AT&T Response Statement; USA Today Headline November 14, 1997.BASKING RIDGE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 14, 1997--Today's edition of USA Today USA Today National U.S. daily general-interest newspaper, the first of its kind. Launched in 1982 by Allen Neuharth, head of the Gannett newspaper chain, it reached a circulation of one million within a year and surpassed two million in the 1990s. includes an article on AT&T's local service plans. While the story itself is fairly accurate, the headline is dead wrong. To set the record straight, AT&T issued the following statement, which may be attributed to Chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Michael Armstrong Michael Armstrong is the name of:
"AT&T is unqualifiedly un·qual·i·fied adj. 1. Lacking the proper or required qualifications: unqualified for the job. 2. committed to giving customers a choice in local service. The problem is that the Bell monopolies don't share that same commitment. "The Bells' failure to comply with the requirements of the Telecom Act of 1996 has put our 90 million consumers who want a choice in local service on hold. If the Bells had more engineers and fewer lawyers attacking the issue, their systems might be able to handle all the customers who want to choose another company for local service. "Nevertheless, AT&T emphatically em·phat·ic adj. 1. Expressed or performed with emphasis: responded with an emphatic "no." 2. Forceful and definite in expression or action. 3. is committed to offering local service. -- Since the Telecom Act was passed in February 1996, AT&T has spent $3 billion to begin offering local service. -- Despite the Bell's foot-dragging, AT&T has sold local service to more than 400,000 consumers -- far more than any other local competitor. -- While AT&T has been forced to scale back its local marketing effort because the Bell monopolies have been unable to keep up with our orders and have created a backlog Backlog The total value of sales orders waiting to be fulfilled. Notes: This figure is used mainly in the manufacturing industry. Increases or decreases in a company's backlog indicate the future direction of sales and earnings. , the company remains determined to use every means to serve the millions of customers who want a choice in local service. -- We continue to serve our existing local service customers and to accept customer requests for service in the six markets where we have a local offer - California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). , Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, and Texas. -- We will resume marketing our local service aggressively wherever and whenever the Bells demonstrate a willingness to meet their obligations under the Telecom Act." CONTACT: Ruthlyn Newell 908/221-2737, Office 908/647-6260, Home or Jim McGann 202/457-3942, Office 301/585-5519, Home |
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