Citizenship and Sustainability

Overview

We demand the highest standards of ethics, integrity and responsibility in our operations.

Corporate Governance

Our ability to "connect people with their world" is based on many factors, including cutting-edge technology, great service and the hard work of skilled employees. But one of the most important factors is trust — the confidence to do business with AT&T, knowing we always adhere to the highest ethical standards.

Code of Business Conduct
These standards are grounded in the AT&T Code of Business Conduct. The code addresses common ethical and compliance issues and covers a range of topics. Everything from diversity and non-discrimination to computer use and electronic security to conflicts of interest and relationships with vendors. Each employee — from our part-time workers to our chairman — is responsible for reviewing the code and understanding its provisions completely. Employees must review the code annually.

Ethics
AT&T also maintains a separate Code of Ethics that applies to all employees and officers, as well as our board of directors. It affirms our expectation that all directors, officers and employees will act with integrity, observe both the form and spirit of laws and governmental regulations, and adhere to a high standard of business ethics.

Compliance
AT&T offers many resources to employees who have questions about the laws, regulations and policies affecting our business. Our Corporate Compliance organization promotes compliance with the law, our Code of Business Conduct and other policies. In addition, Corporate Compliance ensures appropriate measures are taken in response to identified compliance concerns.

Learn more about corporate governance at AT&T here

Citizenship and Sustainability Governance

Our commitment to citizenship and sustainability reaches the very highest levels of our company. In 2008, we created and mobilized a new structure to govern our citizenship and sustainability program.

The AT&T board of directors expanded the responsibility of its Public Policy Committee to include oversight in this area. And during the first quarter of 2008, we appointed a senior executive and established a supporting Citizenship and Sustainability Team to create strategy and facilitate efforts throughout the company.

The executive and team work with an officer-level Citizenship and Sustainability Steering Committee, as well as expert teams across our business. The steering committee — made up of officers from across our company — meets quarterly to set goals, discuss progress and provide direction for our citizenship and sustainability efforts.

Expert teams, based around issues material to our business, manage specific citizenship and sustainability initiatives on a daily basis. They report regularly to steering committee members on accomplishments, challenges and ongoing progress.

Engaging Our Supply Chain
AT&T has a long history of working closely with our suppliers to expand our impact. We know that — just as we're responsible for our own operations, products and services — we also have a responsibility to use our size and purchasing power to promote ethical and sustainable business practices in our supply chain.

AT&T requires suppliers to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, both domestic and foreign. In December 2008, we built on that foundation by publishing a comprehensive set of Citizenship & Sustainability Principles of Conduct for Suppliers. These principles acknowledge that suppliers are an important part of our business and therefore must be an important part of our approach to citizenship and sustainability.