Governor Beshear and AT&T Kentucky Join Forces to Educate Drivers on Risks Associated With Texting and Driving

Governor Beshear and AT&T Kentucky Join Forces to Educate Drivers on Risks Associated With Texting and Driving

Public Awareness Campaign Aims at Keeping Kentucky Drivers Safe, Protecting Consumers

FRANKFORT, Ky., July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In advance of the busy Fourth of July holiday travel weekend, AT&T* today announced the release of two public service announcements (PSAs) that the company recorded with Gov. Steve Beshear to educate drivers on the risks associated with texting while driving. The PSAs are part of a national initiative by AT&T to communicate to wireless consumers, especially youth, on the dangers of texting behind the wheel.

Numerous radio stations from around Kentucky will begin airing the PSAs over the Fourth of July weekend. The PSAs will also be distributed via various social media outlets, including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. The goal is to remind all drivers that texting can wait.

"Since safety is a top priority in my Administration, we have banned texting while driving across the Commonwealth," said Gov. Steve Beshear. "This PSA program is very timely and it is an important part of our ongoing effort to reduce the number of fatalities on Kentucky roadways."

Text messaging has experienced a tenfold increase in the past three years,* according to CTIA -- The Wireless Association. Unfortunately, this texting boom means that many may be tap-tapping away at perhaps the worst possible time: while driving.

"We want to applaud Gov. Beshear and the Kentucky General Assembly for making safety a top priority," said AT&T Kentucky President Mary Pat Regan. "No text is worth dying over and that is why we have developed a comprehensive education program to educate wireless consumers on this important issue."

Earlier this year, AT&T kicked off a national awareness campaign www.att.com/txtngcanwait that shares information on the risks of texting while driving. In addition to public service announcements, the campaign also includes:

-- Online Resources: AT&T has created an online resource center for
downloadable tools and tips for parents, high school educators and
others on this issue. Tools include a parent-teen pledge, posters for
high school drivers' education classes, as well as a teacher's guide,
tip sheet and fact sheet. AT&T's Web site is a popular online
destination, attracting millions of unique visitors each month.
-- Customer Communications: AT&T reaches millions of customers every day
through a variety of touch points that include catalogs, in-store
signage and collateral, bills, e-mails, opt-in text messages and
newsletters, as well as via AT&T U-verse® TV on-air channels, which
have the potential to reach 2.3 million subscribers. Campaign
messaging on this issue has been integrated throughout these and other
customer touch points.
-- Support Safety Organizations: AT&T will continue to work with CTIA --
The Wireless Association (www.ctia.org), The National Safety Council
(www.nsc.org) and other third parties to support their efforts to
educate the public about the dangers of texting while driving.

In September 2009, AT&T announced a commitment to raise awareness about the issue of texting and driving through a multifaceted initiative to educate employees, customers and the general public about using wireless devices safely while driving. That commitment included revising the company's wireless and motor vehicle policies to more clearly and explicitly prohibit texting and driving, impacting its approximately 280,000 employees; incorporated a don't-text-and-drive message on the plastic clings that protect handset screens on the majority of new devices sold in AT&T's more than 2,200 stores; and began to integrate campaign messaging in AT&T catalogs, in-store signage and collateral, bills, e-mails, newsletters and more.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.

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Source: AT&T Inc.

CONTACT: Mike Marker, Cell, +1-317-989-7152, or Office, +1-317-265-4020,
mm8963@att.com, or Cathy Lewandowski, Cell, +1-615-804-6241, or Office,
+1-615-214-5874, cl2580@att.com, both of AT&T Inc.

Web Site: http://www.att.com/

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