DALLAS, TX--(Marketwired - Jun 12, 2013) - Ask almost any business: Delivering products and services to customers involves a tangle of both challenges and opportunities. The supply chain extends across geographies and business sectors. Driving efficiency throughout the supply chain is crucial for any successful business. The supply chain is also an area where companies extend their efforts to curb or limit their environmental impacts on both the global and local communities in which they operate. Against that backdrop, AT&T was recognized for its efforts to address the impact of its supply chain by becoming the largest wireless carrier to join the SmartWay Transport Partnership program in the shipping category (see, http://www.epa.gov/smartway/partnership/index.htm). The program is a collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and freight and transport divisions of companies representing the manufacturing, retail, freight, and logistics sectors to voluntarily improve fuel-efficiency and curb emissions.

"SmartWay is helping U.S. businesses slash fuel costs, saving $8.1 billion to date. As one of the largest telecommunications companies, we're excited about AT&T's participation in the SmartWay Transport Partnership program and hope it serves as an example for more within the industry," said Christopher Grundler, EPA's Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality.

AT&T's involvement in the SmartWay Transport Partnership program requires the company to benchmark and measure progress in transport emissions management. This will help the company further integrate energy efficiency, air quality, and climate change initiatives into the transportation decision-making process. The program will also provide support to identify potential additional carbon reductions and cost savings opportunities in AT&T's distribution network.

"We know we need to continue identifying savings and emissions reductions from our transportation and distribution networks," said Shannon Carroll, a Senior Manager with AT&T's Supply Chain Sustainability team. "Participating in the EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership program will help us identify additional steps we can take in order to keep seeing results."

The SmartWay Transport Partnership program continues the ongoing collaborative efforts of AT&T in resource efficiency and emissions reduction described in the AT&T 2011 Sustainability Report. In addition to the SmartWay Transport Partnership program, AT&T works with external groups, such as the Environmental Defense Fund and Rocky Mountain Institute to investigate highly-scalable sustainability projects.

Visit www.att.com/csr to learn more about AT&T's sustainability initiatives.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates -- AT&T operating companies -- are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

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