14.3%, in the first quarter of 2010 primarily due to increased expense related to ongoing capital spending for network upgrades and expansion, partially offset by certain network assets becoming fully depreciated.

Amortization expense decreased $92, or 20.7%, in the first quarter primarily due to lower amortization of intangibles related to acquisitions, partially offset by an increase related to Centennial customer lists from that acquisition.

Wireless Supplementary Operating and Financial Data
   
First Quarter
   
2010
 
2009
 
Percent Change
 
Wireless Customers (000)
    86,987       78,232       11.2 %
Net Customer Additions (000)
    1,857       1,223       51.8 %
Total Churn
    1.30 %     1.56 %  
(26) BP
                         
Postpaid Customers (000)
    65,108       60,535       7.6 %
Net Postpaid Customer Additions (000)
    512       897       (42.9 )%
Postpaid Churn
    1.07 %     1.15 %  
(8) BP
                         
Prepaid Customers (000)
    5,377       5,961       (9.8 )%
Net Prepaid Customer Additions (000)
    24       (155 )     -  
                         
Reseller Customers (000)
    10,717       8,931       20.0 %
Net Reseller Customer Additions (000)
    269       337       (20.2 )%
                         
Connected Device Customers (000)
    5,785       2,805       -  
Net Connected Device Customer Additions (000)
    1,052       144       -  


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AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Fianancial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Wireline
Segment Results
   
First Quarter
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
Percent Change
 
 
Segment operating revenues
                 
Voice
  $ 7,479     $ 8,503       (12.0 )%
Data
    6,631       6,281       5.6  
Other
    1,311       1,377       (4.8 )
Total Segment Operating Revenues
    15,421       16,161       (4.6 )
Segment operating expenses
                       
Operations and support
    10,612       10,928       (2.9 )
Depreciation and amortization
    3,099       3,176       (2.4 )
Total Segment Operating Expenses
    13,711       14,104       (2.8 )
Segment Operating Income
    1,710       2,057       (16.9 )
Equity in Net Income of Affiliates
    5       3       66.7  
Segment Income
  $ 1,715     $ 2,060       (16.7 )%

Operating Income and Margin Trends
Our Wireline segment operating income decreased $347, or 16.9%, in the first quarter of 2010. Our Wireline segment operating income margin decreased from 12.7% for the first quarter of 2009 to 11.1% for the first quarter of 2010. Our operating income continued to be pressured by access line declines due to economic pressures on our consumer and business wireline customers and competition, as customers either reduced usage or disconnected traditional landline services and switched to alternative technologies, such as wireless and VoIP. Our strategy is to offset these line losses by increasing non-access-line-related revenues from customer connections for data, video, and voice. Additionally, we have the opportunity to increase Wireless segment revenues if customers choose AT&T Mobility as an alternative provider. Wireline operating margins are declining primarily due to reduced voice revenue, partially offset by continued growth in data revenue. Decreases in first-quarter wireline operating expenses reflect reduced pension/OPEB costs and impacts of continuing cost initiatives in 2010.

Operating Results
Voice revenues decreased $1,024, or 12.0%, in the first quarter of 2010 primarily due to continuing economic pressures and declining demand for traditional voice and other circuit-based services by our consumer and business customers. Included in voice revenues are revenues from local voice, long-distance and local wholesale services. Voice revenues do not include VoIP revenues, which are included in data revenues.
·  
Local voice revenues decreased $607, or 11.7%. The decrease was driven primarily by a decline of 10.9% in total switched access lines and a decrease in average local voice revenue per user. We expect our local voice revenue to continue to be negatively affected by increased competition from alternative technologies, the disconnection of additional lines and economic pressures.
·  
Long-distance revenues decreased $372, or 12.5%. The decrease was primarily due to lower demand for long-distance service from global businesses and consumer customers, which decreased revenues $281, and expected declines in the number of national mass-market customers, which decreased revenues $94.


24 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Fianancial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Data revenues increased $350, or 5.6%, in the first quarter of 2010. Data revenues accounted for approximately 43% of wireline operating revenues in the first quarter of 2010 and 39% in the first quarter of 2009. Data revenues include transport, IP and packet-switched data services.
·  
IP data revenues increased $551, or 18.0%, primarily driven by AT&T U-verse expansion and growth in IP-based strategic business services, which include Ethernet, virtual private networks (VPN), and application services. U-verse video and VoIP revenue increased $294, and strategic business service revenues increased $143 driven mostly by VPN, in the first quarter of 2010. Broadband high-speed Internet access increased IP data revenues $92 in the first quarter of 2010. The increase in IP data revenues in 2010 reflects continued growth in the customer base and migration from other traditional circuit-based services.
·  
Traditional circuit-based services which include frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode and managed packet services, decreased $120, or 21.8%. This decrease is primarily due to lower demand as customers continue to shift to IP-based technology such as VPN, DSL and managed Internet services. We expect these traditional services to continue to decline as a percentage of our overall data revenues.

Other operating revenues decreased $66, or 4.8%, in the first quarter of 2010. Integration services and customer premises equipment, government-related services and outsourcing account for more than 60% of total other revenue for both periods. Revenue from equipment sales and related network integration decreased by $52 primarily due to continuing economic pressure on business customers.

Operations and support expenses decreased $316, or 2.9%, in the first quarter of 2010. Operations and support expenses consist of costs incurred to provide our products and services, including costs of operating and maintaining our networks and personnel costs, such as salary, wage and bonus accruals. Costs in this category include our repair technicians and repair services, certain network planning and engineering expenses, information technology and property taxes. Operations and support expenses also include bad debt expense; advertising costs; sales and marketing functions, including customer service centers; real estate costs, including maintenance and utilities on all buildings; credit and collection functions; and corporate support costs, such as finance, legal, human resources and external affairs. Pension and postretirement costs, net of amounts capitalized as part of construction labor, are also included to the extent that they are associated with these employees.

The decrease was primarily due to a $242 decline in pension/OPEB expense, lower contract services of $131, lower bad debt expense of $113 and lower other force-related expenses of $98. Partially offsetting these decreases were increased Universal Service Fund expenses of $153 due to rate increases and U-verse content and network related expenses of $107.

Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased $77, or 2.4%, in the first quarter of 2010. The decrease is primarily related to lower amortization of intangibles for the customer lists associated with acquisitions.


25 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Fianancial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Supplemental Information

Telephone, Wired Broadband and Video Connections Summary
Our switched access lines and other services provided by our local exchange telephone subsidiaries at March 31, 2010 and 2009 are shown below and trends are addressed throughout this segment discussion.

 (in 000s)
                 
   
March 31,
   
March 31,
   
Percent
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Switched Access Lines1
                 
Retail Consumer
    25,488       29,575       (13.8 )%
Retail Business2
    19,854       21,499       (7.7 )
Retail Subtotal2
    45,342       51,074       (11.2 )
Percent of total switched access lines
    94.3 %     94.6 %        
                         
Wholesale Subtotal2
    2,664       2,811       (5.2 )
Percent of total switched access lines
    5.5 %     5.2 %        
                         
Payphone (Retail and Wholesale)3
    77       107       (28.0 )
Percent of total switched access lines
    0.2 %     0.2 %        
                         
Total Switched Access Lines
    48,083       53,992       (10.9 )%
                         
Total Retail Consumer Voice Connections6
    26,633       29,969       (11.1 )%
                         
Total Wired Broadband Connections4
    16,044       15,436       3.9 %
                         
Satellite service5
    2,127       2,205       (3.5 )%
U-verse video
    2,296       1,329       72.8  
Video Connections
    4,423       3,534       25.2 %
1
Represents access lines served by AT&T’s ILECs and affiliates.
2
Prior period amounts restated to conform to current period reporting methodology.
3
Revenue from retail payphone lines is reported in the Other segment. We are in the process of ending our retail payphone operations.
4
Total wired broadband connections include DSL, U-verse High Speed Internet access and satellite broadband.
5
Satellite service includes connections under our agency and resale agreements.
6
Includes consumer U-verse VoIP connections.


26 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Fianancial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Advertising Solutions
Segment Results
   
First Quarter
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
Percent Change
 
 
Total Segment Operating Revenues
  $ 1,041     $ 1,249       (16.7 )%
Segment operating expenses
                       
Operations and support
    675       721       (6.4 )
Depreciation and amortization
    138       176       (21.6 )
Total Segment Operating Expenses
    813       897       (9.4 )
Segment Income
  $ 228     $ 352       (35.2 )%

Operating Results
Our Advertising Solutions operating income margin was 21.9% in the first quarter of 2010, compared to 28.2% in the first quarter of 2009.

Operating revenues decreased $208, or 16.7%, in the first quarter of 2010 largely driven by continuing declines in print revenue of $234 as customers reduced or eliminated print ad purchases due to the slow economy. This decrease was partially offset by increased Internet revenue of $27 as some customers shifted from print ads to other advertising services, such as Internet-based advertising and local search.

Operating expenses decreased $84, or 9.4%, in the first quarter of 2010 largely driven by decreased depreciation and amortization of $38, resulting from use of an accelerated method of amortization for the customer list acquired as part of the BellSouth Corporation (BellSouth) acquisition, decreases in product related expenses of $15 and advertising costs of $10.

Other
Segment Results
 
First Quarter
 
 
2010
 
2009
 
Percent Change
 
 
Total Segment Operating Revenues
  $ 290     $ 323       (10.2 )%
Total Segment Operating Expenses
    374       448       (16.5 )
Segment Operating Income (Loss)
    (84 )     (125 )     32.8  
Equity in Net Income of Affiliates
    199       134       48.5  
Segment Income (Loss)
  $ 115     $ 9       -  

Our other segment operating results consist primarily of Sterling, customer information services (primarily operator services), corporate and other operations. Sterling provides business-integration software and services.

Segment operating revenues decreased $33, or 10.2%, in the first quarter, primarily due to reduced revenues from our operator services.

Segment operating expenses decreased $74, or 16.5%, in the first quarter, primarily due to the accrual of a first quarter 2009 legal reserve.


27 
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Fianancial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Our other segment also includes our equity investments in international companies, the income from which we report as equity in net income of affiliates. Our earnings from foreign affiliates are sensitive to exchange-rate changes in the value of the respective local currencies. Our foreign investments are recorded under generally accepted accounting principles, which include adjustments for the equity method of accounting and exclude certain adjustments required for local reporting in specific countries. Our equity in net income of affiliates by major investment is listed below:
 
 
   
First Quarter
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
América Móvil
  $ 145     $ 101  
Telmex
    40       17  
Telmex Internacional
    16       17  
Other
    (2 )     (1 )
Other Segment Equity in Net Income of Affiliates
  $ 199     $ 134  

Equity in net income of affiliates increased $65 in the first quarter primarily due to improved operating results at Telmex and América Móvil and foreign currency translation gains at América Móvil, Telmex and Telmex Internacional. On January 13, 2010, América Móvil announced that its Board of Directors had authorized it to submit a tender offer for 100% of Carso Global Telecom, S.A. de C.V. (CGT), a holding company that owns 59.4% of Telmex and 60.7% of Telmex Internacional, in exchange for América Móvil shares and an offer for Telmex Internacional shares not owned by CGT, to be exchanged for cash or América Móvil shares, at the election of the shareholders. On April 30, 2010, we disclosed that we intend to tender our shares in Telmex Internacional for América Móvil shares, at the offered exchange rate and that we may make additional market purchases of América Móvil shares with a market value of up to an aggregate of $600 in order to maintain our pre-exchange offer percentage ownership in América Móvil. Such purchases may be funded with the proceeds of market sales of shares and/or American Depository Shares in Telmex with a market value of up to an aggregate of $600. We are in the process of evaluating the impact to our results from these potential transactions.

OTHER BUSINESS MATTERS

U-verse Services  We are continuing to expand our deployment of U-verse high-speed broadband and TV services. As of March 31, 2010, we have passed 23.8 million living units (constructed housing units as well as platted housing lots) and are marketing the services to almost 74 percent of those units. Our deployment strategy is to enter each new area on a limited basis in order to ensure that all operating and back-office systems are functioning successfully and then expand within each as we continue to monitor these systems. Our rate of expansion will be slowed if we cannot obtain all required local building permits in a timely fashion. We also continue to work with our vendors on improving, in a timely manner, the requisite hardware and software technology. Our deployment plans could be delayed if we do not receive required equipment and software on schedule.

We believe that our U-verse TV service is subject to federal oversight as a “video service” under the Federal Communications Act. However, some cable providers and municipalities have claimed that certain IP services should be treated as a traditional cable service and therefore subject to the applicable state and local cable regulation. Certain municipalities have delayed our request or have refused us permission to use our existing right-of-ways to deploy or activate our U-verse-related services and products, resulting in litigation. Pending negotiations and current or threatened litigation involving municipalities could delay our deployment plans in those areas. In March 2010, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled in our favor and vacated the lower court ruling that AT&T’s U-verse TV service is a cable service in Connecticut. Petitions have been filed at the FCC alleging that the manner in which AT&T provisions “public, educational and governmental” (PEG) programming over its U-verse TV service conflicts with federal law, and a lawsuit has been filed in a California state superior court raising similar allegations under California law. If courts having jurisdiction where we have significant deployments of our U-verse services were to decide that federal, state and/or local cable regulation were applicable to our U-verse services, or if the FCC, state agencies or the courts were to rule that AT&T must deliver PEG programming in a manner substantially different from the way it does today or in ways that are inconsistent with AT&T’s current network architecture, it could have a material adverse effect on the cost, timing and extent of our deployment plans.

Retiree Phone Concession Litigation  In May 2005, we were served with a purported class action in U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas (Stoffels v. SBC Communications Inc.), in which the plaintiffs, who are retirees of Pacific Bell Telephone Company, Southwestern Bell and Ameritech, contend that the telephone concession provided by the company is, in essence, a “defined benefit plan” within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), as amended. In October 2006, the Court certified two classes. The issue of whether the concession is an ERISA pension plan was tried before the judge in November 2007. In May 2008, the court ruled that the concession was an ERISA pension plan. We asked the court to certify this ruling for interlocutory appeal, and in August 2008, the court denied our request. In May 2009, we filed a motion for reconsideration with the trial court. That motion is pending. We believe that an adverse outcome having a material effect on our financial statements in this case is unlikely, but we will continue to evaluate the potential impact of this suit on our financial results as it progresses.

28
 

 
AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Fianancial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NSA Litigation  Twenty-four lawsuits were filed alleging that we and other telecommunications carriers unlawfully provided assistance to the National Security Agency (NSA) in connection with intelligence activities that were initiated following the events of September 11, 2001. In the first filed case, Hepting et al v. AT&T Corp., AT&T Inc. and Does 1-20, a purported class action filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California, plaintiffs alleged that the defendants disclosed and are currently disclosing to the U.S. Government content and call records concerning communications to which Plaintiffs were a party. Plaintiffs sought damages, a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief for violations of the First and Fourth Amendments to the United States Constitution, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and other federal and California statutes. We filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. The United States asserted the “state secrets privilege” and related statutory privileges and also filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the complaint. The Court denied the motions, and we and the United States appealed. In August 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit remanded the case to the district court without deciding the issue in light of the passage of the FISA Amendments Act, a provision of which addresses the allegations in these pending lawsuits (immunity provision). The immunity provision requires the pending lawsuits to be dismissed if the Attorney General certifies to the court either that the alleged assistance was undertaken by court order, certification, directive or written request or that the telecom entity did not provide the alleged assistance. In September 2008, the Attorney General filed his certification and asked the district court to dismiss all of the lawsuits pending against the AT&T Inc. telecommunications companies. The court granted the Government's motion to dismiss and entered final judgments in July 2009. In addition, a lawsuit seeking to enjoin the immunity provision’s application on grounds that it is unconstitutional was filed. In March 2009, we and the Government filed motions to dismiss this lawsuit. The court granted the motion to dismiss and entered final judgment in July 2009. All cases brought against the AT&T entities have been dismissed. In August 2009, plaintiffs in all cases filed an appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Management believes this appeal is without merit and intends to continue to defend these matters vigorously.

Labor Contracts  On February 8, 2010, the Company and the CWA announced a tentative agreement covering approximately 30,000 core wireline employees in the nine-state former BellSouth region, subject to ratification by those covered employees. This agreement was ratified on March 5, 2010. The agreement provides for a three-year term and, for the vast majority of those covered employees, a 3 percent wage increase in years one and two, a wage increase in year three of 2.75 percent and pension band increases of 2 percent for each year of the agreement. This agreement also provides for continued health care coverage with reasonable cost sharing. Approximately 97 percent of represented core wireline employees are now covered by agreements reached since prior labor agreements expired during 2009.

On April 17, 2010, the Company and the CWA also announced a tentative agreement covering approximately 11,200 Mobility employees in the nine-state former BellSouth region (Mobility Southeast Region) subject to ratification by covered employees. Ratification is not scheduled to be complete until late May 2010. The agreement provides for a four-year term with general wage increases each year of 2.75 percent, 2.25 percent, and 2.5 percent in years three and four (2012 – 2013). A ratification bonus of five hundred dollars will be paid to eligible employees upon ratification. The agreement includes traditional work rules and wages only. Health care coverage was not among the issues negotiated in the agreement.

Health Care Legislation  We provide a variety of medical and prescription drug benefits to certain active and retired employees under various plans. During March 2010, the President signed into law comprehensive health care reform legislation under the PPACA and the Reconciliation Act. Among the major provisions of these laws are a change in the tax treatment of the Medicare Part D subsidy, Medicare payment reforms, an excise tax on “Cadillac” plans as well as mandates for providing coverage and other requirements for delivery of health care to employees and retirees. AT&T recorded a non-cash charge of $995 in the first quarter of 2010 to reflect the impact of this change. As a result of this legislation, AT&T will be evaluating prospective changes to the active and retiree health care benefits offered by the company.

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AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Fianancial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

COMPETITIVE AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

Overview  AT&T subsidiaries operating within the U.S. are subject to federal and state regulatory authorities. AT&T subsidiaries operating outside the U.S. are subject to the jurisdiction of national and supranational regulatory authorities in the markets where service is provided, and regulation is generally limited to operational licensing authority for the provision of services to enterprise customers.

In the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Telecom Act), Congress established a national policy framework intended to bring the benefits of competition and investment in advanced telecommunications facilities and services to all Americans by opening all telecommunications markets to competition and reducing or eliminating regulatory burdens that harm consumer welfare. However, since the Telecom Act was passed, the FCC and some state regulatory commissions have maintained certain regulatory requirements that were imposed decades ago on our traditional wireline subsidiaries when they operated as legal monopolies. Where appropriate, we are pursuing additional legislative and regulatory measures to reduce regulatory burdens that inhibit our ability to compete more effectively and offer services wanted and needed by our customers. For example, we are supporting efforts to update and improve regulatory treatments for retail services. Passage of legislation is uncertain and depends on many factors.

The current Commission appears to be more open than the prior Commission to maintaining or expanding regulatory requirements on entities subject to its jurisdiction. In addition, Congress, the President and the FCC all have declared a national policy objective of ensuring that all Americans have access to broadband technologies and services. In 2009, Congress charged the FCC with developing a National Broadband Plan, which the FCC delivered to Congress on March 16, 2010. The Plan is broad in scope and proposes a detailed strategy for expanding deployment and adoption of broadband facilities and services. It contains a series of recommendations for future action by the FCC, Congress and other governmental agencies, including dozens of rulemaking proceedings at the FCC over the course of the next 12 to 18 months. The proceedings will affect all segments of the communications industry and may encompass proposed rules and policies relating to universal service support, intercarrier compensation, unbundling of broadband facilities/services, data roaming and regulation of special access services and other high capacity services as well as a variety of other areas that could have an impact on AT&T’s operations and revenues. However, at this stage, it is too early to assess what, if any, impact such proposed changes could have on us.
 
 
Our wireless operations operate in robust competitive markets but are likewise subject to substantial governmental regulation. Wireless communications providers must be licensed by the FCC to provide communications services at specified spectrum frequencies within specified geographic areas and must comply with the rules and policies governing the use of the spectrum as adopted by the FCC. The FCC has recognized the importance of providing carriers with access to adequate spectrum to permit continued wireless growth and has begun investigating how to develop policies to promote that goal. While wireless communications providers’ prices and service offerings are generally not subject to state regulation, an increasing number of states are attempting to regulate or legislate various aspects of wireless services, such as in the area of consumer protection.

AT&T has previously noted that the broadband marketplace is robustly competitive and that we do not block consumers from accessing the lawful Internet sites of their choice. We therefore believe that prescriptive “net neutrality” rules are not only unnecessary but also counterproductive to the extent they would restrict broadband Internet access providers from developing innovative new services for consumers and/or content and application providers. Nor do we believe that wireless providers should be prohibited from entering into exclusive arrangements with handset manufacturers or that government should regulate wireless early termination fees as is currently being proposed. It is widely recognized that the wireless industry in the United States is characterized by innovation, differentiation, declining prices and extensive competition among handset manufacturers, service providers and applications. For this reason, additional broadband regulation and new wireless requirements are unwarranted.

 

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AT&T INC.
MARCH 31, 2010

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Fianancial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Net Neutrality  In 2009, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on six proposed “net neutrality” rules that are intended to preserve the “free and open Internet.” The proposed rules apply to providers of “broadband Internet access service” and state that, subject to “reasonable network management,” such a provider:

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May not prevent any of its users from sending or receiving the lawful content of the user’s choice over the Internet.
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May not prevent any of its users from running the lawful applications or using the lawful services of the user’s choice.
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May not prevent any of its users from connecting to and using on its network the user’s choice of lawful devices that do not harm the network.
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May not deprive any of its users of the user’s entitlement to competition among network providers, application providers, service providers and content providers.
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Must treat lawful content, applications and services in a nondiscriminatory manner.
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Must disclose such information concerning network management and other practices as is reasonably required for users and content, application and service providers to enjoy the protections specified in these rules.

The NPRM states that the proposed rules would apply to all platforms over which broadband Internet access services are provided, including mobile wireless broadband, while recognizing that different platforms involve significantly different technologies, market structures, patterns of consumer usage and regulatory history. The comment cycle on the NPRM was extended and will conclude in the second quarter of 2010. We are unable to determine the impact of this proceeding on our operating results and financial condition at this time