FORM 10-Q

United States

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

(Mark One)

|X|

x

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 20052006

or

|_|

o

Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from       to     

Commission File Number 1-8610

SBC COMMUNICATIONSAT&T INC.

Incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware

I.R.S. Employer Identification Number 43-1301883

175 E. Houston, San Antonio, Texas 78205

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. YesXx No [ ] 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12-b2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filerx Accelerated filer  [ ] Non-accelerated filer [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
YesX

Yes[ ] Nox

At April 29, 2005,28, 2006, common shares outstanding were 3,303,115,625.3,887,944,130.


PART I-FINANCIAL INFORMATION

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements


SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
(Unaudited)

AT&T INC.


Three months ended
March 31,

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

    2005  2004 

Operating Revenues  
Voice  $5,086 $5,213 
Data   2,824  2,647 
Long-distance voice   901  749 
Directory advertising   946  962 
Other   491  441 

Total operating revenues   10,248  10,012 

Operating Expenses  
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization  
   shown separately below)   4,397  4,227 
Selling, general and administrative   2,470  2,346 
Depreciation and amortization   1,825  1,923 

Total operating expenses   8,692  8,496 

Operating Income   1,556  1,516 

Other Income (Expense)  
Interest expense   (353) (232)
Interest income   109  116 
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates   (58) 592 
Other income (expense) - net   47  861 

Total other income (expense)   (255) 1,337 

Income Before Income Taxes   1,301  2,853 

Income taxes   416  942 

Income From Continuing Operations   885  1,911 
Income From Discontinued Operations, net of tax   -  26 

Net Income  $885 $1,937 

Earnings Per Common Share:  
   Income From Continuing Operations  $0.27 $0.58 
   Net Income  $0.27 $0.59 

Earnings Per Common Share - Assuming Dilution:  
   Income From Continuing Operations  $0.27 $0.58 
  Net Income  $0.27 $0.58 

Weighted Average Number of Common  
   Shares Outstanding - Basic (in millions)   3,303  3,308 
Dividends Declared Per Common Share  $0.3225 $0.3125 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.






SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

March 31,
2005
December 31,
2004

Assets   (Unaudited)    
Current Assets  
Cash and cash equivalents  $427 $760 
Short-term investments   35  99 
Accounts receivable - net of allowances for  
   uncollectibles of $953 and $881   5,268  5,480 
Prepaid expenses   904  746 
Deferred income taxes   552  566 
Other current assets   828  890 

Total current assets   8,014  8,541 

Property, plant and equipment - at cost   136,770  136,177 
   Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization   87,459  86,131 

Property, Plant and Equipment - Net   49,311  50,046 

Goodwill   1,768  1,625 
Investments in Equity Affiliates   1,867  1,798 
Investments in and Advances to Cingular Wireless   32,949  33,687 
Other Assets   13,037  13,147 

Total Assets  $106,946 $108,844 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity  
Current Liabilities  
Debt maturing within one year  $6,175 $5,734 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   9,083  10,038 
Accrued taxes   1,267  1,787 
Dividends payable   1,066  1,065 
Liabilities of discontinued operations   -  310 

  Total current liabilities   17,591  18,934 

Long-Term Debt   20,937  21,231 

Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities  
Deferred income taxes   15,380  15,621 
Postemployment benefit obligation   9,233  9,076 
Unamortized investment tax credits   182  188 
Other noncurrent liabilities   3,219  3,290 

Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities   28,014  28,175 

Stockholders’ Equity  
Common shares issued ($1 par value)   3,433  3,433 
Capital in excess of par value   12,726  12,804 
Retained earnings   29,171  29,352 
Treasury shares (at cost)   (4,332) (4,535)
Additional minimum pension liability adjustment   (190) (190)
Accumulated other comprehensive income   (404) (360)

Total stockholders’ equity   40,404  40,504 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity  $106,946 $108,844 


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.






SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Dollars in millions, increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(Unaudited)

Three months ended
March 31,
20052004

Operating Activities      
Net income  $885 $1,937 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash  
  provided by operating activities:  
      Depreciation and amortization   1,825  1,923 
      Undistributed earnings from investments in equity affiliates   74  (496)
      Provision for uncollectible accounts   239  231 
      Amortization of investment tax credits   (6) (8)
      Deferred income tax expense   (37) 466 
      Net gain on sales of investments   (66)��(889)
      Income from discontinued operations, net of tax   -  (26)
      Retirement benefit funding   -  (232)
      Changes in operating assets and liabilities:  
         Accounts receivable   (27) 150 
         Other current assets   (97) (33)
         Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   (1,469) (986)
      Other - net   (65) (39)

Total adjustments   371  61 

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities   1,256  1,998 

Investing Activities  
Construction and capital expenditures   (1,050) (936)
Investments in affiliates - net   596  - 
Purchases of held-to-maturity securities   -  (79)
Maturities of held-to-maturity securities   64  130 
Dispositions   73  2,179 
Acquisitions   (169) - 
Proceeds from note repayment   37  50 

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities   (449) 1,344 

Financing Activities  
Net change in short-term borrowings with original  
  maturities of three months or less   761  - 
Repayment of long-term debt   (572) (142)
Issuance of treasury shares   47  63 
Dividends paid   (1,066) (1,034)

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities   (830) (1,113)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations   (23) 2,229 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations   (310) 46 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (333) 2,275 

Cash and cash equivalents beginning of year   760  4,806 

Cash and Cash Equivalents End of Period  $427 $7,081 

Cash paid during the three months ended March 31 for:  
      Interest  $413 $299 
      Income taxes, net of refunds  $1,426 $52 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.






SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts
(Unaudited)

Three months ended
March 31, 2005

   Shares   Amount 

Common Stock  
Balance at beginning of year  3,433  $3,433 

Balance at end of period  3,433  $3,433 

Capital in Excess of Par Value  
Balance at beginning of year     $12,804 
Issuance of shares      (104)
Stock option expense      7 
Other      19 

Balance at end of period     $12,726 

Retained Earnings  
Balance at beginning of year     $29,352 
Net income ($0.27 per share)      885 
Dividends to stockholders ($0.3225 per share)      (1,066)

Balance at end of period     $29,171 

Treasury Shares  
Balance at beginning of year  (132) $(4,535)
Issuance of shares  4   203 

Balance at end of period  (128) $(4,332)

Additional Minimum Pension Liability Adjustment  
Balance at beginning of year     $(190)

Balance at end of period     $(190)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax  
Balance at beginning of year     $(360)
Other comprehensive income (see Note 2)      (44)

Balance at end of period     $(404)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.






SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC.
MARCH 31, 2005

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

(Unaudited)

Three months ended

March 31,

2006

2005

Operating Revenues

Voice

$

8,722

$

5,852

Data

4,442

2,391

Directory

901

905

Other

1,770

1,100

Total operating revenues

15,835

10,248

Operating Expenses

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization

shown separately below)

7,128

4,388

Selling, general and administrative

4,024

2,479

Depreciation and amortization

2,492

1,825

Total operating expenses

13,644

8,692

Operating Income

2,191

1,556

Other Income (Expense)

Interest expense

(464)

(353)

Interest income

85

109

Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates

334

(58)

Other income (expense) – net

11

47

Total other income (expense)

(34)

(255)

Income Before Income Taxes

2,157

1,301

Income taxes

712

416

Net Income

$

1,445

$

885

Earnings Per Common Share:

Net Income

$

0.37

$

0.27

Earnings Per Common Share - Assuming Dilution:

Net Income

$

0.37

$

0.27

Weighted Average Number of Common

Shares Outstanding Basic (in millions)

3,882

3,303

Dividends Declared Per Common Share

$

0.3325

$

0.3225

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2

AT&T INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2006

 

 

2005

Assets

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,057

 

$

1,224

Accounts receivable – net of allowances for

 

 

 

 

 

uncollectibles of $1,131 and $1,176

 

8,647

 

 

9,351

Prepaid expenses

 

1,215

 

 

1,029

Deferred income taxes

 

1,874

 

 

2,011

Other current assets

 

1,057

 

 

1,039

Total current assets

 

13,850

 

 

14,654

Property, plant and equipment

 

150,516

 

 

149,238

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

92,149

 

 

90,511

Property, Plant and Equipment – Net

 

58,367

 

 

58,727

Goodwill

 

13,402

 

 

14,055

Intangible Assets – Net

 

8,214

 

 

8,503

Investments in Equity Affiliates

 

2,090

 

 

2,031

Investments in and Advances to Cingular Wireless

 

32,316

 

 

31,404

Other Assets

 

16,198

 

 

16,258

Total Assets

$

144,437

 

$

145,632

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Debt maturing within one year

$

5,712

 

$

4,455

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

15,510

 

 

17,088

Accrued taxes

 

2,240

 

 

2,586

Dividends payable

 

1,293

 

 

1,289

Total current liabilities

 

24,755

 

 

25,418

Long-Term Debt

 

25,829

 

 

26,115

Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

14,902

 

 

15,713

Postemployment benefit obligation

 

18,278

 

 

18,133

Unamortized investment tax credits

 

202

 

 

209

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

5,382

 

 

5,354

Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities

 

38,764

 

 

39,409

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares issued ($1 par value)

 

4,065

 

 

4,065

Capital in excess of par value

 

27,262

 

 

27,499

Retained earnings

 

29,257

 

 

29,106

Treasury shares (at cost)

 

(4,927)

 

 

(5,406)

Additional minimum pension liability adjustment

 

(218)

 

 

(218)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

(350)

 

 

(356)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

55,089

 

 

54,690

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

$

144,437

 

$

145,632

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,

 

 

2006

 

2005

Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

1,445

$

885

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash

 

 

 

 

provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

2,492

 

1,825

Undistributed earnings from investments in equity affiliates

 

(313)

 

74

Provision for uncollectible accounts

 

193

 

239

Amortization of investment tax credits

 

(7)

 

(6)

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)

 

66

 

(37)

Net gain on sales of investments

 

(8)

 

(66)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

509

 

128

Other current assets

 

(189)

 

(97)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(2,057)

 

(1,624)

Stock-based compensation tax benefit

 

(8)

 

(3)

Other - net

 

335

 

(65)

Total adjustments

 

1,013

 

368

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

 

2,458

 

1,253

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

Construction and capital expenditures

 

(1,821)

 

(1,050)

Receipts from (investments in) affiliates – net

 

(699)

 

596

Maturities of held-to-maturity securities

 

-

 

64

Dispositions

 

27

 

73

Acquisitions

 

(62)

 

(169)

Proceeds from note repayment

 

-

 

37

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

 

(2,555)

 

(449)

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

Net change in short-term borrowings with original

 

 

 

 

maturities of three months or less

 

1,271

 

761

Repayment of other short-term borrowings

 

(2)

 

-

Repayment of long-term debt

 

(259)

 

(572)

Issuance of treasury shares

 

201

 

47

Dividends paid

 

(1,289)

 

(1,066)

Stock-based compensation tax benefit

 

8

 

3

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

 

(70)

 

(827)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations

 

(167)

 

(23)

Net Cash Used in Operating Activities from Discontinued Operations

 

-

 

(310)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(167)

 

(333)

Cash and cash equivalents beginning of year

 

1,224

 

760

Cash and Cash Equivalents End of Period

$

1,057

$

427

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the three months ended March 31 for:

 

 

 

 

Interest

$

449

$

413

Income taxes, net of refunds

$

853

$

1,426

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

4

AT&T INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts

(Unaudited)

 

Three months ended

 

March 31, 2006

 

Shares

Amount

Common Stock

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

4,065

$

4,065

Balance at end of period

4,065

$

4,065

 

 

 

 

Capital in Excess of Par Value

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

27,499

Issuance of shares

 

 

(191)

Stock based compensation

 

 

(46)

Balance at end of period

 

$

27,262

 

 

 

 

Retained Earnings

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

29,106

Net income ($0.37 per share)

 

 

1,445

Dividends to stockholders ($0.3325 per share)

 

 

(1,292)

Other

 

 

(2)

Balance at end of period

 

$

29,257

 

 

 

 

Treasury Shares

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

(188)

$

(5,406)

Issuance of shares

11

 

479

Balance at end of period

(177)

$

(4,927)

 

 

 

 

Additional Minimum Pension Liability Adjustment

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

(218)

Balance at end of period

 

$

(218)

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

$

(356)

Other comprehensive income (loss) (see Note 3)

 

 

6

Balance at end of period

 

$

(350)

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

5

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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 the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that permit reduced disclosure for interim periods. We believe that these consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the results for the interim periods shown. The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results 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, 2005.

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 wireline and wireless telecommunications services and equipment as well as directory advertising and publishing services.

All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in the consolidation process. Investments in partnerships, joint ventures, including Cingular Wireless (Cingular), and less than majority-owned subsidiaries where we have significant influence are accounted for under the equity method. We account for our 60% economic interest in Cingular under the equity method since we share control equally (i.e., 50/50) with our 40% economic partner in the joint venture. We have equal voting rights and representation on the Board of Directors that controls Cingular. Earnings from certain foreign equity investments accounted for using the equity method are included for periods ended within up to three months of the date of our Consolidated Statements of Income.

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.

Reclassifications We have reclassified certain amounts in prior-period financial statements to conform to the current period’s presentation. In 2006, we revised our segment reporting (see Note 5). In addition, we revised the product categories reported in operating revenue as follows: long-distance voice is now reported in voice revenue; integration services and customer premises equipment revenue, previously reported as voice and data revenue are now reported in other revenue; and directory revenues now reflect our traditional directory segment revenues.

Revenue RecognitionRevenues derived from local telephone, long-distance and data services are recognized when services are provided. This is based upon either usage (e.g. minutes of traffic processed), period of time (e.g. monthly service fees) or other established fee schedules. Service revenues also include billings to our customers for various regulatory fees imposed on us by governmental authorities. We record an estimated revenue reduction for future adjustments to customer accounts, other than a provision for doubtful accounts, at the time revenue is recognized based on historical experience. Cash incentives given to customers are recorded as a reduction of revenue. When required as part of providing service, revenues and associated expenses related to nonrefundable, upfront service activation and set-up fees are deferred and recognized over the associated service contract period. If no service contract exists, those

6

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

fees are recognized over the average customer relationship period. Associated expenses are deferred only to the extent of such deferred revenue. For contracts that involve the bundling of services, revenue is allocated to the services based on their relative fair value. We record the sale of equipment to customers as gross revenue when we are the primary obligor in the arrangement, when title is passed and the products are accepted by customers. For agreements involving the resale of third party services in which we are not considered the primary obligor of the arrangement, we record the revenue net of the associated costs incurred. For contracts where we provide customers with an indefeasible right to use network capacity, we recognize revenue ratably over the stated life of the agreement.

We recognize revenues and expenses related to publishing directories on the amortization method, which recognizes revenues and expenses ratably over the life of the directory title, typically 12 months.

Traffic Compensation ExpenseWe use various estimates and assumptions to determine the amount of traffic compensation expenses recognized during any reporting period. Switched traffic compensation costs are accrued utilizing estimated rates by product, formulated from historical data and adjusted for known rate changes and volume levels, which are estimated for certain products and known for other products. Such estimates are adjusted monthly to reflect newly available information, such as rate changes and new contractual agreements. Bills reflecting actual incurred information are generally not received until three to nine months subsequent to the end of the reporting period, at which point a final adjustment is made to the accrued switched traffic compensation expense. Dedicated traffic compensation costs are estimated based on the number of circuits and the average projected circuit costs, based on historical data adjusted for rate changes. These costs are adjusted to reflect actual expenses over the three months following the end of the reporting period as bills are received.

Advertising CostsAdvertising costs for advertising products and services or promoting our corporate image are expensed as incurred.

Income TaxesDeferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for tax purposes. To the extent allowed by GAAP, we provide valuation allowances against the deferred tax assets for amounts when the realization is uncertain. Management reviews these items regularly in light of changes in tax laws and court rulings at both federal and state levels.

Our income tax returns are regularly audited and reviewed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state taxing authorities. The IRS is expected to complete fieldwork for its audit of the 2000-2002 traditional SBC tax returns during 2006. This is not expected to have an adverse impact on the financial statements.

The IRS is also reviewing the tax returns for 2002 – 2004 of our subsidiary, AT&T Corp. (ATTC), as well as the ATTC 2005 short period return. Any adjustments resulting from the review of the 2002 – 2005 ATTC tax returns will be subject to the rules under purchase accounting and therefore are not expected to result in an adverse impact to the financial statements. Additionally, during the first quarter of 2006, we received Joint Committee approval of the IRS audit for ATTC’s 1997 - 2001 federal income tax returns. The closing of this audit resulted in a reduction to goodwill and a corresponding reduction in our net deferred tax liability, as required by the purchase accounting rules, of approximately $385. See Note 2 for additional information about adjustments to ATTC’s deferred tax liability.

7

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Investment tax credits earned prior to their repeal by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 are amortized as reductions in income tax expense over the lives of the assets, which gave rise to the credits.

Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and the carrying amounts approximate fair value. At March 31, 2006, we held $611 in cash, $335 in money market funds and $111 in other cash equivalents.

Allowance for UncollectiblesWe maintain an allowance for uncollectibles for estimated losses that result from the failure or inability of our customers to make required payments. When determining the allowance, we consider the probability of recoverability of accounts receivable based on experience, taking into account current collection trends that are expected to continue, as well as general economic factors, including bankruptcy rates. Credit risks are assessed based on historical write-offs, net of recoveries, and future estimated net write-offs as well as an analysis of the aged accounts receivable balances with reserves generally increasing as the receivable ages. Accounts receivable may be fully reserved for when specific collection issues are known to exist, such as pending bankruptcy or catastrophes. The analysis of receivables is performed monthly and the allowance for uncollectibles adjusted accordingly.

Investment Securities Investments in securities principally consist of held-to-maturity or available-for-sale instruments. Short-term and long-term investments in money market securities are carried as held-to-maturity securities. Available-for-sale securities consist of various debt and equity securities that are long-term in nature. Unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. Our investment securities maturing within one year are recorded in “Other current assets” and instruments with maturities more than one year are recorded in “Other Assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Property, Plant and EquipmentProperty, plant and equipment is stated at cost, except for assets acquired using purchase accounting, which are recorded at fair value at the time of their acquisition (see Note 2). The cost of additions and substantial improvements to property, plant and equipment is capitalized. The cost of maintenance and repairs of property, plant and equipment is charged to operating expenses. Property, plant and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated economic lives. Certain subsidiaries follow composite group depreciation methodology; accordingly, when a portion of their depreciable property, plant and equipment is retired in the ordinary course of business, the gross book value is reclassified to accumulated depreciation; no gain or loss is recognized on the disposition of this plant and equipment.

Property, plant and equipment is reviewed for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable.An impairment loss shall be recognized only if the carryingamount of a long-lived asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset.

8

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

The fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation is recorded in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. In periods subsequent to initial measurement, period-to-period changes in the liability for an asset retirement obligation resulting from the passage of time and revisions to either the timing or the amount of the original estimate of undiscounted cash flows are recognized. The increase in the carrying value of the associated long-lived asset is depreciated over the corresponding estimated economic life.

Software CostsIt is our policy to capitalize certain costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining internal-use software. Capitalized software costs are included in “Property, Plant and Equipment” on our consolidated Balance Sheets and are amortized over three years. Software costs that do not meet capitalization criteria are expensed immediately.

Goodwill and Other Intangible AssetsGoodwill represents the excess of consideration paid over the fair value of net assets acquired in business combinations. Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are tested at least annually for impairment. During 2006, the carrying amount of our goodwill decreased $653 as a result of purchase accounting adjustments related to our acquisition of ATTC (see Note 2).

Intangible assets that have finite useful lives are amortized over their useful lives, which range from 1.5 to 18 years. Customer relationships are amortized using primarily the “sum of the months digits” method of amortization over the expected period in which those relationships are expected to contribute to our future cash flows, including consideration for demand, competition and other economic factors based in such a way as to allocate it as equitably as possible to periods during which we expect to benefit from those relationships.

Foreign Currency TranslationOur foreign investments and foreign subsidiaries generally report their earnings in their local currencies. We translate our share of their foreign assets and liabilities at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet dates. We translate our share of their revenues and expenses using average rates during the year. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Gains and losses resulting from exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in a currency other than the local currency are included in earnings as incurred.

We have also entered into foreign currency contracts to minimize our exposure to risk of adverse changes in currency exchange rates. We are subject to foreign exchange risk for foreign currency-denominated transactions, such as debt issued, recognized payables and receivables and forecasted transactions. At March 31, 2006, our foreign currency exposures were principally Euros, British pound sterling, Danish krone and Japanese Yen.

Derivative Financial InstrumentsWe record derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. We do not invest in derivatives for trading purposes. We use derivatives from time to time as part of our strategy to manage risks associated with our contractual commitments. Some of these 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 and net investment hedge). Our derivative financial instruments primarily include interest rate swap agreements and foreign currency exchange contracts. We account for our interest rate swaps using mark-to-market accounting and include gains or losses from interest rate swaps when paid or received in interest expense on our Consolidated Statements of Income. Amounts paid or received on interest rate forward contracts (treasury rate locks) are amortized over the period of the related interest payments.

9

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

All other derivatives are not formally designated for accounting purposes (undesignated). These derivatives, although undesignated for accounting purposes, are entered into to hedge economic risks.

On the balance sheet, we record changes in the fair value of fair value hedges, along with the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that is attributable to the hedged risk. Gains or losses upon termination of our fair value hedges are amortized as interest expense over the term of the interest payments of the related debt issuances.

We record changes in the fair value of cash flow and net investment hedges, along with the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that is attributable to the hedged risk, in “Accumulated other comprehensive income,” which is a component of Stockholders’ Equity. The settlement gains or costs on our cash flow hedges are amortized as interest expense over the term of the interest payments of the related debt issuances.

Changes in the fair value of undesignated derivatives are recorded in other income (expense) – net, along with the change in fair value of the underlying asset or liability, as applicable.

Cash flows associated with derivative instruments are presented in the same category on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as the item being hedged.

When hedge accounting is discontinued, the derivative is adjusted for changes in fair value through other income (expense) – net. For fair value hedges, the underlying asset or liability will no longer be adjusted for changes in fair value and any asset or liability recorded in connection with the hedging relationship (including firm commitments) will be removed from the balance sheet and recorded in current period earnings. For cash flow hedges, gains and losses that were accumulated in other comprehensive income 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.

Employee SeparationsIn accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 112, “Employers’ Accounting for Postemployment Benefits,” we establish obligations for expected termination benefits provided to former or inactive employees after employment but before retirement. These benefits include severance payments, workers’ compensation, disability, medical continuation coverage and other benefits. At March 31, 2006, we had severance accruals for traditional SBC employees of approximately $383, of which $274 was established as merger-related severance accruals. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, “Business Combinations” (FAS 141), severance accruals recorded for ATTC employees were included in the purchase price allocation (see Note 2).

Pension and Postretirement BenefitsSee Note 7 for a comprehensive discussion of our pension and postretirement benefit expense.

10

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 2. ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS

AT&T Corp.In November 2005, we acquired ATTC in a transaction accounted for under FAS 141. ATTC was one of the nation’s largest business service communications providers, offering a variety of global communications services, including large domestic and multinational businesses, small and medium-sized businesses and government agencies. ATTC operated one of the largest telecommunications networks in the U.S. ATTC was also a provider of domestic and international long-distance and usage-based-communications services to consumer customers.

Under the merger agreement, each share of ATTC common stock was exchanged for 0.77942 of a share of our common stock. We issued approximately 632 million shares to ATTC shareholders, giving them an approximate 16 percent stake in the combined company, based on common shares outstanding. In addition, immediately prior to the closing of the transaction, ATTC paid each ATTC shareholder a special dividend of $1.30 per share. Based on the $24.17 per share closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on November 17, 2005, the last trading day before the closing of the merger, combined with the special dividend, consideration received by ATTC shareholders was approximately $16,300.

Based on the average closing price of our common stock on the NYSE for the two days prior to, including, and two days subsequent to the public announcement of the merger (January 31, 2005) of $23.87 and capitalized merger-transaction costs, the transaction was valued, for accounting purposes, at $15,517. ATTC is now a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T and the results of ATTC’s operations have been included in our consolidated financial statements after the November 18, 2005 acquisition date.

Under the purchase method of accounting, the assets and liabilities of ATTC were recorded at their respective fair values as of the date of the acquisition. We obtained preliminary third-party valuations of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets (including the AT&T trade name), debt and certain other assets and liabilities. Because of the proximity of this transaction to year-end, the values of certain assets and liabilities were based on preliminary valuations and are subject to adjustment as additional information is obtained. Such additional information includes, but is not limited to: valuations and physical counts of property, plant and equipment, valuation of investments and the involuntary termination of employees. We have 12 months from the closing of the acquisition to finalize our valuations. As these issues are identified, modified or resolved, resulting increases or decreases to the preliminary value of assets and liabilities are offset by a change to goodwill, which may be material. Adjustments to the preliminary valuation will be recorded in the period finalized. Changes to the valuation of property, plant and equipment may result in adjustments to the fair value of certain identifiable intangible assets acquired. Additionally, as part of the final valuation of the acquisition, we will determine to which entities and to what extent the benefit of the acquisition applies, and as required by GAAP, record the appropriate goodwill to each entity.

11

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

The following table summarizes the preliminary estimated fair values of the ATTC assets acquired and liabilities assumed and related deferred income taxes as of the acquisition date and adjustments made thereto during the first quarter of 2006.

 

 

Purchase Price Allocation

 

 

As of

 

 

 

As of

 

 

12/31/05

 

Adjustments

 

3/31/06

Assets acquired

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

$

6,295

$

19

$

6,314

Property, plant and equipment

 

10,921

 

-

 

10,921

Intangible assets not subject to amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade name

 

4,900

 

-

 

4,900

Licenses

 

40

 

-

 

40

Intangible assets subject to amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer lists and relationships

 

3,050

 

-

 

3,050

Patents

 

150

 

-

 

150

Brand licensing agreements

 

70

 

-

 

70

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries

 

160

 

-

 

160

Other assets

 

4,247

 

-

 

4,247

Goodwill

 

12,343

 

(653)

 

11,690

Total assets acquired

 

42,176

 

(634)

 

41,542

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities assumed

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities, excluding

current portion of long-term debt

 

6,740

 

39

 

6,779

Long-term debt

 

8,293

 

-

 

8,293

Deferred income taxes

 

531

 

(673)

 

(142)

Postemployment benefit obligation

 

8,807

 

-

 

8,807

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

2,288

 

-

 

2,288

Total liabilities assumed

 

26,659

 

(634)

 

26,025

Net assets acquired

$

15,517

$

-

$

15,517

Purchase accounting rules require that as certain pre-merger issues are identified, modified or resolved, resulting increases or decreases to tax liabilities are offset by a change in goodwill. During the first quarter of 2006, modifications to various pre-merger tax estimates and the resolution of an ATTC Internal Revenue Service audit (for the years 1997-2001) resulted in a reduction in goodwill of $653 and are reflected in the adjustments column above.

12

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

ATTC maintained change-in-control provisions with its employees that required enhanced severance and benefit payments be paid to employees of ATTC when a change-in-control occurred. Included in the liabilities assumed at acquisition, were employee-related accruals of approximately $1,543. Following is a summary of the accrual to be paid by the Company, from ATTC's pension plans and from ATTC's postemployment benefit plans.

 Basis of Presentation – Throughout this document, SBC Communications Inc. is referred to as “we” or “SBC.” The consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to

For the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that permit reduced disclosure for interim periods. We believe that these consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the results for the interim periods shown. The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results 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, 2004.Quarter
Ended
3/31/06


 Our subsidiaries and affiliates operate in the communications services industry both domestically and worldwide providing wireline and wireless telecommunications services and equipment as well as directory advertising and publishing services.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SBC and our majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in the consolidation process. Investments in partnerships, joint ventures, including Cingular Wireless (Cingular), and less than majority-owned subsidiaries where we have significant influence are accounted for under the equity method. We account for our 60% economic interest in Cingular under the equity method since we share control equally (i.e., 50/50) with our 40% economic partner in the joint venture. We have equal voting rights and representation on the board of directors that controls Cingular. Earnings from certain foreign investments accounted for using the equity method are included for periods ended within up to three months of the date of our Consolidated Statements of Income.

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.

Postretirement Health Care Benefits – In May 2004, in response to the federal Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (Medicare Act), the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued final guidance on how employers that provide postretirement health care benefits should account for the Medicare Act (referred to as FSP FAS 106-2). FSP FAS 106-2 requires us to account for the Medicare Act as an actuarial gain or loss. As allowed under the FASB’s preliminary guidance (referred to as FSP FAS 106-1) we initially accounted for the Medicare Act as a plan amendment and recorded the adjustment in the amortization of our liability, from the December 2003 date of enactment of the Medicare Act. Because our initial accounting for the effects of the Medicare Act differed from the final guidance issued, in accordance with FSP FAS 106-2, we restated our first-quarter 2004 results to reflect the recognition as an actuarial gain or loss. While the gain realized from the Medicare Act is the same amount when recognized as an actuarial gain or loss instead of as a plan amendment, the gain is recognized over a longer period of time, which decreases the annual impact on our results. This restatement decreased our first-quarter 2004 net income approximately $11 (with no tax effect), or less than $0.01 per diluted share. Due to the immaterial impact of the change in accounting on 2003 (since the Medicare Act was enacted in December), we did not record a cumulative effect of accounting change as of January 1, 2004. (See Note 6)

Share-Based Compensation – On December 16, 2004, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (FAS 123(R)), which is a revision of FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (FAS 123). FAS 123(R) supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and amends FASB Statement No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows.” Generally, the approach in Statement 123(R) is similar to the approach described in Statement 123. However, Statement 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values. Pro forma disclosure is no longer an alternative.

For companies registered with the SEC, such as SBC, FAS 123(R) must be adopted no later than the fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2005. FAS 123(R) permits public companies to adopt its requirements using the following methods:
 
  • The “modified prospective” method in which compensation cost is recognized beginning with the effective date (a) based on the requirements of FAS 123(R) for all share-based payments granted after the effective date and (b) based on the requirements of FAS 123 for all awards granted to employees prior to the effective date of FAS 123(R) that remain unvested on the effective date.
  • The “modified retrospective” method which includes the requirements of the modified prospective method described above, but also permits entities to restate based on the amounts previously recognized under FAS 123 for purposes of pro forma disclosures either (a) all prior periods presented or (b) prior interim periods of the year of adoption.

    Balance at
    12/31/05


Cash Payments

Balance at
3/31/06

We are still considering which method to adopt under FAS 123(R). We adopted the fair-value-based method of accounting for share-based payments allowed under FAS 123 effective January 1, 2002, using the retroactive restatement method of adoption described in FASB Statement No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure.” This included restatement of results from January 1, 2000 forward, as those were the years for which audited income statements were included in the 2002 SBC Annual Report. Upon adoption of FAS 123(R), if we were to adopt the retrospective method, we would also restate results for 1995 through 1999 for the effects on our equity. We are currently using the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the value of stock options granted to employees and expect to continue to use this acceptable option valuation model upon the required adoption of FAS 123(R).

We anticipate that adoption of FAS 123(R) will not have a material impact on compensation expense. However, our current accounting under FAS 123 and prospective accounting under FAS 123(R) may affect our ability to fully realize the value shown on our balance sheet of deferred tax assets associated with compensation expense. Full realization of this deferred tax asset requires stock options to be exercised at a price equaling or exceeding the sum of the strike price plus the fair value of the option at the grant date. The provisions of FAS 123 and FAS 123(R), however, do not allow a valuation allowance to be recorded unless the company’s future taxable income is expected to be insufficient to recover the asset. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the current stock price of SBC common shares will rise to levels sufficient to realize the entire tax benefit currently reflected in our balance sheet. However, to the extent that tax benefits in excess of the deferred taxes associated with compensation expense were previously recognized, the potential future impact on income would be reduced. Adoption of FAS 123(R) under the modified retrospective method would increase the amount of excess benefits we have previously recorded.

Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations – During the first quarter of 2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation Number 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations, an Interpretation of FASB Statement 143” (FIN 47). Under the provisions of FIN 47, companies must accrue legally mandated costs to dispose of assets that are triggered by a future conditional action. This modifies FASB Statement 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” (FAS 143) which required accrual of costs only when removal and disposal were legally required. For example, assume there are specific disposal requirements for an asset once it is physically removed from service, but there is no requirement to remove the asset from service. Under FAS 143, nothing would have been accrued for disposal at time of purchase. Under FIN 47, the cost of disposal only would be accrued at the time of purchase, but not the cost of removal as it is the removal activity that triggers the required disposal. Any liability accrued is offset by an increase in the value of the asset. FIN 47 is effective no later than the end of fiscal years ending after December 15, 2005. We are currently studying the effects of FIN 47 on our financial statements.

Reclassifications We have reclassified certain amounts in prior-period financial statements to conform to the current period’s presentation, including those related to our discontinued operations (see Note 7).

Income Taxes Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for tax purposes. We provide valuation allowances against the deferred tax assets for amounts when the realization is uncertain. Management reviews these items regularly in light of changes in tax laws and court rulings at both the federal and state levels.

Our income tax returns are regularly audited and reviewed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state taxing authorities. The IRS has completed field examinations for all tax years through 1999 and examinations of subsequent years are in progress. The IRS has issued assessments challenging the timing and amounts of various deductions for the 1997-1999 period. Additionally, the IRS is expected to complete field work for the 2000-2002 period during 2005. We paid the taxes on these assessments and filed refund claims, which the IRS has denied. We are working with the IRS to resolve all the issues related to these claims. The ultimate resolution is not expected to have a material adverse impact on the financial statements.

Investment tax credits earned prior to their repeal by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 are amortized as reductions in income tax expense over the lives of the assets which gave rise to the credits.

Cash Equivalents – Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and the carrying amounts approximate fair value. At March 31, 2005, we held $291 in cash, $107 in money market funds and $29 in other cash equivalents.

Investment Securities – Investments in securities principally consist of held-to-maturity or available-for-sale instruments. Short-term and long-term investments in money market securities are carried as held-to-maturity securities. Available-for-sale securities consist of various debt and equity securities that are long-term in nature. Unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Revenue Recognition – Revenues and associated expenses related to nonrefundable, up-front wireline service activation fees are deferred and recognized over the average customer life of five years. Expenses, though exceeding revenue, are only deferred to the extent of revenue.

Certain revenues derived from local telephone, long-distance, data and wireless services (principally fixed fees) are billed monthly in advance and are recognized the following month when services are provided. Other revenues derived from telecommunications services, principally long-distance and wireless airtime usage (in excess or in lieu of fixed fees) and network access, are recognized monthly as services are provided.

We recognize revenues and expenses related to publishing directories on the amortization method which recognizes revenues and expenses ratably over the life of the directory, which is typically 12 months.

Allowance for Uncollectibles Our bad debt allowance is estimated primarily based on analysis of history and future expectations of our retail and our wholesale customers in each of our operating companies. For retail customers, our estimates are based on our actual historical write-offs, net of recoveries, and the aging of accounts receivable balances. Our assumptions are reviewed at least quarterly and adjustments are made to our bad debt allowance as appropriate. For our wholesale customers, we use a statistical model based on our aging of accounts receivable balances. Our risk categories, risk percentages and reserve balance assumptions built into the model are reviewed monthly and the bad debt allowance is adjusted accordingly.

Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of consideration paid over net assets acquired in business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested annually for impairment. During 2005, our goodwill increased $143 due to an acquisition by our consolidated subsidiary Sterling Commerce, Inc.


Paid out of:    
    Company funds $       870 $    (46)$       824 
    Pension plans 636 (4)632 
    Postemployment benefit plans 37 - 37 

Total $    1,543 $    (50)$    1,493 

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations assume that the acquisition of ATTC was completed as of January 1, 2005.

 

 

For the Quarter Ended

 

For the
Year
Ended

 

 

Mar 31,

 

Jun 30,

 

Sep 30,

 

Dec 31,

 

2005

Revenues

$

16,670

$

16,602

$

16,468

$

16,279

$

66,019

Net Income

 

1,319

 

1,257

 

1,729

 

1,862

 

6,167

13

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 2.3. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The components of our comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 include net income and adjustments to stockholders’ equity for the foreign currency translation adjustment and net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities. The foreign currency translation adjustment is due to exchange rate changes in our foreign affiliates’ local currencies, primarily Mexico in 2005 and Denmark in 2004. The reclassification adjustment on cash flow hedges was due to the amortization of losses from our interest rate forward contracts.

Following is our comprehensive income:

Three months ended
March 31,
    2005  2004 

Net income  $885 $1,937 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:  
Foreign currency translation adjustment   (2) (12)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities:  
  Unrealized gains (losses)   (16) 77 
  Less reclassification adjustment realized in net income   (27) - 
Reclassification adjustment for losses on cash flow hedges  
  included in net income   1  - 

Other comprehensive income (loss)   (44) 65 

Total comprehensive income  $841 $2,002 



The components of our comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 include net income, adjustments to stockholders’ equity for the foreign currency translation adjustment, net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities and net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges. The foreign currency translation adjustment is due to exchange rate fluctuations in our foreign affiliates’ local currencies. The reclassification adjustment on cash flow hedges was due to the amortization of losses from our interest rate forward contracts.

Following is our comprehensive income:

 

Three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2006

2005

Net income

$

1,445

$

885

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

(20)

 

(2)

Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities:

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses)

 

27

 

(16)

Less reclassification adjustment realized in net income

 

(6)

 

(27)

Reclassification adjustment for losses on cash flow hedges

    included in net income

 

4

 

1

Other

 

1

 

-

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

6

 

(44)

Total comprehensive income

$

1,451

$

841

14

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 3.4. EARNINGS PER SHARE

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share for income from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 are shown in the table below:

Three months ended
March 31,
20052004

Numerators      
Numerator for basic earnings per share:  
  Income from continuing operations  $885 $1,911 
  Dilutive potential common shares:  
     Other stock-based compensation   2  1 

Numerator for diluted earnings per share  $887 $1,912 

Denominators (000,000)  
Denominator for basic earnings per share:  
  Weighted-average number of common  
     shares outstanding   3,303  3,308 
  Dilutive potential common shares:  
     Stock options   1  2 
     Other stock-based compensation   11  13 

Denominator for diluted earnings per share   3,315  3,323 

Basic earnings per share  
   Income from continuing operations  $0.27 $0.58 
   Income from discontinued operations   -  0.01 

Net income  $0.27 $0.59 

Diluted earnings per share  
   Income from continuing operations  $0.27 $0.58 
   Income from discontinued operations   -  - 

Net income  $0.27 $0.58 


At March 31, 2005 and 2004, we had issued and outstanding options to purchase approximately 209 and 229 million shares of SBC common stock. The exercise prices of options to purchase a weighted average of 196 and 192 million shares exceeded the average market price of SBC stock. Accordingly, we did not include these amounts in determining the dilutive potential common shares for the respective periods. At March 31, 2005, the exercise prices of 14 million share options were below market price. Of these options, 11 million will expire by the end of 2007.


A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share for net income for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 are shown in the table below:

 

Three months ended

 

  March 31,

 

2006

2005

Numerators

 

 

 

 

Numerator for basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

1,445

$

885

Dilutive potential common shares:

 

 

 

 

Other stock-based compensation

 

3

 

2

Numerator for diluted earnings per share

$

1,448

$

887

Denominators (000,000)

 

 

 

 

Denominator for basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of common

 

 

 

 

shares outstanding

 

3,882

 

3,303

Dilutive potential common shares:

��

 

 

 

Stock options

 

3

 

1

Other stock-based compensation

 

17

 

11

Denominator for diluted earnings per share

 

3,902

 

3,315

Basic earnings per share

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

0.37

$

0.27

Diluted earnings per share

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

0.37

$

0.27

At March 31, 2006 and 2005, we had issued and outstanding options to purchase approximately 264 and 209 million shares of AT&T common stock. The exercise prices of options to purchase a weighted average of 231 and 196 million shares exceeded the average market price of AT&T stock for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005. Accordingly, we did not include these amounts in determining the dilutive potential common shares for the respective periods. At March 31, 2006, the exercise price of 35 million share options were below market price. Of these options, 5 million will expire by the end of 2007.

15

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 4.5. SEGMENT INFORMATION

Our segments are strategic business units that offer different products and services and are managed accordingly. Under GAAP segment reporting rules, we

Our segments are strategic business units that offer different products and services and are managed accordingly. We analyze our various operating segments based on segment income. Interest expense, interest income and other income (expense) – net and income tax expense 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. We have five reportable segments that reflect the current management of our business: (1) wireline, (2) Cingular, (3) directory, (4) international, and (5) other.


The wireline segment provides both retail and wholesale landline telecommunications services, including local and long-distance voice, switched access, data and messaging services and satellite television services through our agreement with EchoStar Communications Corp.

The Cingular segment reflects 100% of the results reported by Cingular, our wireless joint venture. In February 2005, we announced we were recording a charge against fourth-quarter 2004 results to reflect the correction of an error relating to the lease accounting practices of Cingular. Because Cingular restated previous financial results, we have reflected those adjustments in Cingular’s 2004 results recorded in the following table. However, due to the immateriality of this adjustment to the results of operations, cash flows and financial position of SBC, we did not adjust our first-quarter 2004 equity in net income of affiliates, which is reflected in the “Other” segment. This charge does not affect Cingular’s cash flows and is primarily related to the timing of recording rental expense, which would balance out over the life of the affected operating leases. In the segment tables following we present 100% of Cingular’s revenues and expenses including this adjustment under “Total segment operating revenues” and “Total segment operating expenses.” Although we analyze Cingular’s revenues and expenses under the Cingular segment, we eliminate the Cingular segment in our consolidated financial statements. In our consolidated financial statements, we report our 60% proportionate share of Cingular’s results as equity in net income (loss) of affiliates. For segment reporting, we report this equity in net income (loss) of affiliates in our other segment.

The directory segment includes our directory operations, including Yellow and White Pages advertising and electronic publishing. Results for this segment are shown under the amortization method, which means that revenues and direct expenses are recognized ratably over the life of the directory title, typically 12 months. Results for 2004 presented in this segment have been restated to reflect the sale of our interest in the directory advertising business in Illinois and northwest Indiana to R.H. Donnelley Corporation (Donnelley) (see Note 7). In November 2004, a subsidiary in our directory segment entered into a joint venture agreement with BellSouth Corporation (BellSouth) and purchased the online directory provider YellowPages.com (YPC). Our portion of the results from YPC is recorded as equity in net income of affiliates.

Our international segment includes all investments with primarily international operations. The other segment includes results from paging services, all corporate and other operations as well as the Cingular equity income, as discussed above.

In the following tables, we show how our segment results are reconciled to our consolidated results reported in accordance with GAAP. The Wireline, Cingular, Directory, International and Other columns represent the segment results of each such operating segment. The Consolidation and Elimination column adds in those line items that we manage on a consolidated basis only: interest expense, interest income and other income (expense) — net. This column also eliminates any intercompany transactions included in each segment’s results. Since our 60% share of the results from Cingular is already included in the Other column, the Cingular Elimination column removes the results of Cingular shown in the Cingular segment.



For the three months ended Marchcalculation of each segment’s percentage of our consolidated results. As a result of our November 18, 2005 acquisition of ATTC we have revised our segment reporting to represent how we now manage our business, restating prior periods to conform to the current segments. We have four reportable segments that reflect the current management of our business: (1) wireline, (2) Cingular, (3) directory and (4) other.

The wireline segment provides both retail and wholesale landline telecommunications services, including local and long-distance voice, switched access, data and messaging services, managed networking to business customers and satellite television services through our agreement with EchoStar Communications Corp.

The Cingular segment reflects 100% of the results reported by Cingular, our wireless joint venture. Although we analyze Cingular’s revenues and expenses under the Cingular segment, we eliminate the Cingular segment in our consolidated financial statements. In our consolidated financial statements, we report our 60% proportionate share of Cingular’s results as equity in net income of affiliates.

The directory segment includes our directory operations, including Yellow and White Pages advertising and electronic publishing. Our portion of the results from YELLOWPAGES.COM (YPC), a joint venture with BellSouth Corporation (BellSouth), is recorded in this segment as equity in net income of affiliates.

The other segment includes results from Sterling Commerce Inc. and all corporate and other operations. This segment also includes our portion of the results from our international equity investments and from Cingular as equity in net income of affiliates, as discussed above.

In the following tables, we show how our segment results are reconciled to our consolidated results reported in accordance with GAAP. The Wireline, Cingular, Directory and Other columns represent the segment results of each such operating segment. The Wireline column includes revenues from services sold to Cingular of $382 in the first quarter of 2006 and $182 in the first quarter of 2005 (see Note 6). Since we account for Cingular using the equity method of accounting, these revenues are not eliminated upon consolidation and as such, remain in consolidated revenue. The Consolidation and Elimination column adds in those line items that we manage on a consolidated basis only: interest expense, interest income and other income (expense) – net. This column also eliminates any intercompany transactions included in each segment’s results. Since our 60% share of the results from Cingular is already included in the Other column, the Cingular Elimination column removes the results of Cingular shown in the Cingular segment.

16

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 20052006
WirelineCingularDirectoryInternationalOtherConsolidation and
Elimination
Cingular
Elimination
Consolidated
Results

Revenues from external customers  $9,281 $8,229 $905 $3 $59  - $(8,229)$10,248 
Intersegment revenues   8  -  24  -  -  (32) -  - 

Total segment operating revenues   9,289  8,229  929  3  59  (32) (8,229) 10,248 

Operations and support expenses   6,465  6,440  443  7  (18) (30) (6,440) 6,867 
Depreciation and amortization expenses   1,798  1,675  2  -  26  (1) (1,675) 1,825 

Total segment operating expenses   8,263  8,115  445  7  8  (31) (8,115) 8,692 

Segment operating income   1,026  114  484  (4) 51  (1) (114) 1,556 
Interest expense   -  338  -  -  -  353  (338) 353 
Interest income   -  18  -  -  -  109  (18) 109 
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates   -  2  (1) 74  (132) 1  (2) (58)
Other income (expense) – net   -  (14) -  -  -  47  14  47 

Segment income before income taxes   1,026  (218) 483  70  (81) (197) 218  1,301 




For the three months ended MarchNOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

At March 31, 2006 or for the three months ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidation

 

Cingular

 

Consolidated

 

 

Wireline

 

Cingular

 

Directory

 

Other

 

and Elimination

 

Elimination

 

Results

Revenues from external customers

$

14,731

$

8,980

$

901

$

203

$

-

$

(8,980)

$

15,835

Intersegment revenues

 

8

 

-

 

22

 

-

 

(30)

 

-

 

-

Total segment operating revenues

 

14,739

 

8,980

 

923

 

203

 

(30)

 

(8,980)

 

15,835

Operations and support expenses

 

10,557

 

6,493

 

447

 

178

 

(30)

 

(6,493)

 

11,152

Depreciation and amortization expenses

 

2,430

 

1,680

 

1

 

61

 

-

 

(1,680)

 

2,492

Total segment operating expenses

 

12,987

 

8,173

 

448

 

239

 

(30)

 

(8,173)

 

13,644

Segment operating income

 

1,752

 

807

 

475

 

(36)

 

-

 

(807)

 

2,191

Interest expense

 

-

 

297

 

-

 

-

 

464

 

(297)

 

464

Interest income

 

-

 

4

 

-

 

-

 

85

 

(4)

 

85

Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates

 

-

 

-

 

(5)

 

339

 

-

 

-

 

334

Other income (expense) – net

 

-

 

(36)

 

-

 

-

 

11

 

36

 

11

Segment income before income taxes

$

1,752

$

478

$

470

$

303

$

(368)

$

(478)

$

2,157

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment Assets

$

104,409

$

79,344

$

3,950

$

130,809

$

(94,731)

$

(79,344)

$

144,437

For the three months ended March 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidation

 

Cingular

 

Consolidated

 

 

Wireline

 

Cingular

 

Directory

 

Other

 

and Elimination

 

Elimination

 

Results

Revenues from external customers

$

9,174

$

8,229

$

905

$

169

$

-

$

(8,229)

$

10,248

Intersegment revenues

 

8

 

-

 

24

 

-

 

(32)

 

-

 

-

Total segment operating revenues

 

9,182

 

8,229

 

929

 

169

 

(32)

 

(8,229)

 

10,248

Operations and support expenses

 

6,293

 

6,440

 

444

 

160

 

(30)

 

(6,440)

 

6,867

Depreciation and amortization expenses

 

1,773

 

1,675

 

2

 

52

 

(2)

 

(1,675)

 

1,825

Total segment operating expenses

 

8,066

 

8,115

 

446

 

212

 

(32)

 

(8,115)

 

8,692

Segment operating income

 

1,116

 

114

 

483

 

(43)

 

-

 

(114)

 

1,556

Interest expense

 

-

 

338

 

-

 

-

 

353

 

(338)

 

353

Interest income

 

-

 

18

 

-

 

-

 

109

 

(18)

 

109

Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates

 

-

 

2

 

(1)

 

(58)

 

1

 

(2)

 

(58)

Other income (expense) – net

 

-

 

(14)

 

-

 

-

 

47

 

14

 

47

Segment income before income taxes

$

1,116

$

(218)

$

482

$

(101)

$

(196)

$

218

$

1,301

17

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 20042006
WirelineCingularDirectoryInternationalOtherConsolidation and
Elimination
Cingular
Elimination
Consolidated
Results

Revenues from external customers  $9,032 $3,967 $915 $5 $60 $- $(3,967)$10,012 
Intersegment revenues   8  -  23  -  -  (31) -  - 

Total segment operating revenues   9,040  3,967  938  5  60  (31) (3,967) 10,012 

Operations and support expenses   6,204  2,864  410  12  (22) (31) (2,864) 6,573 
Depreciation and amortization expenses   1,898  553  3  -  22  -  (553) 1,923 

Total segment operating expenses   8,102  3,417  413  12  -  (31) (3,417) 8,496 

Segment operating income   938  550  525  (7) 60  -  (550) 1,516 
Interest expense   -  198  -  -  -  232  (198) 232 
Interest income   -  2  -  -  -  116  (2) 116 
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates   -  (108) -  452  140  -  108  592 
Other income (expense) – net   -  (25) -  -  -  861  25  861 

Segment income before income taxes   938  221  525  445  200  745  (221) 2,853 



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 5.6. TRANSACTIONS WITH CINGULAR

Advances to Cingular outstanding at both March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 totaled $5,855. These advances bear interest at an annual rate of 6.0% and mature in June 2008. We earned interest income on these advances of $87 in the first quarter of 2005 and $88 in the first quarter of 2004. These advances do not include the advances to Cingular related to the revolving credit agreement discussed below.

Effective August 1, 2004, we and BellSouth agreed to finance Cingular’s capital and operating cash requirements to the extent Cingular requires funding above the level provided by operations. We and BellSouth also entered into a one-year revolving credit agreement with Cingular to provide short-term financing for operations on a pro rata basis at an interest rate of LIBOR (London Interbank Offer Rate) plus 0.05% and may be renewed annually upon agreement of the parties. We expect this agreement to be renewed. This agreement includes a provision for the repayment of our and BellSouth’s advances made to Cingular in the event there are no outstanding amounts due under the revolving credit agreement and to the extent Cingular has excess cash, as defined by the agreement. In the first quarter of 2005, we received net repayments totaling $596 from Cingular in accordance with the terms of this revolving credit agreement. Our share of advances to Cingular related to this revolving credit agreement was approximately $406 at March 31, 2005 and $1,002 at December 31, 2004 and was reflected in “Investments in and Advances to Cingular Wireless” on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

We generated revenues of $175 in the first quarter of 2005 and $149 in the first quarter of 2004 for services sold to Cingular. These revenues were primarily from access and long-distance services sold to Cingular on a wholesale basis, and commissions revenue related to customers added through SBC sales sources. The offsetting expense amounts are recorded by Cingular, and 60% of these expenses are included in our “Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates” line in our Consolidated Statements of Income when we report our 60% proportionate share of Cingular’s results.

We and BellSouth, the two owners of Cingular, have each made a subordinated loan to Cingular (shareholder loans). Our shareholder loan to Cingular totaled $4,108 at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005. This loan bears interest at an annual rate of 6.0% and matures in June 2008. We earned interest income on this loan of $61 in the first quarter of 2006 and $87 in the first quarter of 2005.

We and BellSouth agreed to finance Cingular’s capital and operating cash requirements to the extent Cingular requires funding above the level provided by operations. We and BellSouth also entered into a revolving credit agreement with Cingular to provide short-term financing for operations on a pro rata basis at an interest rate of LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) plus 0.05%, which expires July 31, 2007. This agreement includes a provision for the repayment of our and BellSouth’s shareholder loans made to Cingular in the event there are no outstanding amounts due under the revolving credit agreement and to the extent Cingular has excess cash, as defined by the agreement.

In the first quarter of 2006, our net advances to Cingular totaled $699 under the revolving credit agreement. Our share of advances to Cingular under the revolving credit agreement is reflected in “Investments in and Advances to Cingular Wireless” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets and totaled $1,006 at March 31, 2006 and $307 at December 31, 2005.

We generated revenues of $382 in the first quarter of 2006 and $182 in the first quarter of 2005 for services sold to Cingular. These revenues were primarily from access and long-distance services sold to Cingular on a wholesale basis, and commissions revenue related to customers added through AT&T sales sources. The offsetting expense amounts are recorded by Cingular, and 60% of these expenses are included in our “Equity in net income of affiliates” line on our Consolidated Statements of Income when we report our 60% proportionate share of Cingular’s results.

NOTE 6.7. 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 2005.

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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions” and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions.”

In May 2004, the FASB issued guidance (referred to as FSP FAS 106-2) on how employers should account for provisions of the Medicare Act, which was enacted in December 2003. Because our initial accounting for the effects of the Medicare Act was based on preliminary FASB guidance and differed from the final guidance issued by the FASB in FSP FAS 106-2, we restated our first-quarter 2004 results by increasing our expense approximately $11. In the following table, gains are denoted with parentheses and losses are not. (See Note 1)

Three months ended
March 31,
20052004

Pension cost:      
   Service cost - benefits earned during the period  $196 $207 
   Interest cost on projected benefit obligation   403  412 
   Expected return on assets   (636) (674)
   Amortization of prior service cost and transition asset   47  47 
   Recognized actuarial loss   39  12 

   Net pension cost  $49 $4 

Postretirement benefit cost:  
   Service cost - benefits earned during the period  $99 $91 
   Interest cost on accumulated postretirement  
     benefit obligation   367  360 
   Expected return on assets   (189) (193)
   Amortization of prior service benefit   (80) (109)
   Recognized actuarial loss   114  119 

   Postretirement benefit cost  $311 $268 

   Combined net pension and postretirement cost  $360 $272 


Our combined net pension and postretirement cost increased approximately $88 in the first quarter of 2005. This cost increase primarily resulted from our recognition of unrecognized net losses on plan assets that occurred during the years 2000 through 2004. In accordance with GAAP, we recognize actual gains and losses on pension and postretirement plan assets equally over a period of not more than five years. The unrecognized losses in 2000 through 2002, partially offset by our unrecognized gains in 2003 and 2004 increased our combined pension and postretirement cost approximately $82.

In January 2004, the majority of nonmanagement retirees were informed of medical coverage changes. Concurrent with our second-quarter 2004 bargaining agreement with the Communications Workers of America, we also modified our nonmanagement retiree benefits. This modification of nonmanagement retiree medical coverage changes occurred in the second quarter of 2004; as a result, our quarterly combined pension and postretirement cost increased approximately $50 for the first quarter of 2005 when compared to the first quarter of 2004.

Our combined net pension and postretirement cost also increased approximately $25 due to our decision to reduce the discount rate used to calculate service and interest cost from 6.25% to 6.00%, in response to lower corporate bond interest rates.

Partially offsetting these increases was the amortization of actuarial gains from prior year lower-than-expected medical and prescription drug claims, which decreased cost approximately $31, and our change in the calculation of pension benefits provided to management employees, which became effective January 2005 and decreased cost $30 in the first quarter of 2005.

As a result of these economic impacts and assumption changes previously discussed, we expect a combined net pension and postretirement cost of between $1,400 and $1,550 in 2005. Approximately 10% of these costs are capitalized as part of construction labor, providing a small reduction in the net expense recorded. While we will continue our cost-cutting efforts, certain factors, such as investment returns, depend largely on trends in the U.S. securities market and the general U.S. economy. In particular, uncertainty in the securities markets and U.S. economy could result in investment losses and a decline in the value of plan assets used in pension and postretirement calculations, which under GAAP we will recognize over the next several years. Should the securities markets decline and medical and prescription drug costs continue to increase significantly, we would expect increasing annual combined net pension and postretirement cost for the next several years. Additionally, should actual experience differ from actuarial assumptions, combined net pension and postretirement cost would be affected in future years.

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 2006.

18

NOTE 7. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONSAT&T INC.

In July 2004, we entered into an agreement to sell our interest in the directory advertising business in Illinois and northwest Indiana to Donnelley. In September 2004, we completed the sale and received net proceeds of approximately $1,397 and recorded a gain of approximately $1,357 ($827 net of tax).

In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” we reclassified the results from our directory advertising business in Illinois and northwest Indiana as discontinued operations, restating previously reported results to reflect the reclassification on a comparable basis. The operational results are presented in the “Income From Discontinued Operations, net of tax” line item on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Prior to the reclassification, these results were reported in our directory segment.

Summarized financial information for the Illinois and northwest Indiana directory advertising business is as follows:


Three months ended March 31,  2005   2004 

Operating revenues $-  $116 
Operating income  -   43 
Income taxes  -   17 
Net income from operations  -   26 


At March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the assets of the discontinued operations were $0. The liabilities of the discontinued operations were $0 at March 31, 2005 and $310 at December 31, 2004 and are presented separately under the caption “Liabilities of discontinued operations” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2004, the liabilities of $310 were primarily tax liabilities associated with the gain on the disposition. These liabilities were all paid in the first quarter of 2005, as reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

MARCH 31, 2006

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions” and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions.” In the following table, gains are denoted with parentheses and losses are not.

 

Three months ended

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2006

2005

 

Pension cost:

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost – benefits earned during the period

$

260

$

196

 

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

 

628

 

403

 

Expected return on assets

 

(991)

 

(636)

 

Amortization of prior service cost and transition asset

 

37

 

47

 

Recognized actuarial loss

 

93

 

39

 

Net pension cost

$

27

$

49

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postretirement benefit cost:

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost – benefits earned during the period

$

109

$

99

 

Interest cost on accumulated postretirement

 

 

 

 

 

benefit obligation

 

494

 

367

 

Expected return on assets

 

(234)

 

(189)

 

Amortization of prior service benefit

 

(90)

 

(80)

 

Recognized actuarial loss

 

126

 

114

 

Postretirement benefit cost

$

405

$

311

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Combined net pension and postretirement cost

$

432

$

360

 

Our combined net pension and postretirement cost increased $72 in the first quarter of 2006. Net pension and postretirement costs in 2006 reflect the November 2005 acquisition of ATTC, changes in our actuarial assumptions, which included the reduction of our discount rate from 6.00% to 5.75% (an increase to expense) and net losses on plan assets in prior years. In accordance with GAAP, we recognize actual gains and losses on pension and postretirement plan assets equally over a period of not more than five years.

As part of our acquisition of ATTC, we acquired certain non-U.S. operations. Net pension cost for non-U.S. plans was $8 in the first quarter of 2006.

Net supplemental retirement pension benefits cost were $38 in the first quarter of 2006 and $27 in the first quarter of 2005, of which $26 and $17 was interest cost, respectively.

19

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 8. PENDING ACQUISITION OF BELLSOUTH

On March 4, 2006, we agreed to acquire BellSouth in a transaction in which each share of BellSouth common stock will be exchanged for 1.325 shares of AT&T common stock. Based on the average closing price of AT&T shares for the two days prior to, including, and two days subsequent to the public announcement of the merger (March 5, 2006) of $27.32, the total transaction is valued, for purchase accounting purposes, at approximately $65,000.

We and BellSouth jointly own Cingular and the internet directory publisher YPC. In the Cingular joint venture, we hold a 60 percent economic interest and BellSouth holds a 40 percent interest and in the YPC joint venture we hold a 66 percent economic interest and BellSouth holds a 34 percent interest. For each joint venture control is shared equally (i.e., 50/50). We and BellSouth each account for the joint ventures under the equity method of accounting, recording the proportional share of Cingular’s and YPC’s income as equity in net income of affiliates on the respective consolidated statements of income and reporting the ownership percentage of Cingular’s net assets as “Investments in and Advances to Cingular Wireless” and the ownership percentage of YPC’s net assets as “Investments in Equity Affiliates” on the respective consolidated balance sheets. After the BellSouth acquisition, BellSouth, Cingular and YPC will be wholly-owned subsidiaries of AT&T.

The transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors of each company and also must be approved by the stockholders of AT&T and BellSouth. The transaction also is subject to review by the U.S. Department of Justice and approval by the Federal Communications Commission and various other regulatory authorities. We currently expect the transaction to close by the end of 2006.

20

AT&T INC.

On January 30, 2005, we agreed to acquire AT&T Corp. (AT&T) in a transaction in which each share of AT&T common stock will be exchanged for 0.77942 of a share of SBC common stock. In addition, immediately prior to the closing of the transaction, AT&T will pay each AT&T shareholder a special dividend of $1.30 per share. Based on the closing price of SBC stock on January 28, 2005, the exchange ratio equals $18.41 per share and the total transaction is valued, for purchase accounting purposes, at approximately $16,000, including the special dividend. After the acquisition, AT&T will be a wholly owned subsidiary of SBC. The transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors of each company and also must be approved by the shareholders of AT&T. AT&T shareholders are expected to vote on the proposed merger as early as June 2005. The transaction also is subject to review by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and approval by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and various other regulatory authorities. We have made the required filings with the DOJ and have received a request for additional information. We have filed applications with the FCC as well as with the approximately 24 state public utility commissions that require such applications for approval and the District of Columbia Public Utility Commission. We have also filed notices with 12 other state public utility commissions and applications in 14 foreign countries. We expect the transaction to close in late 2005 or early 2006.



MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in Millionsmillions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Throughout this document, SBC Communications

For ease of reading, AT&T Inc. is referred to as “we”“we,” “AT&T,” or “SBC.” A reference tothe “Company” throughout this document and the names of the particular subsidiaries and affiliates providing the services have been omitted. AT&T is a “Note”holding company; AT&T does not provide communications services, rather, its subsidiaries and affiliates operate in this section refers to the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.communications services industry both domestically and internationally providing wireline and wireless telecommunications services and equipment as well as directory advertising and publishing 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, 2004.2005. In ourthe tables throughout this section, percentage increases and decreases that equal or exceed 100% are not considered meaningful and are denoted with a dash.

Consolidated ResultsWe completed our acquisition of AT&T Corp. (ATTC) on November 18, 2005. Consolidated results for the three month period ended March 31, 2006 include results from ATTC. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), operating results for ATTC prior to our acquisition, including for the three months ended March 31, 2005, are not included in our operating results and are therefore not discussed. Our financial results in the first quarter of 20052006 and 20042005 are summarized as follows:


First Quarter

2005             2004Percent
Change

Operating revenues  $10,248 $10,012  2.4%
Operating expenses   8,692  8,496  2.3
Operating income   1,556  1,516  2.6
Income before income taxes   1,301  2,853  (54.4)
Income from continuing operations   885  1,911  (53.7)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax   -  26   -

Net income   885  1,937  (54.3)

 

 

First Quarter

 

 

Percent

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Operating revenues

$

15,835

$

10,248

 

54.5%

Operating expenses

 

13,644

 

8,692

 

57.0

Operating income

 

2,191

 

1,556

 

40.8

Income before income taxes

 

2,157

 

1,301

 

65.8

Net income

 

1,445

 

885

 

63.3

Overview

OverviewOperating incomeAs noted above, our first quarter 2006 revenues and expenses reflect the addition of ATTC’s results while our first quarter 2005 results do not include ATTC. Accordingly, the following discussion of changes in our revenues and expenses will be significantly affected by the ATTC acquisition. Our operating income increased $40,$635, or 2.6%40.8%, in the first quarter of 20052006 and our operating income margin increaseddecreased from 15.1%15.2% to 15.2%13.8%. The increase was driven by continued growth in long-distance voice and data revenue. These increases were largely offset by a continued decrease in voice revenue resulting from a decline in retail access lines, and a 2.3% increase in operating expenses. The decline in retail access lines historically has been primarily attributable to customers moving from our retail lines to competitors using our wholesale lines provided under the Unbundled Network Element-Platform (UNE-P) rules. However, startingoperating income margin reflects additional expense associated with the third quarter of 2004, the number of UNE-P lines has been decliningmerger and we reported a decrease in the number of UNE-P linesintegration costs and additional amortization expense on those intangibles identified at the endtime of our acquisition of ATTC, as well as the lower margins of the first quarter 2005 as compared withproducts of the same periodacquired business. Operating income increased primarily due to growth in 2004. This decline reflects developments in the federal regulatory environment over the past year, the continued success in our bundling strategy described below and the previously announced pullbacks from competitors in the consumer market. However, the decline in UNE-P lines also could increase pressure ondata revenues, which accounted for approximately 28% of our operating revenues should a customer that was receiving service from a UNE-P provider switch to an alternative technology (see below). See our “Competitive and Regulatory Environment” section for further discussion of UNE-P developments.

Retail access lines declined in the first quarter of 2006 and 23% for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, slightly offset by the negative effects of a continued decline in access lines.

Retail access lines continued to decline due to increased competition, as customers disconnected both primary and additional lines and began using wireless and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology offered by competitors and cable instead of phone lines for voice and data; thisdata. This was also a contributing factor in the year-ago period. Retail access lines also declined for both periods due to customers disconnecting their additional

21

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

lines when purchasing our broadband internet-access (DSL) services. While we lose some revenue when a wireline customer shifts from one of our retail primary lines to a competitor that relies on the UNE-P rules to offer service (i.e., one of oura resale or wholesale customers),product, we lose all revenue when a wireline customer shifts to a competitor using an alternative technology such as cable, wireless or VoIP. However, when a customer signs up for Cingular Wireless (Cingular) service, our net income impact of the lost revenue is lessened because weVoIP or their own a 60% economic interest in Cingular (see Note 5).network facilities. Increasing use ofshifts to competitors’ alternative technologies and facilities-based competition will continue to pressure our operating margins. Although retail access line losses have continued, the trend has slowed,stabilized, reflecting in part our ability to now offer retail nationwide long-distance service in all of our regions as well as the introduction of offerings combining multiple services for one fixed price (bundles).

The decline in access lines and the corresponding voice revenue also reflects decreasing wholesale revenues from lines provided under the former Unbundled Network Element-Platform (UNE-P) rules (which ended in March 2006), as competitors moved to alternate arrangements to serve their customers or their customers chose an alternative technology. Competitors representing a majority of our former UNE-P lines have signed commercial agreements with us and therefore remain as our wholesale customers. However, for the remaining UNE-P lines, we believe, based on marketing research, that customers primarily switched to competitors using alternative technologies or their own networks as opposed to returning as our retail customers.

Operating revenues Our operating revenues increased $236,$5,587, or 2.4%54.5%, in the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to our acquisition of ATTC. The increase also reflects growth in data slightly offset by continued pressure in voice, reflecting access line decreases in our traditional SBC 13-state region (“in-region”) and decreased demand for vertical services and wholesale services including UNE-P lines. At March 31, 2006, we had 7.4 million DSL lines in service, an increase of 1.8 million lines from the year-ago period and 511,000 lines from December 31, 2005; and had 48.8 million in-region access lines, a decrease of 3.1 million lines from the year-ago period and 645,000 from December 31, 2005. Our significantOperating revenue impactschanges are listed below and discussed in greater detail in our “Wireline Segment“Segment Results” section.sections.

  • Data revenues increased $177 primarily driven by continued growth in DSL.
  • Long-distance voice revenues increased $152 primarily driven by increased bundled sales of combined long-distance and local calling fixed-fee offerings.

These increases in data and long-distance voice revenues were partially offset by the $127 decline in voice revenues primarily resulting from the loss of retail access lines and increased competition.

Operating expenses Our operating expenses increased $196,$4,952, or 2.3%57.0%, in the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to our acquisition of ATTC, and also included merger integration costs of $266 and amortization expense on intangible assets of $266. Our first quarter 2006 expenses also include decreases related to workforce reductions, reflecting a decline of 3,390 employees from December 31, 2005. As of March 31, 2006 we were ahead of our scheduled workforce reductions associated with the ATTC acquisition. Our significant first-quarter 2005 increasesexpense changes are listed below and discussed in greater detail in our “Wireline Segment“Segment Results” section. These increases were partially offset by lower depreciation and amortization expenses.

  • Costs associated with harsh weather, primarily historically severe rains and floods in Southern California, increased approximately $100.
  • Costs associated with equipment sales and related network integration services, and our co-branded SBC | DISH Network satellite TV service, increased approximately $98, reflecting our emphasis on our growth initiatives in the large-business market and video.
  • Combined net pension and postretirement cost increased approximately $88 (see our “Combined Net Pension and Postretirement Benefit” discussion for further details).

Combined Net Pension and Postretirement Benefit Our combined net pension and postretirement cost increased approximately $88 in the first quarter of 2005. This cost increase primarily resulted from our recognition of unrecognized net losses on plan assets that occurred during the years 2000 through 2004. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we recognize actual gains and losses on pension and postretirement plan assets equally over a period of not more than five years. The unrecognized losses in 2000 through 2002, partially offset by our unrecognized gains in 2003 and 2004 increased our combined pension and postretirement cost approximately $82.sections.

In January 2004, the majority of nonmanagement retirees were informed of medical coverage changes. Concurrent with our second-quarter 2004 bargaining agreement with the Communications Workers of America, we also modified our nonmanagement retiree benefits. This modification of nonmanagement retiree medical coverage changes occurred in the second quarter of 2004; as a result, our quarterly combined pension and postretirement cost

Interest expense increased approximately $50 for the first quarter of 2005 when compared to the first quarter of 2004.

Our combined net pension and postretirement cost also increased approximately $25 due to our decision to reduce the discount rate used to calculate service and interest cost from 6.25% to 6.00%, in response to lower corporate bond interest rates.

Partially offsetting these increases was the amortization of actuarial gains from prior year lower-than-expected medical and prescription drug claims, which decreased cost approximately $31, and our change in the calculation of pension benefits provided to management employees, which became effective January 2005 and decreased cost $30 in the first quarter of 2005.

As a result of these economic impacts and assumption changes previously discussed, we expect a combined net pension and postretirement cost of between $1,400 and $1,550 in 2005. Approximately 10% of these costs are capitalized as part of construction labor, providing a small reduction in the net expense recorded. While we will continue our cost-cutting efforts, certain factors, such as investment returns, depend largely on trends in the U.S. securities market and the general U.S. economy. In particular, uncertainty in the securities markets and U.S. economy could result in investment losses and a decline in the value of plan assets used in pension and postretirement calculations, which under GAAP we will recognize over the next several years. Should the securities markets decline and medical and prescription drug costs continue to increase significantly, we would expect increasing annual combined net pension and postretirement cost for the next several years. Additionally, should actual experience differ from actuarial assumptions, combined net pension and postretirement cost would be affected in future years.

Interest expense increased $121,$111, or 52.2%31.4%, in the first quarter of 2005.2006. The increase in 2006 was theprimarily due to interest expense on ATTC’s outstanding debt. We expect continued increases in interest expense during 2006 as a result of including ATTC’s outstanding debt in our issuing additional debt of $8,750 in the fourth quarter of 2004 to finance our portion of the purchase price for consolidated financial statements.

22

AT&T Wireless Services Inc. (AT&T Wireless).INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

Interest incomedecreased $7,$24, or 6%22%, in the first quarter of 2005.2006. The decrease in interest income was primarily a resultdue to the pay-down by Cingular of a lower average investment balanceour shareholder loan to them; this decrease was partially offset by our benefiting from the reduced interest expense at Cingular due to our 60% ownership in Cingular, which is reflected in equity in net income of affiliates.

Equity in net income of affiliates increased $392 in the first quarter of 2005 compared with the year-ago quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2004 we used a significant amount of these investments to fund our portion of the purchase price for AT&T Wireless.

Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates decreased $650 in the first quarter of 2005.2006. The decreaseincrease was partiallyprimarily due to a declinean increase of approximately $357 in our proportionate share of Cingular’s results and an increase of $51 in results from our international holdings of approximately $378, largely attributable to gains that occurred in 2004 and foregone equity income from our 2004 disposition of investments. The decrease was also due to lower results from Cingular. Our proportionate share of Cingular’s results decreased approximately $280 in the first quarter of 2005.holdings.

We account for our 60% economic interest in Cingular under the equity method of accounting and therefore include our proportionate share of Cingular’s results in our “Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates” line item inon our Consolidated Statements of Income. Cingular’s operating results are discussed in detail in the “Cingular Segment Results” section and results from our international holdings are discussed in detail in “International Segment Results.”section. Our accounting for Cingular is described in more detail in Note 4.5.

The increase from international holdings in the first quarter was largely attributable to an increase in results from Teléfonos de México, S.A. de C.V. (Telmex) and América Móvil S.A. de C.V. (América Móvil). Our international equity holdings are discussed in detail in our “Other Segment Results” section.

Other income (expense) – net We had other income of $11 in the first quarter of 2006 and $47 in the first quarter of 2005 and $8612005. Results in the first quarter of 2004. Results for the first quarter of 2005 primarily consisted of gains of $68 on the sale of shares of Amdocs Limited (Amdocs) and SpectraSite, Inc. (SpectraSite), partially offset by a charge of $21 related to the other-than-temporary decline in the value of various cost investments. Results for the first quarter of 2004 primarily consisted of a gain on the sale of our investment in Belgacom S.A. (Belgacom) of approximately $832 and a gain of $57 on the sale of shares of Teléfonos de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (Telmex) and América Móvil S.A. de C.V. (América Móvil), partially offset by a loss on a sale of an investment of approximately $21.

Income taxesdecreased $526,increased $296, or 55.8%71.2%, in the first quarter of 2005.2006. The decreaseincrease was due to lowerhigher income before income taxes in 2005,2006, which was primarily the result of a decreaseincreased operating income and an increase in “Equityequity in net income (loss) of affiliates”affiliates (see previous discussion) and the gain in 2004 on the sale of our interest in Belgacom.. Our effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2005 was 32.0% and 2004 was 33.0%.

Income from Discontinued Operationsdecreased $26 in the first quarter of 2005. The decrease was due to2006 and 32.0% in the sale of our directory advertising businesssame period in Illinois and northwest Indiana in 2004. (See Note 7)2005.

Selected Financial Andand Operating Data


 

 

March 31,

 

 

2006

 

2005

Debt ratio1

36.4%

 

40.2%

In-region network access lines in service (000)2

48,768

 

51,868

In-region wholesale lines (000)2

4,667

 

6,503

DSL lines in service (000)

7,432

 

5,608

Number of AT&T employees3

186,560

 

160,880

Cingular Wireless customers (000)4

55,810

 

50,350

1March 31,See our “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section for discussion.
    2005  2004 

 Debt ratio 1   40.2%  31.3% 
 Network access lines in service (000)   51,868  54,256 
     Wholesale lines (000)   6,503  7,238 
 Long-distance lines in service (000)   22,004  16,984 
 DSL lines in service (000)   5,608  3,962 
 Number of SBC employees   160,880  168,330 
 Cingular Wireless customers 2 (000)   50,369  24,618 

2In-region represents access lines served by AT&T’s incumbent local exchange companies (ILECs).
3Number of employees at December 31, 2005 was 189,950.
4Amounts represent 100% of the cellular/PCS customers of Cingular.

23

1 See our “LiquidityAT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Capital Resources” section for discussion.
2 Numbers represent 100%Analysis of the cellular/PCS customersFinancial Condition and Results of Cingular (the 2004 number does not include AT&T Wireless customers).Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

Segment Results

Our segments represent strategic business units that offer different products and services and are managed accordingly. As required by GAAP, ourOur operating segment results presented in Note 45 and discussed below for each segment follow our internal management reporting. Under GAAP segment reporting rules, weWe analyze our various operating segments based on segment income. Interest expense, interest income and other income (expense) – net, and tax expense 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 total segment income. As a result of our November 18, 2005 acquisition of ATTC, we have revised our segment reporting to represent how we now manage our business, restating prior periods to conform to the current segments. We have fivefour reportable segments that reflect the current management of our business: (1) wireline; (2) Cingular; (3) directory; and (4) international; and (5) other.

The wireline segment provides both retail and wholesale landline telecommunications services, including local and long-distance voice, switched access, data and messaging services, managed networking to business customers and satellite television services through our agreement with EchoStar Communications Corp (“SBCCorp.
(“AT&T | DISH Network” offering). In discussing regional trends in this segment, the “Midwest” refers to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin; the “Southwest” refers to Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas; the “West” refers to California and Nevada; and the “East” refers to Connecticut (all combined, “13-state area”).

The Cingular segment reflects 100% of the results reported by Cingular, our wireless joint venture. In our consolidated financial statements, we report our 60% proportionate share of Cingular’s results as equity in net income of affiliates. Cingular’s first quarter 2004 results have been restated to reflect the correction of an error relating to the lease accounting practices of Cingular, which was announced in February 2005.

The directory segment includes all directory operations, including Yellow and White Pages advertising and electronic publishing. Results for this segment are shown under the amortization method which means that revenues and direct expenses are recognized ratably over the life of the directory, typically 12 months. Results for all periods presented in this segment have been restated to reflect the sale of our interest in the directory advertising business in Illinois and northwest Indiana to R.H. Donnelley (see Note 7). In November 2004, a subsidiary in our directory segment entered into a joint venture agreement with BellSouth Corporation and purchased the online directory provider YellowPages.com (YPC). Our portion of the results from YPCYELLOWPAGES.COM (YPC) is recorded in this segment as equity in net income of affiliates.

Our international segment includes all investments with primarily international operations.

The other segment includes results from paging services,Sterling Commerce Inc. (Sterling) and all corporate and other operations as well asoperations. The other segment also includes our portion of the equity incomeresults from our investmentinternational equity investments and from Cingular as equity in Cingular.net income of affiliates, as discussed above. Although we analyze Cingular’s revenues and expenses under the Cingular segment, we record our portion of Cingular’s results as equity in net income of affiliates (from non-international investments) in the other segment.

The following tables show components of results of operations by segment. A discussion of significant segment results is also presented following each table. Capital expenditures for each segment are discussed in “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

24

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

Wireline

Segment Results

 

First Quarter

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

2006

2005

 

Change

Segment operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice

$

8,722

$

5,852

 

49.0%

 

Data

 

4,442

 

2,391

 

85.8

 

Other

 

1,575

 

939

 

67.7

 

Total Segment Operating Revenues

 

14,739

 

9,182

 

60.5

 

Segment operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

6,856

 

4,123

 

66.3

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

3,701

 

2,170

 

70.6

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

2,430

 

1,773

 

37.1

 

Total Segment Operating Expenses

 

12,987

 

8,066

 

61.0

 

Segment Income

$

1,752

$

1,116

 

57.0%

 

Operating Margin Trends


First Quarter

Percent 
    2005  2004  Change

Segment operating revenues  
   Voice  $5,086 $5,213  (2.4)%
   Data   2,824  2,647  6.7 
   Long-distance voice   901  749  20.3 
   Other   478  431  10.9 

Total Segment Operating Revenues   9,289  9,040  2.8 

Segment operating expenses  
   Cost of sales   4,182  4,021  4.0 
   Selling, general and administrative   2,283  2,183  4.6 
   Depreciation and amortization   1,798  1,898  (5.3)

Total Segment Operating Expenses   8,263  8,102  2.0 

Segment Income  $1,026 $938  9.4%

Our wireline segment operating income increased $636, or 57.0%, in the first quarter of 2006 reflecting incremental revenue and expenses from our acquisition of ATTC, while our operating income margin was 11.0%decreased from 12.2% in the first quarter of 2005 compared to 10.4%11.9% in the first quarter of 2004.2006. Exclusive of the results attributable to the acquisition of ATTC, operating income increased primarily due to growth in data revenue. The modest improvementdecrease in our wireline segment operating income margin in 2005 wasreflects additional expense associated with merger and integration costs and additional amortization expense on those intangibles identified at the time of our acquisition of ATTC.

While voice revenue increased due primarily to the continued growth in our data and long-distance voice revenue, which more than offset the lossacquisition of voice revenue from the decline in totalATTC, in-region retail access lines (as shown in the following table) from 2004continued to 2005 of approximately 2.4 million lines, or 4.4%. This voice revenue decline was caused bydue to customers continuing to disconnect primary and additional lines and usingswitching to competitors’ alternative technologies, such as wireless, and to a lesser extent VoIP and cable instead of phone lines for voice and data;data. Retail access lines also declined for both periods due to customers disconnecting their additional lines when purchasing our bundling strategybroadband internet-access (DSL) services. While we lose some revenue when a wireline customer shifts from one of our retail primary lines to a competitor that relies on a resale or wholesale product, we lose all revenue when a wireline customer shifts to a competitor’s alternative technology such as cable, wireless or VoIP or a facilities-based competitor. Increasing use of competitor's alternative technologies and facilities-based competition will continue to pressure our operating margins. However, although retail access line losses have continued, the trend has slowed, reflecting in part our ability to offer retail nationwide long-distance service as well as offerings combining multiple services for one fixed price (bundles).

25

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

Wireline Operating Results

All variances other than those specifically stated as being due to the ATTC acquisition are related to the operations of traditional SBC.

Voicerevenues increased $2,870, or 49.0%, in the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to the acquisition of ATTC. Included in voice revenues are revenues from long-distance, local voice and local wholesale services. Voice revenues do not include any of our VoIP revenues, which are included in data revenues. In the first quarter of 2006, revenue increased $2,852 in long-distance and $194 in local voice, partially offset by revenue declines of $176 in local wholesale. On a sequential basis, revenues in our traditional SBC regions increased in line with the fourth quarter of 2005 but were partially offset by a continuing decline in pro forma revenues from ATTC’s traditional mass-market customer category, which include revenues from the traditional ATTC standalone long-distance and bundled local services for consumers and small business.

The increase in long-distance revenues were almost entirely driven by the increase in long-distance customers due to the acquisition of ATTC. Additionally, in-region retail long-distance revenues increased $99 in the first quarter of 2006, reflecting our higher long-distance penetration levels. Sales of combined long-distance and local calling fixed-fee offerings (referred to as “bundling”) also contributed to the increased long-distance revenues and customers. Long-distance revenues continued to increase in our traditional SBC Midwest, West and Southwest regions.

The increase in local voice revenues of $194 in the first quarter primarily reflects our acquisition of ATTC. Our local voice revenue growth will continue to be negatively impacted due to increased competition, including customers shifting to competitors’ wireless, VoIP technology and cable offerings for voice, and the disconnection of additional lines for DSL service and other reasons.

Local voice revenues were negatively impacted by declines in customer demand, calling features, inside wire and retail payphone revenues. The decline in customer demand decreased revenues $88. A decline in demand for calling features (e.g., Caller ID and voice mail), due primarily to the access line declines, decreased revenues approximately $47 in the first quarter of 2006. Lower demand for inside wire and retail payphone services decreased revenues approximately $38 in the first quarter of 2006. We expect payphone access lines and revenue to continue to decline in future periods. Voice revenue was also lower due to receiving a settlement of $32 from another carrier in the first quarter of 2005. We also expect mass-market consumer-based revenues acquired with ATTC to continue to decline on a sequential basis, but will positively contribute to results on a year-over-year basis. Partially offsetting these demand-related declines were revenue increases of $54 related to pricing increases for calling features in the first quarter of 2006.

Lower demand for wholesale services, primarily due to the decline in UNE-P lines provided to competitors, decreased revenue approximately $176 in the first quarter of 2006. Lines provided under the former UNE-P rules (which ended in March 2006) declined, as competitors moved to alternate arrangements to serve their customers or their customers chose an alternative technology. Competitors representing a majority of our UNE-P lines have signed commercial agreements with us and therefore remain our wholesale customers.

26

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

For the remaining UNE-P lines, we believe, based on marketing research, that customers primarily switched to competitors using alternative technologies or their own networks as opposed to returning as our retail customers.

Datarevenues increased $2,051, or 85.8%, in the first quarter of 2006, with increases of $779 in Internet Protocol (IP) data, $666 in transport and $606 in packet switched services, which were almost entirely due to the acquisition of ATTC. Revenues from our traditional SBC regions increased approximately 9.0% compared to the first quarter of 2005 and 2.0% sequentially, while pro forma revenues from ATTC’s traditional enterprise categories declined slightly compared to the first quarter of 2005 and sequentially.

Included in IP data revenues are services for dedicated internet access, virtual private network and other hosting services. Contributing to the increase in IP data services was continued growth in DSL, our broadband internet-access service. DSL internet service increased data revenues approximately $103 in the first quarter reflecting an increase in DSL lines in service, which was partially driven by lower-priced promotional offerings and pricing responses to competitors’ offerings;competitors. The number of DSL lines in service grew to approximately 7.4 million, a 32.5% increase from March 31, 2005.

Our transport services, which include DS1s and lowerDS3s (types of dedicated high-capacity lines), and SONET (a dedicated high-speed solution for multi-site businesses), represented about 50% of total data revenues in the first quarter of 2006 and 65% of total data revenues in the first quarter of 2005.

Our packet switched services includes frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and managed packet services. As customers continue to shift from this traditional technology to IP-based technology, we expect these services to decline as a percentage of our overall data revenues.

Otheroperating revenues increased $636 in the first quarter of 2006, primarily due to incremental revenue of $601 from our acquisition of ATTC. The major items included in other operating revenues are integration services and customer premises equipment, outsourcing, directory and operator assistance services and government-related services. Our co-branded AT&T | DISH Network satellite TV service increased revenue $15 in 2006. Partially offsetting these revenue increases were reduced demand for services. Revenuedirectory and operator assistance, billing and collection services provided to other carriers, wholesale and other miscellaneous products and services, which decreased revenue $42 in 2006.

Cost of salesexpenses increased $2,733 in the first quarter of 2006, primarily related to the acquisition of ATTC, which increased expenses approximately $2,800. Cost of sales consists of costs we incur to provide our products and services, including costs of operating and maintaining our networks. Costs in this category include our repair technicians and repair services, certain network planning and engineering expenses, operator services, information technology, property taxes related to elements of our network, and payphone operations. Pension and postretirement costs, net of amounts capitalized as part of construction labor, are also has declinedincluded to the extent that they are allocated to our network labor force and other employees who perform the functions listed in this paragraph.

27

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

Traffic compensation expense (for access to another carrier’s network) increased $113 in 2006, due primarily to growth in Yahoo! Inc. and long-distance service and as a result of decreased costs recorded in the first quarter of 2005 related to a carrier settlement. Benefit expenses, consisting primarily of our combined net pension and postretirement cost, increased $35 in 2006, primarily due to changes in our actuarial assumptions, which included the reduction of our discount rate from 6.00% to 5.75%, and net losses on plan assets in prior years. Salary and wage merit increases and other bonus accrual adjustments increased expense $31 in 2006.

Partially offsetting these increases were lower nonemployee-related expenses such as contract services, agent commissions and materials and supplies costs, which decreased $60 in the first quarter of 2006. Lower employee levels decreased expenses, primarily salary and wages, $39 in 2006.

Costs associated with equipment sales and related network integration services decreased $34 in 2006 primarily as a result of the September 2005 amendment of our agreement for our co-branded AT&T | DISH Network satellite TV service. Prior to restructuring our relationship with EchoStar in September 2005, our co-branded AT&T | DISH Network satellite TV service had relatively high initial acquisition costs. Costs associated with equipment for large-business customers (as well as DSL and, previously, video) typically are greater than costs associated with services that are provided over multiple years.

Expenses also decreased in 2006 resulting from repair costs of approximately $100 incurred in the past several yearsfirst quarter of 2005 related to severe weather in our traditional SBC regions.

Selling, general and administrativeexpenses increased $1,531 in the first quarter of 2006, primarily due to the ATTC acquisition, which increased expenses approximately $1,250. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of our provision for uncollectible accounts; advertising costs; sales and marketing functions, including our retail and wholesale customer service centers; centrally managed real estate costs, including maintenance and utilities on all owned and leased buildings; credit and collection functions, and; corporate overhead costs, such as finance, legal, human resources and external affairs. Pension and postretirement costs are also included to the extent they relate to employees who perform the functions listed in this paragraph.

Other wireline segment costs increased $274 in 2006, most of which was advertising related to promotion of the new AT&T name. In addition, advertising expense increased $25 in 2006 primarily driven by our promotion of the Home Turf campaign and sponsorship of the Winter Olympics. Salary and wage merit increases and other bonus accrual adjustments increased expenses $22 in 2006. Benefit expenses, consisting primarily of our combined net pension and postretirement cost, increased $19 in 2006 primarily due to changes in our actuarial assumptions, which included the reduction of our discount rate from 6.00% to 5.75% and net losses on plan assets in prior years. Nonemployee related expenses, such as contract services, agent commissions and materials and supplies costs, increased $30 in 2006.

28

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

Partially offsetting these increases were lower employee levels, which decreased expenses, primarily salary and wages, $69 in the first quarter of 2006. Our provision for uncollectible accounts decreased $28 in 2006 as we experienced fewer losses from our retail customers have disconnected their linesand a decrease in orderbankruptcy filings by our wholesale customers.

Depreciation and amortizationexpenses increased $657 in 2006. Expenses increased $734 due to obtain service from competitors who lease our UNE-P lines. However, that trend startedthe acquisition of ATTC, of which $266 related to changeamortization of intangible assets, primarily customer lists and relationships, identified at the time of the merger. Expenses related to traditional SBC decreased $77 in the thirdfirst quarter of 2004 and for this quarter UNE-P lines declined by almost 0.7 million, or 10.1%, from March 31, 2004 levels (see table below). The impact of the UNE-P rules on our operating revenue is discussed below. (The UNE-P rules are discussed in “Competitive and Regulatory Environment.”) Our operating income margin was also pressured on the cost side2006, due primarily to higher costs caused by severe weather and our growth initiatives in long-distance, DSL and the large-business market.significantly lower capital expenditures since 2001.

Supplemental Information

Access Line Trends

Following is a summary of our in-region switched access lines at March 31, 20052006 and 2004:2005:

In-Region1

 

 

 

Switched Access Lines

March 31,

 

 

 

 

Increase

(in 000’s)

2006

2005

(Decrease)

 

 

 

 

Retail Consumer

 

 

 

Primary

22,630

23,222

(592)

Additional

3,786

4,218

(432)

Retail Consumer Subtotal

26,416

27,440

(1,024)

 

 

 

 

Retail Business

17,377

17,507

(130)

Retail Subtotal

43,793

44,947

(1,154)

Percent of total switched access lines

89.8%

86.7%

 

 

 

 

 

Sold to ATTC

1,517

2,144

(627)

Sold to other CLECs2

3,150

4,359

(1,209)

Wholesale Subtotal

4,667

6,503

(1,836)

Percent of total switched access lines

9.6%

12.5%

 

 

 

 

 

Payphone (Retail and Wholesale)

308

418

(110)

Percent of total switched access lines

0.6%

0.8%

 

 

 

 

 

Total Switched Access Lines

48,768

51,868

(3,100)

 

 

 

 

DSL Lines in Service

7,432

5,608

1,824

Switched Access Lines1 In-region represents access lines served by AT&T’s ILECs.


March 31,

(in 000s)   2005  2004  Increase  
(Decrease)
 

Retail Consumer  
    Primary   23,222  23,792  (570)
    Additional   4,218  4,745  (527)

Retail Consumer Subtotal   27,440  28,537  (1,097)


Retail Business
   17,507  18,022  (515)

Retail Subtotal   44,947  46,559  (1,612)

    Percent of total switched access lines   86.7% 85.8%

UNE-P
   6,133  6,821  (688)
Resale   370  417  (47)

Wholesale Subtotal   6,503  7,238  (735)

    Percent of total switched access lines   12.5% 13.3%

Payphone (Retail and Wholesale)
   418  459  (41)

    Percent of total switched access lines   0.8% 0.9%

Total Switched Access Lines
   51,868  54,256  (2,388)


DSL Lines in Service
   5,608  3,962  1,646 

2Competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs)

29

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

Total in-region switched access lines in service at March 31, 20052006 declined 4.4%3,100, or 6.0%, from March 31, 20042005 levels. Retail access lines, while declining 3.5%2.6% from March 31, 20042005 levels, represent 86.7%89.8% of total in-region switched access lines at March 31, 20052006, compared to 85.8%86.7% a year earlier. During this same period, wholesale lines (which include UNE-P and resale) decreased 10.2%28.2% and at March 31, 20052006 represented 12.5%9.6% of total access lines, down from 13.3%12.5% a year earlier.

The decline in total access lines reflects many factors, including the disconnection of additional lines as our existing customers purchase our DSL broadband services and for other reasons, and the continued growth in alternative communication technologies such as wireless, cable and other internet-based systems and continuing slow demand from U.S. businesses. While we lose some revenue when a wireline customer shifts from onesystems. However, recently, declines in our retail business access lines have been partially offset by sales of our retailbusiness internet-based systems (which are reported as data revenues). We do not currently offer a residential internet-based service except in limited areas served by ATTC prior to the acquisition. The decline in our wholesale lines to a competitor that relies onreflects the end of the UNE-P rules to offer service (i.e., one of our wholesale customers), we lose all customer revenue when a retail wireline customer shifts to an alternative technology such as cable, wireless or the internet using VoIP. However, due to new UNE-P rules that became effectivein March 11, 2005, we expect that UNE-P will have less of an impact on our access line losses in the future. Increasing use of alternative technologies and our negotiated commercial agreements with competitors could continue to pressure our wireline segment’s operating margins. For a more detailed discussion on the UNE-P rules see “Competitive and Regulatory Environment.”2006.

While retail access lines continued to decline, the trend slowed in our West, Midwest and Southwest regions, reflecting continued success with our bundling strategy. In late 2003, we began offering retail nationwide long-distance service in our Midwest region (see our “Competitive and Regulatory Environment” section). Retail access lines for the Midwest region have decreased 3.3% since March 31, 2004, compared with declines of 4.1% in the Southwest region and 2.9% in the West region, for the same period.

Our retail consumer primary lines increased by 16,000 compared to December 31, 2004 levels, which is our first quarter over quarter increase since the first quarter of 2000. See further discussion of the details of our wireline segment revenue and expense fluctuations below.Cingular

Voice revenues decreased $127, or 2.4%, in the first quarter of 2005 primarily due to the loss of retail access lines. The decline in retail lines primarily reflects increased competition, including customers using wireless, VoIP technology and cable instead of phone lines for voice and data, and the disconnection of additional lines for DSL service and other reasons. The access-line declines decreased revenues approximately $110. A decline in demand for calling features (e.g., Caller ID and voice mail) due primarily to the access-line declines decreased revenues approximately $31. Pricing responses to competitors’ offerings and regulatory changes reduced revenues approximately $11.


Revenue from ‘local plus’ plans (expanded local calling area) declined approximately $11 in the first quarter of 2005, as more customers chose broader long-distance and other bundled offerings. Continued declines in demand for voice equipment located on customer premises decreased revenues approximately $23. Revenue from payphone services decreased approximately $10, primarily due to lower demand. We expect payphone access lines and revenue to continue to decline in future periods. Partially offsetting these revenue declines, settlements and billing adjustments with our wholesale customers increased revenues approximately $69, which includes approximately $32 related to our settlement with a carrier in March 2005 (see our “Competitive and Regulatory Environment” section).

Data revenues increased $177, or 6.7%, in the first quarter of 2005. This increase was primarily due to continued growth in DSL, our broadband internet-access service, which increased data revenues approximately $131 in the first quarter of 2005. The number of DSL lines in service grew to approximately 5.6 million as compared to 4.0 million at March 31, 2004. Additionally, revenue from large-business customers for data equipment sales and network integration services increased approximately $20. Revenues from large-business customers (as well as DSL) typically consist of revenue from the initial installation of equipment followed by services provided over multiple years.

Revenue from our high-capacity transport services increased approximately $24 in the first quarter of 2005. Our high-capacity transport services, which include DS1s and DS3s (types of dedicated high-capacity lines), and SONET (a dedicated high-speed solution for multi-site businesses), represented about 60% of total data revenues in the first quarter of 2005 and 63% in the first quarter of 2004.

Long-distance voicerevenues increased $152, or 20.3%, in the first quarter of 2005. The 2005 increase was primarily driven by the increase in long-distance lines in service since the first quarter of 2004. The number of long-distance lines in service grew to approximately 22 million as compared to 17 million at March 31, 2004. Sales of combined long-distance and local calling fixed-fee offerings (referred to as “bundling”) also contributed to the increased long-distance revenues and lines. Sales of our bundling offers continued to increase in our Midwest, West and Southwest regions with the most significant improvements in results occurring in our Midwest region.

Retail long-distance revenues increased approximately $157 in the first quarter of 2005, reflecting our ability to offer nationwide long-distance services since late 2003. Also contributing to the increase was continued growth in our international calling bundles and our business long-distance service. Other long-distance revenues increased approximately $34, which includes wholesale long-distance services sold to Cingular and retail international long-distance. Partially offsetting these increases was a decline of approximately $42 due to increased competition and a reduction in our billed minutes of use mainly related to the increased sales of our fixed-fee bundles, which do not separately bill for minutes of use.

Otheroperating revenues increased $47, or 10.9%, in the first quarter of 2005. Our co-branded SBC | DISH Network satellite TV service increased revenue approximately $64 in 2005. Price increases, primarily in directory assistance, increased revenues approximately $11. Partially offsetting these revenue increases, reduced demand for directory and operator assistance and other miscellaneous products and services decreased revenue approximately $30 in 2005.

Cost of salesexpenses increased $161, or 4.0%, in the first quarter of 2005. Cost of sales consists of costs we incur to provide our products and services, including costs of operating and maintaining our networks. Costs in this category include repair services, certain network planning and engineering expenses, operator services, information technology, property taxes related to elements of our network, and payphone operations. Pension and postretirement costs are also included to the extent that they are allocated to our network labor force and other employees who perform the functions listed in this paragraph.

We incurred higher than normal weather-related costs of approximately $100 in the first quarter of 2005 primarily related to floods in Southern California. Costs associated with equipment sales and related network integration services, and our co-branded SBC | DISH Network satellite TV service increased approximately $98 reflecting our emphasis on our growth initiatives in the large business market and video. Costs associated with equipment for large-business customers (as well as DSL and video) typically are greater than costs associated with services that are provided over multiple years. Our combined net pension and postretirement cost increased approximately $54 in 2005, primarily resulting from our recognition of net losses on plan assets that occurred in 2000 through 2004 and second-quarter 2004 modifications of nonmanagement retiree medical coverage. See our “Consolidated Results” section for further discussion of combined net pension and postretirement cost. Non-employee related expenses such as contract services, agent commissions and materials and supplies costs increased approximately $19. Salary and wage merit increases and other bonus accrual adjustments increased expense approximately $12.

Partially offsetting the increases, lower employee levels decreased expenses, primarily salary and wages, approximately $101. In addition, traffic compensation expense decreased approximately $26 related to our settlement with a carrier in March 2005 (see our “Competitive and Regulatory Environment” section).

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $100, or 4.6%, in the first quarter of 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of our provision for uncollectible accounts, advertising costs, sales and marketing functions, including our retail and wholesale customer service centers, centrally managed real estate costs, including maintenance and utilities on all owned and leased buildings, credit and collection functions and corporate overhead costs, such as finance, legal, human resources and external affairs. Pension and postretirement costs are also included to the extent they relate to employees who perform the functions listed in this paragraph.

Non-employee related expenses such as contract services, agent commissions, materials and supplies costs and corporate allocations increased approximately $86, primarily due to the timing of parent charges. Salary and wage merit increases and other bonus accrual adjustments increased expenses approximately $27. Our combined net pension and postretirement cost increased approximately $25 primarily resulting from our recognition of net losses on plan assets that occurred in 2000 through 2004 and second-quarter 2004 modifications of nonmanagement retiree medical coverage. See our “Consolidated Results” section for further discussion of combined net pension and postretirement cost. Expenses increased approximately $20 due to higher severance accruals. Other employee related expenses including travel, training and conferences increased approximately $13.

Partially offsetting the increases, lower employee levels decreased expenses, primarily salary and wages, approximately $41. Advertising expense decreased approximately $31 primarily driven by higher costs in 2004 from our launch of long-distance service in our Midwest region and bundling initiatives.

Depreciation and amortizationexpenses decreased $100, or 5.3%, in the first quarter of 2005. Lower expense in 2005 was due primarily to lower capital expenditures over the last three years.

Cingular
Segment Results

First Quarter

    2005  2004  Percent
Change
 

Segment operating revenues  
   Service revenues  $7,419 $3,583  - 
   Equipment revenues   810  384  - 

Total Segment Operating Revenues   8,229  3,967  - 

Segment operating expenses  
   Cost of services and equipment sales   3,439  1,492  - 
   Selling, general and administrative   3,001  1,372  - 
   Depreciation and amortization   1,675  553  - 

Total Segment Operating Expenses   8,115  3,417  - 

Segment Operating Income   114  550  (79.3)

Interest Expense   338  198  70.7 

Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates, net   2  (108) - 

Other, net   4  (23) - 

Segment Income (Loss)  $(218)$221  - 

 

First Quarter

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

2006

2005

 

Change

Segment operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenues

$

8,005

$

7,419

 

7.9%

 

Equipment revenues

 

975

 

810

 

20.4

 

Total Segment Operating Revenues

 

8,980

 

8,229

 

9.1

 

Segment operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of services and equipment sales

 

3,647

 

3,439

 

6.0

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

2,846

 

3,001

 

(5.2)

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

1,680

 

1,675

 

0.3

 

Total Segment Operating Expenses

 

8,173

 

8,115

 

0.7

 

Segment Operating Income

 

807

 

114

 

-

 

Interest Expense

 

297

 

338

 

(12.1)

 

Equity in Net Income of Affiliates

 

-

 

2

 

-

 

Other – net

 

(32)

 

4

 

-

 

Segment Income (Loss)

$

478

$

(218)

 

-

 

Accounting for Cingular

We account for our 60% economic interest in Cingular under the equity method of accounting in our consolidated financial statements since we share control equally (i.e., 50/50) with our 40% economic partner BellSouth Corporation (BellSouth) in the joint venture. We have equal voting rights and representation on the boardBoard of directorsDirectors that controls Cingular. This means that our consolidated results include Cingular’s results in the “Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates” line. However, when analyzing our segment results, we evaluate Cingular’s results on a stand-alone basis using information provided by Cingular during the year. Accordingly, in theour segment table above,presentation, we present 100% of Cingular’s revenues and expenses under “Segment operating revenues” and “Segment operating expenses.” Including 100% of Cingular’s results in our segment operations (rather than 60% in equity in net income (loss) of affiliates) affects the presentation of this segment’s revenues, expenses, operating income, nonoperating items and segment income but does not affect our consolidated net income. We discuss Cingular’s liquidity and capital expenditures under the heading “Cingular” within “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

In the first quarter of 2005, to be consistent with industry practices, Cingular changed its income statement presentation for the current and prior-year periods to record billings to customers for various state gross receipts taxes and other fees as “Service revenues” and the taxes assessed by the various state jurisdictions and other fees as “Cost of services and equipment sales.” This amount totaled $39 in the first quarter of 2005 and $25 in the first quarter of 2004. Operating income and net income for all restated periods were not affected.

In February 2005, Cingular announced restated first quarter 2004 results to correct an error relating to its lease accounting practices. This correction, which is reflected in the table above, reduced Cingular’s previously reported first quarter 2004 “Segment Operating Income” by approximately $9 and “Segment Income” by $12.

30

Acquisition of AT&T WirelessINC.
On October 26, 2004, Cingular acquired AT&T Wireless for approximately $41,000

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in cash. In connection with the acquisition, we entered into an investment agreement with BellSouthmillions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

Cingular’s Customer and Cingular. Under the investment agreement, we and BellSouth funded, by means of an equity contribution to Cingular, a significant portion of the acquisition’s purchase price. Based on our 60% equity ownership of Cingular, and after taking into account cash on hand at AT&T Wireless, we provided additional equity of approximately $21,600 to fund the consideration. In exchange for this equity contribution, Cingular issued to us and BellSouth new membership interests in Cingular. Equity ownership and management control of Cingular remains unchanged after the acquisition.

Cingular’s Operating ResultsTrends
Our Cingular segment operating income margin was 1.4% in the first quarter of 2005 and 13.9% in the first quarter of 2004. The lower 2005 margin was caused by increased expenses that were only partially offset by increased revenues. The primary driver for the first quarter 2005 increases in almost every component of Cingular’s total operating revenues and operating expenses was the acquisition of AT&T Wireless in late October 2004 and the resulting inclusion of AT&T Wireless operating results and wireless customers in Cingular’s results.

As of March 31, 2005,2006, Cingular served over 50approximately 55.8 million cellular/PCS (wireless) customers, compared to approximately 2554.1 million at December 31, 2005 and 50.4 million at March 31, 2004. Cingular is the largest provider of mobile wireless voice and data communications services in the United States, based on the number of wireless customers. Cingular’s wireless customer net additions from operations were 1,419,000 in the first three months of 2005 and 554,000 in the first three months of 2004. Customers gained or lost through property divestitures related to the AT&T Wireless acquisition and other adjustments totaled a customer loss of 159,000 in the first three months of 2005 and a customer gain of 37,000 in the first three months of 2004. Including these net customer gains and losses, during the first three months of 2005 the number of Cingular’s wireless customers increased 1,260,000 as compared to 591,000 in the first three months of 2004. Cingular’s first quarter 2005 wireless customer gross additions totaled 4.8 million, an increase of 90.7% over the first quarter of 2004.2005. Cingular’s increase in customer gross additions duringin the first quarter of 2006 compared to the first quarter of 2005 were due towas primarily driven by an increase in reseller and prepaid customer growth, combined with its larger distribution network, broad range of service offerings and increased advertising.advertising over the past year. Cingular’s recent customer activity is listed below:

Wireless Customer Activity

 

 

Three-Month Period Ended

(in 000s)

 

Mar 31,

2006

Dec 31,

2005

Sep 30,

2005

Jun 30,

2005

 

Mar 31,

2005

 

Gross additions

 

4,737

5,136

4,386

4,292

 

4,672

 

Net additions

 

1,679

1,820

867

952

 

1,367

 

Other adjustments1

 

(13)

32

(17)

140

 

(149)

 

Net additions including other adjustments1

 

1,666

1,852

850

1,092

 

1,218

 

1

Other adjustments include customers gained or lost through property divestitures related to the AT&T Wireless Services Inc. (AT&T Wireless) acquisition and other adjustments.

Competition and the slowing rate of new wireless users as the wireless market matures will continue to impact Cingular’s gross additions and revenue growth, expenses and put pressure on margins. Cingular has license coverage serving an aggregate population of potential customers, referred to as “POPs,” of nearly 292 million, including all of the 100 largest metropolitan areas.expects that future revenue growth will become increasingly dependent on minimizing customer turnover (customer churn) and increasing average revenue per user/customer (ARPU).

Cingular’s operating expenses increased $4,698ARPU has weakened over the past several years as it has offered a broader array of plans to expand its customer base and responded to increasing competition, resulting in the first quarterpricing reductions. While Cingular’s ARPU has somewhat stabilized recently, Cingular expects continued pressure on ARPU notwithstanding increasing revenue from data services.

Cingular expects its cost of 2005 primarilyservices to continue increasing due to incremental expenses from AT&T Wireless; merger and integration costs of $105 related tohigher network system usage, which includes the acquisition of AT&T Wireless; acquisition costs associated with significantly higher gross customer additions; extensive customer retention and customer service initiatives; and higher depreciation and amortization expenses (including $486 of amortization expense related to Cingular’s purchase price valuation of AT&T Wireless customer contracts and other intangible assets acquired). Network operating costs also increased due to growth in customer usage, increased costs Cingular is now paying T-Mobile USA (T-Mobile) for the utilizationuse of theirits network in California and Nevada, higher costs associated with integrating AT&T Wireless’ network and redundantoperations, and, to a lesser extent, increased expenses related to concurrently operating, itsmaintaining and decommissioning Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) andnetworks that duplicated Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) networks. Handset equipmentnetworks while integrating the networks acquired from AT&T Wireless. Cingular’s remaining purchase commitment to T-Mobile was approximately $409 at March 31, 2006. Operating costs will substantially increase in the event that Cingular’s network expansion in California and Nevada is not completed prior to fulfilling the purchase commitment with T-Mobile. However, this network expansion is proceeding on schedule and Cingular currently expects this network expansion to be completed on time, and as of March 31, 2006, approximately 70% of Cingular’s customers in California and Nevada are now on the Cingular network.

31

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

ARPU declined 2.3% in the first quarter of 2006. The decline in ARPU was due to a decrease in local service, net roaming revenue and other revenue per customer partially offset by an increase in average data revenue per customer, which increased $75841.1%. Local service revenue per customer declined primarily due to an increase in reseller customers which provide significantly lower ARPU than non-reseller customers, and customer shifts to all-inclusive rate plans that offer lower monthly charges, as well as Cingular’s free mobile-to-mobile plans, which allow Cingular customers to call other Cingular customers at no charge and to a lesser extent “rollover” minutes (which allow customers to carry over unused minutes from month to month for up to one year). An increase in customers on rollover plans tends to lower average monthly revenue per customer since unused minutes (and associated revenue) are deferred until subsequent months for up to one year.

The effective management of wireless customer churn is critical to Cingular’s ability to maximize revenue growth and maintain and improve margins. Cingular’s wireless customer churn rate is calculated by dividing the aggregate number of wireless customers (prepaid and postpaid) 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. Cingular’s churn rate was 1.9% in the first quarter of 2006, down from 2.2% in the first quarter of 2005.

The churn rate for Cingular’s postpaid customers was 1.6% in the first quarter of 2006, down from 1.9% in the first quarter of 2005. The decline in postpaid churn reflects benefits from the acquisition of AT&T Wireless, including more affordable rate plans, broader network coverage, higher network quality, exclusive devices and free mobile-to-mobile calling among Cingular’s 55.8 million customers.

Cingular’s Operating Results

Our Cingular segment operating income margin was 9.0% in the first quarter of 2006, which improved over margins of 6.2% in the fourth quarter of 2005 and 1.4% in the first quarter of 2005. The higher margin in the first quarter of 2006 compared to the first quarter of 2005 was primarily due to revenue growth of $751.

Servicerevenues are comprised of local voice and data services, roaming, long-distance and other revenue. Service revenues increased $586, or 7.9%, in the first quarter of 2006 and consisted of:

Local voice revenues increased $339, or 5.5%, in the first quarter primarily due to a 10.5% increase in Cingular’s average number of wireless customers, partially offset by a decline in local service ARPU of 4.5%.

Data service revenues increased $303, or 53.2%, due to a 41.1% increase in average data revenue per customer and increased use of text messaging and internet access services. Data service revenues represented 9.7% of Cingular’s total revenues in the first quarter.

Roaming revenues from Cingular customers and other wireless carriers for use of Cingular’s network decreased $32, or 6.9%, in the first quarter.

Long-distance and other revenue decreased $24, or 11.8%, in the first quarter primarily as a result of a decline in property management revenues, which were partially offset by increased domestic long-distance revenue.

32

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

Equipmentrevenues increased $165, or 20.4%, in the first quarter of 2006 due to increased handset revenues primarily as a result of higher priced handsets, partially offset by a decline in gross prepaid customer additions.

Cost of services and equipment sales expenses increased $208, or 6.0%, in the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to increases in network usage and associated network system expansion.

Cost of services increased $176, or 8.2%, in the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to the following:

Increases in network usage with an increase in minutes of use of 22.8% in the first quarter of 2006.

Higher roaming and long-distance cost, partially offset by declines in Universal Service Fund, regulatory fees and reseller expenses. The reseller decrease resulted from a 43% decrease in minutes of use on the T-Mobile network.

Equipment sales expense increased slightly in the first quarter of 2006 by $32, or 2.5%, due to handset unit sales associated an increase in the average cost per unit sold of 13.3% due to sales of higher quality handsets for gross customer additions, including exclusive devices, partially offset by a decline in gross prepaid customer additions. Total equipment costs increased at acontinue to be higher rate than equipment revenues due to Cingular’s sales of handsets below cost, through direct sales sources, to customers who committed to one-year or two-year contracts or in connection with other promotions.promotions, though this difference narrowed compared to the first quarter of 2005.

Only partially offsetting these expense increases was revenue growth $4,262, including incremental revenues from

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $155, or 5.2%, in the acquisitionfirst quarter of AT&T Wireless. Average revenue per user/customer (ARPU) increased 2.7%2006 due to decreases in general and administrative expenses of $123, or 7.1%, and selling expenses of $32, or 2.5%. Selling, general and administrative expenses included integration costs of approximately $46 in the first quarter of 2006 and $102 in the first quarter of 2005, compared towhich included employee termination costs, re-branding and advertising of the first quarter of 2004 due to increasesCingular and AT&T Wireless combination and customer service and systems integration costs.

Decreases in average data, long distanceselling, general and regulatory fees revenue per customer partially offset by a decline in the local service revenue component of ARPU. Local service ARPU declinedadministrative expenses were primarily due to customer shifts to all-inclusive rate plans that offer lower monthly charges and “rollover” minutes (which allow customers to carry over unused minutes from month to month for up to one year) as well as due to Cingular’s free mobile to mobile plans, which allow Cingular customers to call other Cingular customers at no charge. An increase in customers on rollover plans tends to lower average monthly revenue since unused minutes (and associated revenue) are deferred until subsequent months, up to one year. These revenue and expense fluctuations are discussed in more detail below.

Competition and the slowing rate of wireless service penetration will continue to adversely impact Cingular’s revenue growth, increasefollowing:

Other administrative expenses and put pressure on margins. We expect Cingular’s cost of services increases to continue due to higher network system usage, including the costs Cingular is now paying T-Mobile USA (T-Mobile) for the utilization of their network in California and Nevada, higher costs as Cingular integrates AT&T Wireless’ network and operations, and, to a lesser extent, redundant expenses related to operating multiple networks as Cingular’s customer base transitions from its TDMA network to its GSM network.

The effective management of customer churn is critical to Cingular’s ability to maximize revenue growth and maintain and improve margins. Cingular’s wireless 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. For the three months ended March 31, 2005, Cingular’s wireless churn rate was 2.2%, down from a 2.7% churn rate in the first three months of 2004.

The decline in Cingular’s churn rate resulted from a change in methodology of calculating churn related to its reseller customers, a lower churn rate in its postpaid customer base, and changes resulting from conforming Cingular’s and AT&T Wireless’ churn methodologies. Beginningdecreased $50 in the first quarter of 2005, Cingular adopted2006 primarily due to a new reseller churn calculation methodology that will resultdecline in an aggregate churn calculation that is more comparable with its major competitors. Prioremployee costs and employee-related benefits due to 2005, Cingular included gross reseller disconnectsa decrease in its churn calculation. Effective withheadcount.

Customer service expenses decreased $46 in the first quarter of 2005,2006 due to a decline in the number of call center outsourced professional services.

Selling expense decreased $32 mainly from declines of $28 in marketing and advertising and $13 in commissions expense, partially offset by an increase of $9 in sales expense.

Billing, bad debt and other customer maintenance expense decreased $27 in the first quarter primarily due to fewer account write-offs, cost savings related to transitioning to one billing system, partially offset by an increase in equipment maintenance expenses.

33

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $5, or 0.3%, in the first quarter of 2006. Depreciation expense increased $146 in the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to depreciation associated with the property, plant and equipment related to Cingular’s churn calculation isongoing capital spending associated with its GSM network. Additionally, depreciation expense increased due to accelerated depreciation on certain TDMA network assets based on total net reseller disconnects. This change resultedCingular’s projected transition of network traffic to GSM technology and accelerated depreciation on certain other network assets. Substantially all of Cingular’s TDMA assets are anticipated to be fully depreciated by the end of 2007.

Amortization expense decreased $141 in an improvement tothe first quarter 2005 reported churn of approximately 30 basis points. Changes2006 primarily due to conform the traditional Cingular presentation to certaindeclining amortization of the AT&T Wireless churn methodologies resulted in an improvement to first quarter 2005 reported churn of less than 10 basis points.

The decline in postpaid churn reflects Cingular’s ability to provide more attractive offerings to customers due tocustomer contracts and other intangible assets acquired, which are amortized using the acquisition of AT&T Wireless, including more affordable rate plans, broader network coverage, higher network quality, exclusive devices and mobile to mobile calling among Cingular’s 50 million customers. During the first quarter of 2005, Cingular successfully retained and transitioned approximately two million former AT&T Wireless customers to Cingular service offerings. Approximately three million former AT&T Wireless customers have transitioned to Cingular service offerings since its acquisition of AT&T Wireless.

Servicerevenues are comprised of local voice and data services, roaming, long-distance and other revenue. The primary driver for the first quarter 2005 increases in Cingular’s total operating revenues was the acquisition of AT&T Wireless in late October 2004 and inclusion of AT&T Wireless operating results, mentioned previously. Service revenues increased $3,836 in the first quarter of 2005 and consisted of:
  • Local voice revenues increased approximately $3,075 due to the acquisition of AT&T Wireless (which more than doubled Cingular’s average number of wireless customers) and greater local billed minutes of use. Increased USF and regulatory compliance fees also contributed to the local voice revenues increase in the first quarter of 2005.
  • Data service revenues increased $433 primarily due to increased text messaging services which included data customers assumed with the AT&T Wireless acquisition. Data service revenues represented approximately 6.9% of Cingular’s total revenues in the first quarter of 2005.
  • Roaming revenues from Cingular customers and other wireless carriers for use of Cingular’s network increased $198 primarily due to roaming revenues from the acquired AT&T Wireless customer base.
  • Long-distance and other revenue increased $130 primarily due to increased international calling and property management fees.
Equipmentrevenues increased $426 in the first quarter of 2005 due to increased handset revenues primarily as a result of significantly higher gross customer additions and increases in existing customers upgrading their units. Upgrade unit sales reflect an increase in GSM upgrades and Cingular’s efforts to migrate former AT&T Wireless customers to Cingular service offerings.

Cost of services and equipment sales expenses increased $1,947 in the first quarter of 2005 primarily due to increased cost of services resulting from incremental costs related to the acquired AT&T Wireless network. Cost of services increased $1,189 due to increases in network usage with a 134% increase in minutes of use in the first quarter of 2005, increased costs Cingular is now paying T-Mobile USA (T-Mobile) for the utilization of their network in California and Nevada, increased redundant expenses related to concurrently operating TDMA and GSM networks and increased USF and regulatory fees related to the increase in the customer base.

Equipment sales expense increased $758 in the first quarter of 2005 primarily due to higher handset unit sales associated with the 90.7% increase in gross customer additions, existing customers upgrading their units and the continued migration of former AT&T Wireless customers to Cingular service offerings. Equipment costs increased at a higher rate than equipment revenues due to Cingular’s sales of handsets below cost, through direct sales sources, to customers who committed to one-year or two-year contracts or in connection with other promotions.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1,629 in the first quarter of 2005 primarily due to incremental expenses associated with the acquisition of AT&T Wireless. The increase includes $102 of integration costs, which includes re-branding and advertising of the Cingular and AT&T Wireless combination, costs to support customer service and systems integrations and employee termination costs.

Total selling expenses increased $627, or 97.5%, in the first quarter of 2005 primarily due to the 90.7% increase in gross customer additions. Total selling expenses include sales, marketing, advertising and commissions expense. Commissions expense increased $220 and advertising expenses increased $190. Cingular’s sales expense increased approximately $187 primarily due to increased sales personnel costs associated with the acquired AT&T Wireless sales force.

General and administrative expenses increased $1,002 primarily due to incremental expenses from AT&T Wireless and integration costs, mentioned previously. General and administrative expenses include customer service, upgrade commissions, billing, bad debt, other maintenance and other administrative expense. Customer service expenses increased $360 due to a higher number of employees and employee-related expenses related to the significant increase in customers, as well as customer retention and customer service improvement initiatives. Upgrade commissions increased $99 due to the increased customer migration and handset upgrade activity, mentioned previously. Billing, bad debt and other maintenance expense increased $206 primarily due to the significant increase in Cingular’s customer base. Other administrative expenses increased $337 primarily due to incremental expenses associated with the acquired AT&T Wireless administrative functions.

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $1,122 in the first quarter of 2005. Depreciation expense in the first quarter increased $656 primarily due to incremental depreciation of $506 associated with the property, plant and equipment assumed in the AT&T Wireless acquisition. Depreciation expense related to Cingular’s on-going capital spending associated with its GSM network increased $150. Additionally, depreciation expense increased due to accelerated depreciation on certain TDMA network assets based on Cingular’s projected transition of network traffic to GSM technology and accelerated depreciation on certain other network assets. Substantially all of Cingular’s TDMA assets are anticipated to be fully depreciated by the end of 2007. Amortization expense increased $466 primarily related to the purchase price valuation of AT&T Wireless customer contracts and other intangible assets acquired, partially offset by intangible assets that became fully amortized during 2004.

Other Cingular Transactions
In November 2004, Cingular entered into a number of disposition agreements to divest certain assets and spectrum in certain markets in response to the agreement made with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a condition to receiving regulatory approval to acquire AT&T Wireless. In April 2005, Cingular sold certain former AT&T Wireless assets and properties, including licenses, network assets, and subscribers that Cingular operated in several markets, the largest of which is Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Alltel Corporation (Alltel). As part of this agreement, Cingular also sold 20 MHz of spectrum and the network assets formerly held by AT&T Wireless in Wichita, Kansas, which it was not required to divest. Additionally, in February 2005, Cingular sold 10 MHz of former AT&T Wireless spectrum in each of Dallas, Texas and Detroit, Michigan to MetroPCS and 10 MHz of former AT&T Wireless spectrum in Knoxville, Tennessee to Cellco Partnership (d/b/a Verizon Wireless). In March 2005, Cingular sold AT&T Wireless properties and assets in specific rural regions of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas. Finally, in April 2005, Cingular completed the disposition of AT&T Wireless assets in Missouri. No gains or losses were recognized on the sale of these former AT&T Wireless properties or spectrum. Cingular has completed all required divestitures required by the FCC and DOJ.

In January 2005, Cingular and T-Mobile dissolved their network infrastructure joint venture. In connection with the dissolution, Cingular sold its ownershipsum of the California/Nevada network assets to T-Mobile for approximately $2,500 in cash. In connection with the dissolution, Cingular was required to contribute an additional $200 to the venture to equalize the capital accounts. Cingular expects to use a significant portionmonths digits method of the proceeds from the sale to fund capital expenditures through July 2005 (see “Liquidity and Capital Resources”). At March 31, 2005, $2,145 of these funds remained and were invested in a qualified trust specifically designated for future capital expenditures.amortization.

Directory

Directory
Segment Results


First Quarter

    2005  2004  Percent
Change
 

Total Segment Operating Revenues  $929 $938  (1.0)%

Segment operating expenses  
   Cost of sales   241  228  5.7 
   Selling, general and administrative   202  182  11.0 
   Depreciation and amortization   2  3  (33.3)

Total Segment Operating Expenses   445  413  7.7 

Segment Operating Income   484  525  (7.8)

Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates   (1) -  - 

Segment Income  $483 $525  (8.0)%

 

First Quarter

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

2006

2005

 

Change

Total Segment Operating Revenues

$

923

$

929

 

(0.6)%

 

Segment operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

288

 

280

 

2.9

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

159

 

164

 

(3.0)

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

1

 

2

 

(50.0)

 

Total Segment Operating Expenses

 

448

 

446

 

0.4

 

Segment Operating Income

 

475

 

483

 

(1.7)

 

Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates

 

(5)

 

(1)

 

-

 

Segment Income

$

470

$

482

 

(2.5)%

 

Our directory operating income margin was 52%51.5% in the first quarter of 2005,2006, compared to 56%52.0% in the first quarter of 2004. The decrease in the segment operating income margin was the result of lower local yellow pages revenues and increases in production, bad debt and employee-related expense in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004.2005. See further discussion of the details of our directory segment revenue and expense fluctuations below.

In November 2004, our

Operating revenues decreased $6, or 0.6%, in the first quarter of 2006. Revenues in 2006 decreased primarily as a result of decreased demand for local Yellow Pages advertising which was partially offset by increased internet advertising revenues. These results reflect the impact of competition from other publishers, other advertising media and continuing economic pressures on advertising customers.

34

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued

Cost of salesincreased $8, or 2.9%, in the first quarter of 2006. The increase was driven by higher costs for internet traffic, publishing and commissions.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $5, or 3%, in the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to lower bad debt expense, partially offset by increased other directory segment entered into a joint venture agreement with BellSouth and acquired the internet directory provider, YPC. We account for our interest in YPC under the equity method of accounting in our consolidated financial statements since we share control equallycosts, including benefits.

Other

Segment Results

 

First Quarter

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2006

2005

 

Change

 

Total Segment Operating Revenues

$

203

$

169

 

20.1%

Total Segment Operating Expenses

 

239

 

212

 

12.7

Segment Operating Income (Loss)

 

(36)

 

(43)

 

16.3

Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates

 

339

 

(58)

 

-

Segment Income (Loss)

$

303

$

(101)

 

-

Our other segment operating results in the joint venture. first quarter of 2006 and 2005 consist primarily of Sterling, corporate and other operations. Sterling provides business integration software and services.

Operating results for this joint venture are reportedrevenues increased $34 in the “Equityfirst quarter of 2006 primarily due to increased operating revenue at Sterling.

Operating expenses increased $27 in Net Income (Loss)the first quarter of Affiliates” line.2006 primarily due to increased corporate expenses (including) advertising costs and incremental ATTC corporate expenses) and increased operating expenses at Sterling, partially offset by management fees paid in 2005 that did not recur in 2006.

35

Operating revenues decreased $9, or 1.0%, in the first quarter of 2005. Revenues in 2005 decreased primarily as a result of decreased demand for local Yellow Pages advertising of $19 which was partially offset by increased internet advertising revenues of $8. These results reflect the impact of competition from other publishers, other advertising media and continuing economic pressures on advertising customers.


Cost of salesincreased $13, or 5.7%, in the first quarter of 2005. The increase is related to increased costs for distribution, publishing and commissions combined with increases in information systems expense that was incurred in late 2004 but allocated to the segment in January 2005.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $20, or 11.0%, in the first quarter of 2005 primarily due to higher bad debt expense of $9 and employee-benefit and salary costs of approximately $19. These increases were partially offset by decreases in contracted services and other expenses.

AT&T INC.

International
SegmentMARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Continued


First Quarter

    2005  2004  Percent
Change
 

Total Segment Operating Revenues  $3 $5  (40.0)%

Total Segment Operating Expenses   7  12  (41.7)

Segment Operating Income   (4) (7) 42.9 

Equity in Net Income of Affiliates   74  452  (83.6)

Segment Income  $70 $445  (84.3)%

Our internationalother segment consists primarily ofincludes our equity investments in international companies, the income from which we report as equity in net income of affiliates. Revenues from direct international operations are less than 1% of our consolidated revenues.

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 GAAP, which include adjustments for the purchase method of accounting and exclude certain adjustments required for local reporting in specific countries. In discussing “EquityOur other segment also includes our 60% proportionate share of Cingular’s results as equity in Net Incomenet income of Affiliates,” all dollar amounts refer to the effect on our income. We first summarize in a table the individual results for our significant equity holdings then discuss our quarterly results.

Segment operating revenues decreased $2, or 40.0%, in the first quarter of 2005 primarily due to lower management-fee revenues.

Segment operating expenses decreased $5, or 41.7%, in the first quarter of 2005 primarily due to lower employee costs resulting from fewer foreign-based employees.

affiliates. Our equity in net income of affiliates by major investment at March 31, is listed below:

    2005  2004 

América Móvil  $27 $39 
Belgacom 1   -  49 
TDC 1   -  280 
Telkom 1   -  34 
Telmex   51  51 
Other   (4) (1)

International Equity in Net  
   Income of Affiliates  $74 $452 

1   Investment sold

 

 

First Quarter

 

 

2006

 

2005

Cingular

$

213

$

(144)

Telmex

 

61

 

51

América Móvil

 

55

 

27

Other

 

10

 

8

Other Segment Equity in Net

Income (Loss) of Affiliates

$

339

$

(58)

Equity in net income of affiliates decreased $378, or 83.6%, in the first quarter of 2005, primarily due to income in the first quarter of 2004 (see table above) from investments which we subsequently sold during 2004, namely, Belgacom ($49), Telkom S.A. Limited (Telkom) ($34) and TDC A/S (TDC) ($280). The equity income from TDC in the first quarter of 2004 included the gain of approximately $251 from TDC’s sale of its interest in Belgacom.


Other
Segment ResultsEquity in net income of affiliates

First Quarter

    2005  2004  Percent
Change
 

Total Segment Operating Revenues  $59 $60  (1.7)%

Total Segment Operating Expenses   8  -  - 

Segment Operating Income   51  60  (15.0)

Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates   (132) 140  - 

Segment Income (Loss)  $(81)$200  - 

Our other segment results increased $397 in the first quarter of 2005 and 20042006. The increase was primarily consistdue to an increase of corporate and other operations. Revenues decreased$357 in our proportionate share of Cingular’s results. Also contributing to the first quarter of 2005 primarily as a result of lower revenue from a paging subsidiary. Expensesincrease was increased as a result of various adjustments that had a favorable impact in the first quarter of 2004 that did not recur in the first quarter of 2005. Substantially all of the equity in net income (loss) of affiliates represents the equity income (loss)of $38 from our investmentTelmex and América Móvil reflecting higher revenue levels at both companies including significant increases in Cingular.wireless subscribers at América Móvil.

36

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

COMPETITIVE AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

OverviewAT&T subsidiaries operating outside the U.S. are subject to the jurisdiction of national regulatory authorities in the market where service is provided, and regulation is generally limited to operational licensing authority for the provision of enterprise (i.e., large business) services. Subsidiaries operating within the U.S. are subject to federal and, to a lesser extent, state regulatory authorities. In the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Telecom Act), Congress established a pro-competitive, deregulatory national policy framework 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 burdensome regulation. Since the Telecom Act was passed, the FCCFederal Communications Commission (FCC) and some state regulatory commissions have maintained many of the extensive regulatory requirements applicable to incumbent local exchange companies (ILECs), including our traditional wireline subsidiaries,subsidiaries.

We are actively pursuing additional legislative and imposed significant newregulatory measures to reduce or eliminate regulatory requirements includingthat inhibit our ability to provide the full range of services increasingly demanded by our customers. For example, we are supporting legislative efforts at both the state and federal levels, as well as proposed rules requiring us to unbundle our traditional network, in a purported effort to jump-start a specific definition of competition. However, over the past year,at the FCC, has begunthat would offer a streamlined process for new video service providers to curtailcompete with traditional cable television providers. During 2006, Indiana and in some cases, eliminate certainKansas passed legislation that enables new video entrants to acquire a state-wide franchise to offer video services, see “Video Legislation” below. In addition, we are supporting efforts to update regulatory treatment for retail services. Several bills are also pending before Congress that would both reform the Telecom Act and promote additional video competition. Passage of these requirements in order to promote investmentlegislation is uncertain and deployment of next generation, broadband services and facilities, and in response to a series of federal court decisionsdepends on many factors, but we believe that the FCC’s rules (in particular, those requiring ILECs to unbundle their networks) exceeded the FCC’s authority. For example, in February 2005, in response to a March 2004 decision by the United States Courtincreasing pace of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit), which overturned significant portions of the FCC’s third set of unbundling rules, including those mandating the availability of the UNE-P, the FCC released new rules that establish a path toward elimination of the UNE-P. Those new rules became effective March 11, 2005, see “Triennial Review Remand Order” discussed later.

Set forth in the following paragraphs is a summary of the most significant developmentstechnological change and competition in our regulatory environment during the first quarter of 2005. While these issues, for the most part, apply onlyindustry will encourage lawmakers to our wireline subsidiaries, the words “we” or “our” are usedremove artificial barriers to simplify the discussion. In addition, the following discussions are intended as a condensed summary of the issues rather than a precise legal description of all of those specific issues.competition.

Triennial Review Remand OrderIn December 2004, the FCC adopted its fourth set of rules concerning an ILEC’s obligation to make elements of its network available to other local service providers. Each of its previous three sets of rules had been overturned by the federal courts. On February 4, Effective March 11, 2005, the FCC released its written order containing the new rules, the Triennial Review Remand Order (TRRO) which became effective on March 11, 2005. The TRRO provides significant relief from unbundling by eliminatingeliminated our obligation to provide local switching and hence the UNE-P, for mass marketmass-market customers, subject to a 12-month transition period. During theSince this transition we are allowed to raise the monthly rate for the UNE-P by one dollar. At March 31, 2005, we had approximately 6.1 millionperiod started, our wholesale customers representing a majority of our UNE-P lines one-third of which are covered by commercial agreements we have negotiated with competitors and which also include this monthly rate increase. We expect that these commercial agreements will result in a slight incremental increase in revenue compared with the UNE-P rates. Because we cannot predict how competitors who do not signsigned commercial agreements with us will chooseus. For the remaining UNE-P lines, we believe, based on marketing research, that customers primarily converted to providecompetitors using alternative technologies or their own networks as opposed to returning as our retail customers. At the March 11, 2006 transition deadline we re-priced to market-based or resale-like rates any UNE-P lines to their customers beyondthat had not been converted, except in the transition period, we are not able to determine the impactstate of eliminating our obligation to provide UNE-P on our financial results.

The FCC’s revised rules, however, fail to fully comply with the D.C. Circuit’s decision; for example, the FCC largely retained unbundling requirements for many of our high-capacity loop and transport facilities. Therefore, we (together with several other parties) filed an appeal with the D.C. Circuit on February 14, 2005, challenging this portion of the TRRO and asking the court to order the FCC to adopt rules that are consistent with the court’s March 2004 order. Several other parties, includingIllinois where competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs)have the right under state law to retain the lines that are in service at UNE-P equivalent rates. We had less than 100,000 UNE-P lines in Illinois as of March 11, 2006.

Video LegislationIn March 2006, Indiana passed a state telecommunications deregulation bill that will make it easier for telecommunications companies to offer television service. The law prohibits the regulation of advanced services, broadband services, information services and retail IP enabled service, commercial mobile service and new services (any service not commercially available on March 28, 2006), filed appealsand deregulates prices for basic telecommunications service after a three-year transition period. It also creates statewide video franchising to replace individual local agreements.

In April 2006, Kansas passed a state video franchise bill that will allow video providers to be granted statewide authorization and to avoid city-by-city franchise negotiations. The bill specifically lists wireline,

37

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in Millions except per share amounts

COMPETITIVE AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT – Continued

wireless, satellite or any other alternative technology as acceptable mediums for providing service to customers, and states that video providers will not be required to comply with mandatory facility build-out provisions nor provide video service to any customer using a specific technology.

Number Portability Since 1999, customers have been able to retain their numbers when switching their local service between wireline companies. The FCC allowed incumbent local exchange companies including SBC’s traditional wireline subsidiaries, to recover their carrier-specific costs of implementing wireline number portability through customer charges over a five-year term based on an estimated number of customers over that term. Because of the TRRO in other circuits. Those appeals have been consolidateddownturn in the D.C. Circuit,telecommunications market since 1999, which will hearled to fewer access lines, many companies, including the case later this year.

In addition other parties, including CLECs, haveSBC subsidiaries, had fewer customers than were estimated and were therefore unable to fully recover their number portability implementation costs. Accordingly, in February 2005, we asked the FCC to reconsider various other aspectswaive the five-year limitation on recovery of the FCC’s order, such as extending the 12-month transition period for unbundled mass market switching to 18 months,number portability costs and, modifying the unbundling analysis for high-capacity loops and dedicated transport. Specifically, the CLECsin March 2006, we asked the FCC to change the criteria used to determine if an ILEC is required to unbundle high-capacity DS1 loops used to serve small buildings. These parties have also asked the FCC to modify or rescind that portion of the order relating to the eligibility criteria for obtaining access to combinations of unbundled high-capacity loops and transport elements (often referred to “enhanced extended links” or EELs), which can be used as a substitute for special access services.

It is unclear how state regulatory commissions will ultimately respond to the TRRO. Under the overturned rules, state commissions have set the rates that we were allowed to charge competitors for the UNE-P and for leasing other unbundled elements of our network. Many of the states in our 13-state area have opened proceedings to consider the FCC’s detailed findings and transition plans outlinedCommission, in the Triennial Review Order (TRO) and TRRO. Some states have taken the position that their relevant state laws have been pre-empted by the FCC’s order and federal court decisions, while other states appearalternative, to be taking the position that their state laws have not been pre-empted. We expect that as the various state commissions issue rulings in these proceedings, various parties, including SBC, will litigate some or all of these rulings.

Broadband In the FCC’s preceding TRO of August 2003, the FCC eliminated unbundling of certain telecommunications technology that is primarily used for transmitting data and high-speed internet access (DSL) across telephone lines. Prior to that, we were required to share with our competitors on an unbundled basis, the high-frequency portion of local telephone lines, which is used to provide DSL service, among other things. Under the TRO, this high-frequency portion of the telephone line was no longer considered a UNE. However, the FCC requiredallow us to maintain then-existing line-sharing arrangements until 2004. In March 2005,include our remaining, unrecovered number portability costs through the existing End User Common Line charge. If our request is granted, we will be able to recover approximately $190 of those costs.

38

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in a separate ruling, the FCC held that states cannot require ILECs to sell DSL service, as a stand-alone product, over the high-frequency portion of a local line provided to a competitor. The FCC did however indicate that it will examine the competitive consequences when providers bundle legacy (traditional) services with new services.millions except per share amounts

The FCC has reviewed the rules governing broadband services offered by cable, satellite and wireless operators in addition to traditional wireline offerings and tentatively concluded that wireline broadband internet access services are “information” services rather than “telecommunications” services, which would result in less regulation. Companies that provide information services do not have to comply with regulations requiring them to lease lines to competitors or meet certain service standards and state public utility requirements. In October 2003, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that broadband internet access services provided by cable operators involve both an information service and a telecommunications service. In March 2005, the Supreme Court of the United States (Supreme Court) heard arguments on whether internet service provided by cable companies should be defined as an information service or a telecommunications service.

Settlement with AT&T In March 2005, we reached agreement to settle outstanding claims between SBC and AT&T Corp. (AT&T) prior to April 1, 2005. The largest portion of the payment related to AT&T agreeing to reimburse us for the adjustment of the UNE-P rates in California, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. The agreement also settled claims relating to, among other items, traffic compensation, cellular roaming access, collocation (AT&T equipment located on our premises), long-distance presubscription and other transport issues. As part of the agreement, we also settled our pending lawsuit against AT&T for unpaid access charges due on terminating interexchange traffic transported partially over the Internet, with no effect on our financial statements. As a result of the settlement, in the first quarter of 2005 we recorded an increase in operating revenue of approximately $32 and a decrease in operating expense of approximately $29.

Proceeding on Other Post-Retirement Benefit CostsIn March 2003, the FCC reinstated a proceeding which it claimed to have incorrectly terminated in 2002 relating to the costs of providing post-retirement employee benefits other than pensions. The FCC asked local exchange companies, including our wireline subsidiaries, to provide additional information concerning the treatment of these post-retirement costs in their 1996 access tariff filings and any other related matters. On March 30, 2005, the FCC issued an order terminating its investigation without requiring any adjustments to our 1996 tariff filings.

OTHER BUSINESS MATTERS

Pending Acquisition of AT&TBellSouth
On January 30, 2005,March 4, 2006, we agreed to acquire AT&T usingBellSouth in a transaction in which each share of BellSouth common stock will be exchanged for 1.325 shares of SBCAT&T common stock. Based on the average closing price of AT&T shares for the two days prior to, including, and two days subsequent to the public announcement of the merger (March 5, 2006) of $27.32, the total transaction is valued, for purchase accounting purposes, at approximately $65,000. The transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors of each company and also must be approved by the shareholdersstockholders of AT&T.&T and BellSouth. The transaction is also subject to review by the DOJU.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and approval by the FCC and various other regulatory authorities. We currently expect that the acquisition of AT&T will create overall net synergies, primarily from reduced costs, with a present value of more than $15,000. We expect that approximately 85 to 90 percent of the synergies will come from reduced costs in areas such as network operations and information technology areas, and from combining business services organizations and eliminating duplicative corporate functions. We expect that the acquisition will slow our revenue growth rate in the near term following the closing, but that the transaction will increase our earnings per share beginning in 2008.to close by the end of 2006.

We are analyzing options under our agreement with WilTel Communications (WilTel) if, and when, the acquisition of AT&T closes and we thereby acquire AT&T’s network facilities. WilTel currently provides nationwide network access to our wireline subsidiaries where we do not currently own lines. If we decide to voluntarily terminate the agreement prior to its expiration, the agreement states that WilTel is entitled to be paid up to $200 for transition costs, as that term is defined in the agreement.

Project Lightspeed
In June 2004, we announced key advances in developing a network capable of delivering a new generation of integrated IP video, super-high-speeddigital television, high-speed broadband and VoIP services to our residential and small-business customers, referred to as Project Lightspeed. During the first quarter of 2005, Project Lightspeed has achieved substantial progressWe have been building out this network in terms of trials, deployment and technology development. We began deployment of the fiber-to-the-premises portion of the networknumerous locations and began conditioning the fiber-to-the-node portion of the network in preparation for deployment. We plan to offer the first set of products,providing services, including IP video, in one limited market, in late 2005 or early2005. Our goal in this controlled market entry is to fully apply our new operating and back-office systems, gain information on customer preferences and, if needed, to fine-tune the service. To that end, we have restricted the number of customers and services offered to the necessary minimum. Subject to successful results from this controlled market entry and successful testing of our additional IP video services, we plan to enter 15 to 20 additional markets by the end of 2006. During that expansion, we expect to add additional features to our IP video service offering. We expect to have the capability to offer service to approximately 18 million households by the end of 2008, as part of our initial deployment, and expect to spend approximately $4,400 in network-related deployment costs and capital expenditures beginning in 2006 through 2008, as well as additional success-based customer activation capital expenditures.

With respect to our IP video service, we continue to work with our vendors to develop, 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 also continue to negotiate with programming owners (e.g., movie studios and cable networks) for permission to offer existing television programs and movies and, if applicable, other new interactive services that would rely onwe could offer in the future using advances in the IP technology we are testing.technology. Our ability to provide an attractive and profitable video offering will depend in large part on the results of these negotiations.efforts. Also, as discussed in the “Competitive and Regulatory Environment” section, we are supporting legislation at both the federal and state levels that would streamline the regulatory process for new video competitors to enter the market.

We believe that our planned deploymentProject Lightspeed is subject to federal oversight as an “informationa “video service” under the Federal Communications Act, but not subject to state or local regulation.Act. However, some cable providers and municipalities have claimed that certain IP serviceservices should be treated as a traditional cable service and therefore subject to the applicable state and local regulation, which could include the requirement to pay fees to obtain local franchises for our IP video service. If the courts were to decide that state and local regulation were applicable to our Project Lightspeed services, it could have a material adverse effect on the cost, timing and extent of our deployment plans.

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AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

OTHER BUSINESS MATTERS - Continued

Antitrust LitigationIn 2002, two consumer class-action antitrust cases were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (District Court) against SBC, Verizon Communications Inc., BellSouth and Qwest Communications International Inc. alleging that they have violated federal and state antitrust laws by agreeing not to compete with one another and acting together to impede competition for local telephone services (Twombly v. Bell Atlantic Corp., et al.). In October 2003, the District Court granted the joint defendants’ motion to dismiss and the plaintiffs appealed. In October 2005, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Court (Second Circuit) reversed the District Court, thereby allowing the cases to proceed. The Second Circuit noted in its decision that its ruling was procedural in nature and did not address the merits of the cases. Motions for rehearing and rehearing en banc were denied on January 3, 2006, and the case has now been remanded to the District Court for further proceedings.On remand, we have moved for partial dismissal on alternative grounds. In addition, Defendants filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the Supreme Court of the United States on March 6, 2006. We continue to believe that an adverse outcome having a material effect on our financial statements in these cases is unlikely but will continue to evaluate the potential impact of these suits on our financial results as they progress.

AT&T Wireless Litigation Several class-action lawsuits have been filed in the District Court against ATTC asserting claims under the federal securities laws in connection with the offering of AT&T Wireless tracking stock in April 2000 (In re AT&T Corp. Securities Litigation). The plaintiffs have demanded damages in excess of $2,100 related to the offering of AT&T Wireless tracking stock. In April 2006, the parties agreed to settle the litigation for $150, pending approval by the trial court. In connection with the split-off of AT&T Wireless, certain provisions of the separation agreement between AT&T Wireless and ATTC result in Cingular, due to its acquisition of AT&T Wireless, being allocated 70% of any liabilities arising out of these actions to the extent they relate to AT&T Wireless tracking stock, with the remaining liability being allocated equally between ATTC and Comcast Cable Communications, Inc. Accordingly, the settlement, if approved by the court, would not result in any additional expenses being accrued by Cingular or ATTC.

Retiree Phone Concession LitigationIn 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 (ERISA). Plaintiffs seek to certify a class of persons that are either (1) retirees of an SBC company who were receiving a telephone concession after they retired from January 1, 2002 to the present and who lived outside the SBC service area; or (2) current or former employees of any SBC participating company with more than five years of service with an SBC participating company as of June 1, 2005 who were eligible or who might become eligible to receive an out-of-franchise telephone concession after they retired; or (3) members of the immediate family of any person in Group 1 or Group 2, including surviving spouses and the retiree dependents (and including registered domestic partners of Pacific Telesis employees and retirees) during the time that SBC had a policy to provide employees of such participating companies with a telephone concession after retirement. Plaintiffs seek reformation of the out-of-region phone concession offered under the postemployment benefits plan (the Plan) and the documents

40

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

OTHER BUSINESS MATTERS - Continued

governing it to comply with ERISA, an order requiring us to fund the Plan as reformed, the appointment of an independent fiduciary to administer the Plan, an order requiring the Plan to pay benefits to plaintiffs and other class members consistent with the terms of the plan, civil penalties and attorneys’ fees and costs pursuant to ERISA. We filed a Motion to Dismiss for failure to state a claim, which was denied by the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas on February 3, 2006. The case has been set for trial on September 25, 2006. We believe that an adverse outcome having a material effect on our financial statements in this case is unlikely, but will continue to evaluate the potential impact of this suit on our financial results as it progresses.

Hepting LitigationPlaintiffs filed this purported class action in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California on behalf of “all individuals in the United States that are current residential subscribers or customers of defendants’ telephone services or internet services, or that were residential telephone or internet subscribers or customers at any time after September 2001,”(Hepting, et al v. AT&T Corp., AT&T Inc. and Does 1-20). They allege that the defendants have provided and continue to provide the U.S. Government with direct access to databases containing its stored telephone and internet records, and have disclosed and are currently disclosing to the U.S. Government records concerning communications to which Plaintiffs and class members were a party. Plaintiffs seek 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, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and other federal and California statutes. In April 2006, we filed a Motion to Dismiss the complaint.

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AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND STANDARDS

Pension and Other Postemployment Benefit PlansOn March 31, 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued the exposure draft “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postemployment Benefit Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements 87, 88, 106, and 132(R).” The exposure draft is phase one of the FASB’s stated intent to reform the pension and other postretirement accounting and reporting standards and, if adopted in its current form, would (1) require companies to recognize the current economic status on the balance sheet (whether over funded or under funded for GAAP purposes but not for ERISA purposes), (2) require plan obligations to be measured as of the date of the employer’s statement of financial position (which we currently do) and (3) require adoption for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006, which would affect our year-end 2006 reporting. This exposure draft is subject to a public comment period ending May 31, 2006 and further review and amendment by the FASB; it is uncertain what the requirements of a final statement would be, when issued. However, had this exposure draft been in effect at December 31, 2005, we would have reduced our pension assets approximately $8,700 and increased our postretirement benefit obligation approximately $7,300. The after tax reduction to our stockholders’ equity would have been approximately $10,000.

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AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

We had $427$1,057 in cash and cash equivalents available at March 31, 2005.2006. Cash and cash equivalents included cash of approximately $291,$611, money market funds of $107$335 and other cash equivalents of $29. In addition, we held $35 in other short-term held-to-maturity securities at March 31, 2005. The decline in cash and cash equivalents of $333 since December 31, 2004$111. Cash was due to cash used to meet the financing needs of the business including, but not limited to, payment of operating expenses, funding capital expenditures, dividends to stockholders, increased tax depositsfunding of Cingular’s capital and operating requirements in accordance with the terms of our agreement with Cingular and BellSouth, tax-related payments funding capital expenditures, repayment of maturingand debt and the decrease to cash related to our discontinued operations. This decline was partially offset by cash receipts from operations, increased short-term borrowings and cash received from Cingular.repayments. We discuss many of these factors in detail below.

Cash fromProvided by Operating Activities

During the first three monthsquarter of 20052006, our primary source of funds was cash from operating activities of $1,256 as$2,458 compared to $1,998 in the first three months of 2004. Cash provided by operating activities decreased approximately $742 when compared to the same period of the prior year. This was primarily due to increased tax payments of approximately $1,066$1,253 in the first quarter of 2005 reduced by benefit plan funding of $2322005. Operating cash flows increased in the first quarter of 2004. The2006 compared to 2005 primarily due to lower tax payments in the first quarter of 2006 of approximately $573 and the additional cash from operations related to our acquisition of ATTC. Included in the lower tax payment amount is a refund received from the completion of the ATTC federal income tax audit covering 1997 – 2001. The 2005 and 2006 tax payments includedinclude amounts related to prior year accrued liabilities. The timing of cash payments for income taxes, which is governed by the Internal Revenue Service and other taxing jurisdictions, will differ from the timing of recording tax expense and deferred income taxes, which are reported in accordance with GAAP. We also made advance tax payments in 2005, which we consider to be a refundable deposit, to a certain state jurisdiction. These payments were made in order to avoid potentially onerous interest and penalties. The issues involved are in dispute and we intend to pursue all procedural options available to us in order to obtain refunds of the amounts deposited. For calendar year 2005, weWe do not expect ouranticipate 2006 cash payments for income taxes to exceed our reported income tax expense.

During

Cash Used in Investing Activities

In the first three monthsquarter of 2004 our primary sources of funds were cash from operating activities of $1,998 and proceeds from the sale of our entire investment in Belgacom of approximately $2,000.

During 2005 we expect to continue using our available excess cash primarily to reduce our debt levels, which will provide us greater financial flexibility. We expect to repay approximately $765 of long-term debt scheduled to mature in 2005 with cash from operations. Available excess cash will be used to repay our commercial paper borrowings of approximately $5,158 or to further reduce long-term debt. As opportunities permit, we may also repurchase shares of SBC common stock under our repurchase program.

Cash from Investing Activities
For the first three months of 2005,2006, cash used for investing activities consisted of:

  • $1,050 in construction and capital expenditures; and
  • $169 related to the acquisition of Yantra Corp., a provider of distributed order management and supply chain fulfillment solutions.

$1,821 in construction and capital expenditures.

$699 of funding of Cingular’s capital and operating requirements in accordance with the terms of our agreement with Cingular and BellSouth. See our “Cingular” section below for details.

$62 related to an investment in 2Wire Inc., a privately held company that provides services related to Project Lightspeed.

In the first quarter of 2006, cash provided by our investing activities of $27 was related to the sale of Covad shares and other assets.

To provide high-quality communications services to our customers, we must make significant investments in property, plant and equipment. The amount of capital investment is influenced by demand for services and products, continued growth and regulatory considerations. Our capital expenditures totaled $1,821 in the first quarter of 2006 and $1,050 in the first quarter of 2005. Capital expenditures in the wireline segment, which represented substantially all of our total capital expenditures, increased by approximately 12.4% for72.0% in the first three monthsquarter of 2005 as2006 compared to the same period in 2004.first quarter of 2005 and was impacted by the acquisition of ATTC. Our 2005 capital spending plans reflected the improving federal regulatory environment and our resulting revenue expectations. In response to an improving federal regulatory environment and competition, we announced our Project Lightspeed initiative (see “Other Business Matters”) and expect to spend approximately $4,000 over the next three years in deployment costs and $1,000 in customer-activationfirst quarter capital expenditures spread over 2006 and 2007. We expect total capital spending for 2005 to be between our targeted range of $5,400 and $5,700, excluding Cingular, substantially all of which we expect to relate to our wireline segmentwere used primarily for our wireline subsidiaries’ networks (including ATTC), Project Lightspeed and support systems for our long-distance service.

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AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES – Continued

Because of opportunities made available by the continued changing regulatory environment and our acquisition of ATTC, we expect that our capital expenditures in 2006, which includes Project Lightspeed and excludes Cingular, will be in the target range of between $8,000 and $8,500. We expect to continuespend approximately $4,400 on our Project Lightspeed initiative for network related deployment costs and capital expenditures through 2008, as well as additional success-based customer activation capital expenditures. We expect that the business opportunities made available, specifically in the data/broadband area, will allow us to expand our products and services (see “Project Lightspeed” discussed in “Other Business Matters”).

We expect to fund these2006 capital expenditures for our wireline segment, which includes international operations, using cash from operations and incremental borrowings, depending on interest rate levels and overall market conditions. Substantially all of our capital spending in 2006 will relate to our wireline segment and will be used primarily for our subsidiaries’ networks, Project Lightspeed and merger-integration projects. The internationalother segment capital expenditures were less than 2.0% of total capital expenditures in the first quarter of 2006. Included in the other segment are equity investments, which should be self-funding as it consists of substantially equity investments andthey are not direct SBCAT&T operations, as well as corporate and Sterling operations. We expect to fund any directory segment capital expenditures using cash from operations. We discuss our Cingular segment below.

For

Cash Used in Financing Activities

We plan to fund our 2006 financing activities primarily through cash from operations. We will continue to examine opportunities to fund our activities with cash from the disposition of certain assets and other investments as well as issuing debt at favorable rates in order to refinance some of our debt maturities in 2006.

We paid dividends of $1,289 in the first three monthsquarter of 2006 compared to $1,066 in the first quarter of 2005, cash providedreflecting the issuance of additional shares for the ATTC acquisition and a dividend increase. Dividends declared by our investing activities consisted of:

  • $596Board of Directors totaled $0.3325 per share in accordance with the terms of our agreement with Cingular and BellSouth. See our “Cingular” section below for details;
  • $73 primarily from the sale of shares of Amdocs and our entire interest in SpectraSite;
  • $64 related to maturities of other held-to-maturity securities, which have maturities greater than 90 days; and
  • $37 related to the repayment of a note receivable from an international investment.

Cash from Financing Activities
In the first three monthsquarter of 2005 we paid cash dividends of $1,066 compared to $1,034 for2006 and $0.3225 per share in the first three monthsquarter of 2004. The $32 increase was due to an2005. In December 2005, our Board of Directors approved a 3.1% increase in the regular quarterly dividend from $0.3125 to $0.3225$0.3325 per share approved by our Board of Directors in December 2004. On March 11, 2005, our Board of Directors declared a first quarter dividend of $0.3225 per share, which was paid on May 2, 2005.share. Our dividend policy considers both the expectations and requirements of stockholders, internal requirements of SBCAT&T and long-term growth opportunities. It is our intent to provide the financial flexibility to allow our Board of Directors the opportunity to continue our historical approach to dividend growth. All dividends remain subject to approval by our Board of Directors.

In

Our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 400 million shares of our common stock; this authorization expires at the end of 2008. Under this repurchase program we expect to purchase approximately $2,000 of additional shares under our repurchase program in the remainder of 2006 and $8,000 during 2007. We did not repurchase any shares in the first quarter of 2005, approximately $5722006.

At March 31, 2006 we had $5,712 of debt maturing within one year, which includes $4,015 of long-term debt maturities during 2006, $1,627 of commercial paper borrowings and $70 of bank borrowings relating to foreign subsidiaries of ATTC. Included in our long-term debt matured,maturities was the purchase accounting

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AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of which approximately $327Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES – Continued

fair value debt adjustment applicable to the acquisition of ATTC. All of our commercial paper borrowings are due within 90 days. The bank borrowings availability is contingent on the level of cash held by some of our foreign subsidiaries. We continue to examine our mix of short- and long-term debt in light of interest rate trends.

During the first quarter of 2006, debt repayments totaled $261 and consisted of:

$254 related to debt maturities with interest rates ranging from 6.25%5.875% to 6.96%, $238 related to the exercise of a put on our 5.95% notes originally maturing in 2038 and $7.

$7 related to scheduled principal payments on other debt. Funds from operationsdebt and dispositions were used to repay these notes. As ofshort-term borrowings.

At March 31, 2005 we expect2006, our debt ratio was 36.4% compared to repay approximately $765our debt ratio of long-term debt scheduled to mature for the remainder of 2005 with funds from operations.

Our consolidated commercial paper borrowings totaled approximately $5,15840.2% at March 31, 2005. AllThe decrease was primarily due to our acquisition of these commercial paper borrowings areATTC in the fourth quarter of 2005, which increased stockholders’ equity by more than $14,500 compared to the first quarter of 2005, partially offset by ATTC debt we now reflect on our balance sheet following the acquisition. Our debt ratio at December 31, 2005 was 35.9%. The increase in the debt ratio from year-end is due within 90 days.to a net increase in debt of more than $900 in the first quarter of 2006, including net advances to Cingular and refinancing of debt, which was partially offset by an increase in stockholders’ equity.

We have a 3-year credit agreement totaling $6,000 with a syndicate of banks, which expires on October 18, 2007. Advances under this agreement may be used for general corporate purposes, including support of commercial paper borrowings and other short-term borrowings. There is no material adverse change provision governing the drawdown of advances under this credit agreement. We are in compliance with all covenants under the agreement. We had no borrowings outstanding under committed lines of credit as of March 31, 2005.2006.

At March 31, 2005, our debt ratio was 40.2% compared to our debt ratio of 31.3% at March 31, 2004. The increase was primarily due to additional debt of $8,750 we issued to fund our portion of Cingular’s acquisition of AT&T Wireless.

As mentioned previously, during the remainder of 2005 we continue to expect to use our available cash primarily to reduce our debt levels and, as opportunities permit, we may also repurchase shares of SBC common stock under our repurchase program.

Pending Acquisition of AT&TBellSouth

On January 30, 2005,March 4, 2006, we agreed to acquire AT&TBellSouth in a transaction in which each share of AT&TBellSouth common stock will be exchanged for 0.779421.325 shares of a share of SBCAT&T common stock (equivalent to approximately 19% of SBC’s outstanding shares as of March 31, 2005). In addition, immediately prior to the closing of the transaction, AT&T will pay each AT&T shareholder a special dividend of $1.30 per share.stock. Based on the average closing price of SBC common stock on January 28, 2005,AT&T shares for the exchange ratio equals $18.41 per sharetwo days prior to, including, and two days subsequent to the public announcement of the merger (March 5, 2006) of $27.32, the total transaction is valued, for purchase accounting purposes, at approximately $16,000, including$65,000.

Cingular

The upgrade, integration and expansion of the special dividend. AfterCingular and AT&T Wireless networks and the acquisition, networks acquired in a transaction with Triton PCS Holdings, Inc. will continue to require substantial amounts of capital over the next several years. As of March 31, 2006, Cingular has spent $1,441 primarily for GSM/GPRS/EDGE network upgrades with cash from operations, dispositions and, as needed, advances under the revolving credit agreement mentioned below. Cingular expects to fund its capital requirements in 2006 from existing cash balances, cash generated from operations and, if necessary, drawing under the revolving credit agreement. In 2006, Cingular expects to spend within a target range of between $7,000 and $7,500 primarily for the upgrade, integration and expansion of its networks, the installation of UMTS/HSDPA technology in a number of markets and the construction and upgrade of network facilities in California and Nevada following the sale of duplicate facilities to T-Mobile upon the termination of Cingular’s GSMF network infrastructure joint venture.

45

AT&T will be a wholly owned subsidiaryINC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of SBC. The transaction has been approved byFinancial Condition and Results of Operations

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES – Continued

Cingular’s cash requirements may increase if they participate in the Board of Directors of each companyupcoming FCC spectrum auction and also must be approved by the shareholders of AT&T. AT&T shareholders are expected to vote on the proposed merger as early as June 2005. The transaction is subject to review by the DOJ and approval by the FCC and various other regulatory authorities. We expect the transaction to closesuccessful in late 2005 or early 2006. See “Other Business Matters” for more details.bidding.

Cingular
Effective August 1, 2004, we

We and BellSouth agreed to finance Cingular’s capital and operating cash requirements to the extent Cingular requires funding above the level provided by operations. We and BellSouth also entered into a one-year revolving credit agreement with Cingular to provide short-term financing for operations on a pro rata basis at an interest rate of LIBOR (London Interbank OfferOffered Rate) plus 0.05% and may be renewed annually upon agreement of the parties. We expect this agreement will be renewed., which expires July 31, 2007. This agreement includes a provision for the repayment of our and BellSouth’s advancesshareholder loans made to Cingular in the event there are no outstanding amounts due under the revolving credit agreement and to the extent Cingular has excess cash, as defined by the agreement. InDuring the first quarter of 2005,2006 we receivedmade net repayments totaling $596 fromadvances to Cingular in accordance withof $699 under the terms of this revolving credit agreement. Our shareThese amounts increased the outstanding amount of advances made to Cingular related to this revolving credit agreement was approximately $406a total of $1,006 at March 31, 2005 and $1,0022006 from $307 at December 31, 20042005 and wasare reflected in “Investments in and Advances to Cingular Wireless” on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.Sheets.

The upgrade, integration and expansion of the Cingular and

46

AT&T Wireless networks and the networks acquired in a transaction with Triton PCS Holdings, Inc. will require substantial amounts of capital over the next several years. Including the incremental capital requirements during 2005 as a result of the AT&T Wireless acquisition, Cingular expects 2005 capital investments for completing network upgrades, integrating its network with that of AT&T Wireless and funding other ongoing capital expenditures to be approximately $6,800 to $7,200, including Cingular’s announced plans to deploy third-generation Universal Mobile Telecommunications System network technology with High-Speed Downlink Packet Access over the next two years.INC.

At MarchMARCH 31, 2005, Cingular had designated $2,145 of proceeds from the termination of a joint venture with T-Mobile for future capital expenditures, mentioned previously. The designated proceeds were invested in a qualified trust. Cingular expects to fund its capital requirements for at least the next 12 months from existing cash balances, including $2,145 of designated funds mentioned above; cash generated from operations; proceeds from the sale of assets Cingular was required to divest by the FCC and the DOJ in connection with its acquisition of AT&T Wireless and from the sale and distribution of non-strategic equity investments; and, if necessary, drawing under the revolving credit agreement with us and BellSouth, mentioned previously.2006



Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Dollars in millions

At March 31, 2005,2006, we had interest rate swaps with a notional value of $4,250 and a fair value liability of approximately $7.$70.


Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The registrant maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the registrant is recorded, processed, summarized, accumulated and communicated to its management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. The chief executive officer and chief financial officer have performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2005.2006. Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2005.2006.




47

AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Information set forth in this report contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially. Many of the factors listed here are discussed in more detail in the “Risk Factors” section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and updated in the “Risk Factors” section below. We claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The following factors could cause our future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements:

  • Adverse economic changes in the markets served by us or in countries in which we have significant investments.
  • Changes in available technology and the effects of such changes including product substitutions and deployment costs.
  • Increases in our benefit plans’ costs, including increases due to adverse changes in the U.S. securities markets, resulting in worse-than-assumed investment returns and discount rates, and adverse medical cost trends.
  • The final outcome of Federal Communications Commission proceedings and reopenings of such proceedings, including the Triennial Review and other rulemakings, and judicial review, if any, of such proceedings, including issues relating to access charges, broadband deployment, availability and pricing of, unbundled network elements and platforms (UNE-Ps) and unbundled loop and transport elements (EELs).
  • The final outcome of regulatory proceedings in our 13-state area and reopenings of such proceedings, and judicial review, if any, of such proceedings, including proceedings relating to interconnection terms, access charges, universal service, UNE-Ps and resale and wholesale rates, broadband deployment including Project Lightspeed, performance measurement plans, service standards and traffic compensation.
  • Enactment of additional state, federal and/or foreign regulatory and tax laws and regulations pertaining to our subsidiaries and foreign investments.
  • Our ability to absorb revenue losses caused by increasing competition, including offerings using alternative technologies (e.g., cable, wireless and VoIP) and UNE-P requirements, and to maintain capital expenditures.
  • The extent of competition in our 13-state area and the resulting pressure on access line totals and wireline and wireless operating margins.
  • Our ability to develop attractive and profitable product/service offerings to offset increasing competition in our wireline and wireless markets.
  • The ability of our competitors to offer product/service offerings at lower prices due to adverse regulatory decisions, including state regulatory proceedings relating to UNE-Ps and nonregulation of comparable alternative technologies (e.g., VoIP).
  • The timing, extent and cost of deployment of our Project Lightspeed broadband initiative and the development of attractive and profitable service offerings and the extent to which regulatory, franchise fees and build-out requirements apply to this initiative.
  • The issuance by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other accounting oversight bodies of new accounting standards or changes to existing standards.
  • The issuance by the Internal Revenue Service and/or state tax authorities of new tax regulations or changes to existing standards and actions by federal, state or local tax agencies and judicial authorities with respect to applying applicable tax laws and regulations; and the resolution of disputes with any taxing jurisdictions.
  • The impact of the wireless joint venture with BellSouth, known as Cingular, including marketing and product-development efforts, customer acquisition and retention costs, access to additional spectrum, network upgrades, technological advancements, industry consolidation including the acquisition of AT&T Wireless and availability and cost of capital.
  • Cingular’s failure to achieve, in the amounts and within the timeframe expected, the capital and expense synergies and other benefits expected from its acquisition of AT&T Wireless and our costs in financing our portion of the merger’s purchase price.
  • The impact of our pending acquisition of AT&T, including our ability to obtain governmental approvals of the acquisition on the proposed terms and schedule; the failure of AT&T stockholders to approve the transaction; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the acquisition may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the acquisition making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; and competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues.
  • Changes in our corporate strategies, such as changing network requirements or acquisitions and dispositions, to respond to competition and regulatory and technology developments.

Adverse economic changes in the markets served by us or in countries in which we have significant investments.

Changes in available technology and the effects of such changes including product substitutions and deployment costs.

Increases in our benefit plans’ costs including increases due to adverse changes in the U.S. securities markets, resulting in worse-than-assumed investment returns and discount rates, and adverse medical cost trends.

The final outcome of Federal Communications Commission proceedings and reopenings of such proceedings and judicial review, if any, of such proceedings, including issues relating to access charges, broadband deployment, availability and pricing of unbundled network elements and platforms (UNE-Ps) and unbundled loop and transport elements.

The final outcome of regulatory proceedings in the states in which we operate and reopenings of such proceedings, and judicial review, if any, of such proceedings, including proceedings relating to interconnection terms, access charges, universal service, UNE-Ps and resale and wholesale rates, broadband deployment including Project Lightspeed, performance measurement plans, service standards and traffic compensation.

Enactment of additional state, federal and/or foreign regulatory and tax laws and regulations pertaining to our subsidiaries and foreign investments.

Our ability to absorb revenue losses caused by increasing competition, including offerings using alternative technologies (e.g., cable, wireless and VoIP), and our ability to maintain capital expenditures.

The extent of competition and the resulting pressure on access line totals and wireline and wireless operating margins.

Our ability to develop attractive and profitable product/service offerings to offset increasing competition in our wireline and wireless markets.

The ability of our competitors to offer product/service offerings at lower prices due to lower cost structures and regulatory and legislative actions adverse to us, including state regulatory proceedings relating to UNE-Ps and nonregulation of comparable alternative technologies (e.g., VoIP).

The timing, extent and cost of deployment of our Project Lightspeed initiative; the development of attractive and profitable service offerings; the extent to which regulatory, franchise fees and build-out requirements apply to this initiative, and; the availability, cost and/or reliability of the various technologies and/or content required to provide such offerings.

The issuance by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other accounting oversight bodies of new accounting standards or changes to existing standards.

The issuance by the Internal Revenue Service and/or state tax authorities of new tax regulations or changes to existing standards and actions by federal, state or local tax agencies and judicial authorities

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AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS - Continued

with respect to applying applicable tax laws and regulations; and the resolution of disputes with any taxing jurisdictions.

The impact of the wireless joint venture with BellSouth, known as Cingular, including: marketing and product-development efforts; customer acquisition and retention costs; access to additional spectrum; network upgrades; technological advancements; industry consolidation, including the acquisition of AT&T Wireless, and; availability and cost of capital.

Cingular’s failure to achieve, in the amounts and within the time frame expected, the capital and expense synergies and other benefits expected from its acquisition of AT&T Wireless.

The impact of our pending acquisition of BellSouth, including our ability to obtain shareholder and governmental approvals of the acquisition on the proposed terms and schedule; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the acquisition may take longer to realize than expected or may not be fully realized; and the disruption from the acquisition making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers.

The impact of our acquisition of ATTC, including the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the acquisition may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the integration process making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; and competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues.

Changes in our corporate strategies, such as changing network requirements or acquisitions and dispositions, to respond to competition and regulatory, legislative and technological developments.

Readers are cautioned that other factors discussed in this report, although not enumeratedlisted here, also could materially impactaffect our future earnings.




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AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Item 1A. Risk Factors

We discuss in our Annual Report on Form 10-K various risks that may materially affect our business. We use this section to update this discussion to reflect material developments since our Form 10-K was filed.

The impact of our pending acquisition of BellSouth, including our ability to obtain shareholder and governmental approvals of the acquisition on the proposed terms and schedule; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the acquisition may take longer to realize than expected or may not be fully realized; and disruption from the acquisition making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers.

We agreed to acquire BellSouth in order to streamline the ownership and operations of Cingular and combine the Cingular, BellSouth and AT&T IP networks into a single IP network; to speed the deployment, and at lower cost, of next-generation IP video and other services; to provide business customers with the benefits of combining AT&T’s national and international networks and services with BellSouth’s local exchange and broadband services; and to create potential cost savings, technological development and other benefits. Achieving these results will depend in part on successfully integrating three large corporations, which could involve significant management attention and create uncertainties for employees; additionally, we and Cingular are already in the process of integrating previous acquisitions. Uncertainty among employees could adversely affect the ability of AT&T, BellSouth and Cingular to attract and retain key employees. Diversion of attention from ongoing operations on the part of management and employees could adversely affect our customers, suppliers and other parties with whom we have relationships. While the merger is pending, customers and strategic partners may delay or defer decisions to use services of each of the three companies, which could adversely affect the revenues and earnings of each company as well as the market prices of AT&T and BellSouth common shares. We also expect to incur substantial expenses related to the integration of these companies. We must integrate a large number of systems, both operational and administrative. These integration expenses may result in our taking significant charges against earnings, both cash and non-cash, primarily from the amortization of intangibles. Delays in this process could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, expenses, operating results and financial condition. In addition, events outside of our control, including changes in state and federal regulation and laws as well as economic trends, also could adversely affect our ability to realize the expected benefits from this acquisition.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Securities and Use of Proceeds

During the first quarter of 2005, non-employee directors acquired from SBC shares of common stock pursuant to SBC’s Non-Employee Director Stock and Deferral Plan. Under the plan, a director may make an annual election to receive all or part of his or her: (1) annual retainer in the form of SBC shares or deferred stock units (DSUs) and (2) fees in the form of DSUs. DSUs are convertible into SBC shares. Also under the plan, each Director will receive an annual grant of DSUs during the second quarter. During this period, an aggregate of 14,191 SBC shares and DSUs were acquired by non-employee directors at prices ranging from $23.69 to $24.60, in each case the fair market value of the shares on the date of acquisition. The issuances of shares and DSUs were exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.

(a)

During the first quarter of 2006, non-employee directors acquired from AT&T shares of common stock pursuant to AT&T’s Non-Employee Director Stock and Deferral Plan. Under the plan, a director may make an annual election to receive all or part of his or her: (1) annual retainer in the form of AT&T shares or deferred stock units (DSUs) and (2) fees in the form of DSUs. DSUs are convertible into AT&T shares. Also under the plan, each Director will receive an annual grant of DSUs during the second quarter. In the first quarter an aggregate of 13,551 AT&T shares and DSUs were acquired by non-employee directors at prices ranging from $25.95 to $27.59, in each case the fair market value of the shares on the date of acquisition. The issuances of shares and DSUs were exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.

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AT&T INC.

MARCH 31, 2006

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibits identified in parenthesisparentheses below, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), are incorporated by reference as exhibits hereto. Unless otherwise indicated, all exhibits so incorporated are from File No. 1-8610.

2

3-b

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 4, 2006, among BellSouth Corporation, AT&T Inc. and ABC Consolidation Corp. (Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K dated March 4, 2006.)

3-a

Restated Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on November 18, 2005. (Exhibit 3-a to Form 8-K dated November 18, 2005.)

3-b

Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the state of Delaware on May 3, 2006. (Exhibit 3-b to Form 8-K dated April 28, 2006.)

3-c

Bylaws restatedamended May 3, 2006. (Exhibit 3-c to Form 8-K dated April 29, 2005.28, 2006.)

10-cc

12

Stock Purchase and Deferral Plan.

10-dd

Cash Deferral Plan.

12

Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges

31

31

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications

31.1          Certification of Principal Executive Officer

31.2          Certification of Principal Financial Officer

32

32

Section 1350 Certifications



51

SIGNATURE



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



SBC Communications

AT&T Inc.




May 6, 20055, 2006

/s/Richard G. Lindner

Richard G. Lindner

Senior Executive Vice President
    and Chief Financial Officer

                                                                                                               and Chief Financial Officer