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{{merge from|AT&T Corporation|discuss=Talk:AT&T#Merge proposal|date=October 2024}}
{{Short description|American multinational telecommunications holding company}}
{{About|the company known as AT&T since 2005|the original AT&T (American Telephone and Telegraph) founded in 1885|AT&T Corporation|the telephone company founded in 1882|Southwestern Bell|other uses}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = AT&T Inc.
| logo = [[File: AT&T logo 2016.svg|frameless|upright=0.8|class=skin-invert]]
| image = AT&THQDallas.jpg
| image_caption = [[Whitacre Tower]], AT&T's corporate headquarters in [[Dallas]]
| trading_name = 
| former_name = {{Plainlist|
* Southwestern Bell Corporation (1983–1995)
* SBC Communications Inc.<ref>[https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/732717/000095012304012515/x67907e8vk.htm Form 8-K] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116200750/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/732717/000095012304012515/x67907e8vk.htm |date=January 16, 2019}}. [[Securities and Exchange Commission]]. October 25, 2004. Accessed January 16, 2019.</ref> (1995–2005)
}}
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{Unbulleted list|{{NYSE|T}}|[[S&P 100]] component|[[S&P 500]] component}}
| ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|US00206R1023}}
| industry = {{Unbulleted list|[[Telecommunications]]}}
| predecessors = {{Unbulleted list|[[AT&T Corporation]]|[[BellSouth]]|[[Ameritech]]|[[Pacific Telesis]]|[[Southwestern Bell]]}}
| successor = <!-- or: | successors = -->
| founded = {{Start date and age|1885|3|3}}<small> (as the [[AT&T#History|American Telephone and Telegraph Company]])</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Foreign Corporations. |url=https://bsd.sos.mo.gov/Common/CorrespondenceItemViewHandler.ashx?IsTIFF=true&filedDocumentid=9410296&version=2 |website=bsd.sos.mo.gov|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State. |access-date=7 May 2024}}</ref><br />{{start date and age|1983|10|05}} (as AT&T)<ref>[https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/732717/000073271709000050/ex3.htm Restated Certificate of Incorporation of AT&T Inc.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904065656/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/732717/000073271709000050/ex3.htm |date=September 4, 2017}} [[Securities and Exchange Commission]]. April 24, 2009. Accessed September 3, 2017.</ref>
| founder = 
| defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| fate = 
| hq_location = [[Whitacre Tower]]
| hq_location_city = [[Dallas, Texas]]
| hq_location_country = United States
| area_served = United States
| key_people = {{ubl|[[William Kennard]] ([[chairman]])|[[John Stankey]] ([[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]])}}
| revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|122.4|link=yes}} billion
| revenue_year = 2023
| operating_income = {{increase}} {{US$|23.46}} billion
| income_year = 2023
| net_income = {{increase}} {{US$|15.62}} billion
| net_income_year = 2023
| assets = {{increase}} {{US$|407.1}} billion
| assets_year = 2023
| equity = {{increase}} {{US$|117.4}} billion
| equity_year = 2023
| owner = 
| num_employees = 149,900
| num_employees_year = 2024
| parent = 
| divisions = {{Unbulleted list|[[AT&T Communications]]|[[AT&T Mexico|AT&T Latin America]]}}
| subsid = [[DirecTV]] (70%) {{small|(pending sale of stake to [[TPG Inc.]])}}<br>[[FirstNet]]<br>[[Cricket Wireless]]
| website = {{URL|att.com}}
| footnotes = Financials {{as of|2023|12|31|df=US|pre=fiscal year ended|lc=y}}.<br />References:<ref name="prelims">{{Cite web |title=AT&T INC. 2023 Annual Report (Form 10-K) |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/732717/000073271724000009/t-20231231.htm |date=February 24, 2024 |publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] |access-date=February 24, 2024 |archive-date=February 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224062303/https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/732717/000073271724000009/t-20231231.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| module = {{infobox network service provider|child=yes|asn=7018}}
}}

'''AT&T Inc.''', an abbreviation for its former name, the '''American Telephone and Telegraph Company''', is an American multinational [[telecommunications]] holding company headquartered at [[Whitacre Tower]] in [[Downtown Dallas]], [[Texas]].<ref name="Jbodonkor">{{cite news|last1=Godinez|first1=Victor|first2=David|last2=McLemore|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-att_28bus.ART.State.Edition2.4d5475b.html|title=AT&T moving headquarters to Dallas from San Antonio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626014954/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-att_28bus.ART.State.Edition2.4d5475b.html|archive-date=June 26, 2009|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=June 28, 2008}}</ref> It is the world's [[List of telecommunications companies|third largest telecommunications company by revenue]] and the [[List of mobile network operators in the United States|third largest wireless carrier in the United States]] behind [[Verizon]] and [[T-Mobile US|T-Mobile]].<ref name="auto">{{cite press release |title=Financial and Operational Trends |date=October 23, 2024 |url=https://investors.att.com/~/media/Files/A/ATT-IR-V2/financial-reports/quarterly-earnings/2024/3Q24/T_3Q24_Trending_Schedule.pdf |access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> As of 2023, AT&T was ranked 13th on the [[Fortune 500|''Fortune'' 500]] rankings of the largest United States corporations, with revenues of $122.4 billion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Financials for AT&T Inc. |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/t/financials |website=[[MarketWatch]] |publisher=Dow Jones |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410132600/https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/t/financials |url-status=live }}</ref>

The company began its history as the American District Telegraph Company, formed in [[St. Louis]] in 1878.<ref>{{cite book |last= Hast |first= Adele |date= 1992 |title= International Directory of Company Histories |location= Detroit |publisher= St. James Press |page= 328 |isbn= 1-55862-061-3 |quote= Southwestern Bell Telephone Company has about 20 predecessor companies. The four largest of these were American District Telegraph Company, formed in St. Louis, Missouri 1878; the Kansas City Telephone Exchange, formed in Kansas City, Missouri in 1879, Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Company, which began serving Texas and Arkansas in 1881; and Pioneer Telephone & Telegraph Company, which provided telephone service beginning in 1904 in Oklahoma – not then a state, but known as Indian Territory – and in parts of Kansas.}}</ref> After expanding services to [[Arkansas]], [[Kansas]], [[Oklahoma]] and [[Texas]] through a series of mergers, it became Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in 1920, which was then a subsidiary of American Telephone and Telegraph Company.<ref>{{cite book |last= Hast |first= Adele |date= 1992 |title= International Directory of Company Histories |location= Detroit |publisher= St. James Press |page= 328 |isbn= 1-55862-061-3 |quote= In 1917, the four companies began moving toward a more formal merge, with the Missouri & Kansas Telephone Company – the new name of the Kansas City Telephone Exchange – acquiring Bell Telephone Company of Missouri, successor to American District Telegraph. The resulting company was named Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (Missouri). In 1920 this company bought Southwestern Telephone & Telegraph and Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (Oklahoma), the successor to Pioneer Telephone & Telegraph, establishing the new Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, which was a subsidiary of AT&T.}}</ref> The latter was a successor of the original [[Bell Telephone Company]] founded by [[Alexander Graham Bell]] in 1877.<ref>{{cite book |last= Danielian |first= N.R. |date= 1939 |title= A.T.&T. The Story of Industrial Conquest |location= New York |publisher= [[Vanguard Press]] |page= 9 |isbn= 9780405060380 |quote= After the success of Bell's experiments, which resulted in the basic Bell patents of 1876 and 1877, a new company was organized for the purpose of commercial exploitation. The Bell Telephone Company, a Massachusetts voluntary association, was formed on July 9, 1877, with Gardiner G. Hubbard as trustee.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Danielian |first= N.R. |date= 1939 |title= A.T.&T. The Story of Industrial Conquest |location= New York |publisher= [[Vanguard Press]] |page= 12 |isbn= 9780405060380 |quote= The American Telephone and Telegraph Company was, therefore, incorporated in New York in 1885, as a subsidiary of American Bell Telephone Company, to operate long-distance telephone lines...In 1899, American Bell sold all of its assets to its subsidiary, AT&T...As a result of this transaction, AT&T emerged as the parent company in the Bell System, assuming the holding-company functions previously exercised by American Bell Telephone Company.}}</ref> The American Bell Telephone Company formed the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) subsidiary in 1885.<ref>{{cite book |last= Danielian |first= N.R. |date= 1939 |title= A.T.&T. The Story of Industrial Conquest |location= New York |publisher= [[Vanguard Press]] |pages= 11–12 |isbn= 9780405060380 |quote= With increasing demands for telephones, the financial needs of the Bell System were expanding. To meet these needs, a new corporation, the American Bell Telephone Company, was created by a special act of the Massachusetts legislature... The American Telephone and Telegraph Company was, therefore, incorporated in New York in 1885, as a subsidiary of American Bell Telephone Company, to operate long-distance telephone lines, and Vail became its first president.}}</ref> In 1899, AT&T became the parent company after the American Bell Telephone Company sold its assets to its subsidiary.<ref>{{cite book |last= Danielian |first= N.R. |date= 1939 |title= A.T.&T. The Story of Industrial Conquest |location= New York |publisher= [[Vanguard Press]] |page= 12 |isbn= 9780405060380 |quote= In 1899, American Bell sold all of its assets (except A.T.&T. stock) to its subsidiary, A.T.&T. It then offered to its stockholders two shares of the A.T.&T. stock which hit held, in exchange for one share of American Bell stock. As a result of this transaction, A.T.&T. emerged as the parent company in the Bell System, assuming the holding-company functions previously exercised by American Bell Telephone Company.}}</ref> During most of the 20th century, AT&T had a [[monopoly]] on phone service in the United States.

The company was rebranded as [[AT&T Corporation|AT&T Corp.]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1994/03/02/digest/5a77ece2-72ae-483f-86e3-a5167e6ce3c3/ |title= DIGEST |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= March 2, 1994 |access-date= March 23, 2021 |quote= AT&T is asking shareholders to change its official name from American Telephone & Telegraph Co. to AT&T Corp. at the annual meeting April 20 in Atlanta. |archive-date= May 20, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210520180230/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1994/03/02/digest/5a77ece2-72ae-483f-86e3-a5167e6ce3c3/ |url-status= live }}</ref> The 1982 ''[[United States v. AT&T (1982)|United States v. AT&T]]'' [[antitrust]] lawsuit resulted in the [[Breakup of the Bell System|divestiture]] of AT&T's ("Ma Bell") local operating subsidiaries<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/25/business/the-challenge-of-divestiture.html |title= THE CHALLENGE OF DIVESTITURE |work= [[The New York Times]] |date= October 25, 1983 |access-date= March 23, 2021 |quote= Under the antitrust settlement A.T.& T. signed with the Justice Department in January 1982, the divested organizations not only will be local telephone carriers, but, with certain restrictions, they will have the right to enter other businesses as well. |archive-date= May 24, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150524142738/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/25/business/the-challenge-of-divestiture.html |url-status= live }}</ref> which were grouped into seven<ref name="THE CHALLENGE OF DIVESTITURE">{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/25/business/the-challenge-of-divestiture.html |title= THE CHALLENGE OF DIVESTITURE |work= [[The New York Times]] |date= October 25, 1983 |access-date= March 23, 2021 |quote= The 7 Holding Companies. The seven regional holding companies that will result from the breakup of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company are sketched here, with a brief outline of their potential strengths and weaknesses. |archive-date= May 24, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150524142738/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/25/business/the-challenge-of-divestiture.html |url-status= live }}</ref> [[Regional Bell Operating Company|Regional Bell Operating Companies]] (RBOCs), commonly referred to as "Baby Bells", resulting in seven independent companies,<ref name="THE CHALLENGE OF DIVESTITURE"/> including Southwestern Bell Corporation (SBC).<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/25/business/the-challenge-of-divestiture.html |title= THE CHALLENGE OF DIVESTITURE |work= [[The New York Times]] |date= October 25, 1983 |access-date= March 23, 2021 |quote= Southwestern Bell, stretching from Arkansas through Texas into Missouri, will have only one existing local operating company, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, under it, saving it any pains of integration. |archive-date= May 24, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150524142738/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/25/business/the-challenge-of-divestiture.html |url-status= live }}</ref> The latter changed its name to SBC Communications Inc. in 1995.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2002/12/09/daily20.html?page=2 |title= SBC drops Southwestern Bell, other brand names |work= [[American City Business Journals|Kansas City Business Journal]] |date= December 10, 2002 |access-date= March 23, 2021 |quote= In 1995, the former Bell company took on the SBC Communications name. |archive-date= May 20, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210520180145/https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2002/12/09/daily20.html?page=2 |url-status= live }}</ref>

In 2005, SBC purchased its former parent AT&T Corp. and took on the latter's branding, history, and stock trading symbol, as well as a version of its iconic logo. The merged entity, naming itself AT&T Inc., launched on December 30, 2005.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-11-19-0511190029-story.html |title= SBC wraps up acquisition of AT&T |newspaper= [[Chicago Tribune]] |date= November 19, 2005 |access-date= March 23, 2021 |quote= SBC will unveil a new AT&T logo Monday as it outlines plans for changing the name of the merged company...The combined company will adopt AT&T's stock symbol, T, on the New York Stock Exchange beginning Dec. 1. |archive-date= May 20, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210520175139/https://www.chicagotribune.com/ |url-status= live }}</ref> The newly merged and renamed AT&T Inc. acquired [[BellSouth|BellSouth Corporation]] in 2006, the last independent Baby Bell company, making BellSouth and SBC (AT&T Inc.)'s formerly joint venture [[Cingular|Cingular Wireless]] (which had itself acquired AT&T Wireless in 2004) a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T Inc. Cingular was then rebranded as [[AT&T Mobility]]. AT&T Inc. also acquired [[Time Warner]] in 2016,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/at-t-is-in-advanced-talks-to-acquire-time-warner-1477061850|title=AT&T Is in Advanced Talks to Acquire Time Warner|last1=Hagey|first1=Keach|date=October 22, 2016|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=March 18, 2019|last2=Sharma|first2=Amol|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|last3=Cimilluca|first3=Dana|last4=Gryta|first4=Thomas|archive-date=October 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022013505/http://www.wsj.com/articles/at-t-is-in-advanced-talks-to-acquire-time-warner-1477061850|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/att-time-warner-deal-1201897938/ |title=AT&T Sets $85.4 Billion Time Warner Deal, CEOs Talks 'Unique' Potential of Combination |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=October 22, 2016 |access-date=October 23, 2016 |archive-date=October 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023204133/http://variety.com/2016/biz/news/att-time-warner-deal-1201897938/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with the proposed merger confirmed on June 12, 2018<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/06/12/media/att-time-warner-ruling/index.html |title=Judge approves $85 billion AT&T-Time Warner deal |last=Gold |first=Hadas |work=CNNMoney |access-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-date=July 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711204644/https://money.cnn.com/2018/06/12/media/att-time-warner-ruling/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the aim of making AT&T Inc. the largest and controlling shareholder of Time Warner, which it then rebranded as WarnerMedia in 2018. The company later withdrew its equity stake in WarnerMedia in 2022 and merged it with [[Discovery, Inc.]] to create [[Warner Bros. Discovery]], divesting itself of its media arm.

The current AT&T [[Breakup of the Bell System#Evolution of the Baby Bells|reconstitutes most of the former Bell System]], and includes four of the seven "Baby Bells" along with the original AT&T Corp., including the [[AT&T Communications|long-distance division]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://money.cnn.com/2014/05/20/technology/att-merger-history/index.html |title= How AT&T got busted up and pieced back together |work= [[CNN Business|CNN Money]] |date= May 20, 2014 |access-date= March 23, 2021 |quote= The whirlwind began in 1997, when Southwestern Bell Corp. (SBC) merged with fellow Baby Bell Pacific Telesis. Two years later, SBC bought Ameritech, another Baby Bell. Then, the craziness really started when SBC bought Ma Bell -- its former parent company -- in 2005. The combined company renamed itself AT&T. A year later, the new AT&T bought BellSouth, yet another Baby Bell. The new AT&T also bought Cingular Wireless in 2006 -- a company jointly run by Baby Bells SBC and BellSouth that had bought the old AT&T Wireless in 2004. Cingular then changed its name to AT&T Mobility. Got all that? The merger history of these five Baby Bells is dizzying and better explained visually. |archive-date= March 12, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170312095025/https://money.cnn.com/2014/05/20/technology/att-merger-history/index.html |url-status= live }}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of AT&T}}

=== Origin and growth (1877–1981) ===
{{Further|History of AT&T#Origins|History of AT&T#Monopoly}}

AT&T was founded as Bell Telephone Company by [[Alexander Graham Bell]], [[Thomas A. Watson|Thomas Watson]] and [[Gardiner Greene Hubbard]] after Bell's patenting of the telephone in 1875.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home{{!}} History{{!}} AT&T |url=https://www.corp.att.com/history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105114300/http://www.corp.att.com/history/ |archive-date=November 5, 2016 |access-date=March 3, 2017 |website=www.corp.att.com |language=en}}</ref> By 1881, Bell Telephone Company had become the American Bell Telephone Company.<ref>{{cite book |last= Brooks |first= John |date= 1976 |title= Telephone: The First Hundred Years |location= New York |publisher= [[Harper (publisher)|Harper & Row]] |page= 73 |isbn= 0-06-010540-2 |quote= Early in 1881, the American Bell Telephone Company – as it came to be called beginning in March 1880 – issued its first annual report to stockholders.}}</ref> One of its subsidiaries was the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T), established in 1885.<ref>{{cite news |date= February 13, 2016 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/02/12/technology/att-history.html |title= AT&T's History of Invention and Breakups |work= [[The New York Times]] |access-date= April 22, 2021 |quote= 1885 - The American Telephone and Telegraph Company is created as a subsidiary of Bell Telephone to build and operate a long-distance telephone network. |archive-date= April 23, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210423035749/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/02/12/technology/att-history.html |url-status= live }}</ref> On December 30, 1899, AT&T acquired the assets of its parent American Bell Telephone, becoming the new parent company.<ref>{{cite book |last= Brooks |first= John |date= 1975 |title= TELEPHONE The First Hundred Years |location= New York |publisher= [[Harper (publisher)|Harper & Row]] |page= 107 |isbn= 0-06-010540-2 |quote= Accordingly, the American Bell management bad farewell to Boston and gradually moved its offices to downtown Manhattan, and on December 30, 1899 – the next-to-last day of the old century – AT&T, with a new capitalization of over seventy million dollars, became the parent company of the Bell System, which, of course, it has remained ever since.}}</ref> '''AT&T''' established a network of local telephone subsidiaries in the United States. AT&T and its subsidiaries held a phone service [[monopoly]], authorized in 1913 by government authorities with the [[Kingsbury Commitment]], throughout most of the twentieth century.<ref>{{cite web |last= Griffin |first= Jodie |date= December 19, 2013 |url= https://www.publicknowledge.org/blog/100th-anniversary-of-the-kingsbury-commitment/ |title= 100th Anniversary of the Kingsbury Commitment |website= [[Public Knowledge]] |access-date= April 22, 2021 |quote= In 1913, the U.S. filed an antitrust lawsuit against AT&T to break up its growing monopoly in the phone service market. While Congress contemplated nationalizing the long distance telephone network, AT&T settled the antitrust lawsuit with the Kingsbury Commitment. In the Kingsbury Commitment, AT&T agreed to allow independent local telephone companies to interconnect with AT&T's long distance network, divest Western Union, and refrain from purchasing other companies if the Interstate Commerce Commission objected. |archive-date= April 23, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210423035752/https://www.publicknowledge.org/blog/100th-anniversary-of-the-kingsbury-commitment/ |url-status= live }}</ref> This monopoly was known as the [[Bell System]],<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Pollack |first=Andrew |date=January 1, 1984 |title=BELL SYSTEM BREAKUP OPENS ERA OF GREAT EXPECTATIONS AND GREAT CONCERN |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/01/us/bell-system-breakup-opens-era-of-great-expectations-and-great-concern.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813111702/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/01/us/bell-system-breakup-opens-era-of-great-expectations-and-great-concern.html |archive-date=August 13, 2017 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and during this period, AT&T was also known by the nickname ''Ma Bell''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pagliery |first=Jose |date=May 20, 2014 |title=How AT&T got busted up and pieced back together |url=https://money.cnn.com/2014/05/20/technology/att-merger-history/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312095025/https://money.cnn.com/2014/05/20/technology/att-merger-history/index.html |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2017 |website=CNNMoney}}</ref>

=== Breakup and reformation (1982–2004) ===
{{Further|United States v. AT&T (1982){{!}}''United States v. AT&T'' (1982)|Breakup of the Bell System|History of AT&T#Breakup|History of AT&T#Post break-up restructuring}}

In 1982, U.S. [[Breakup of the Bell System|regulators broke up the AT&T monopoly]], requiring AT&T to divest its local subsidiaries, which it did by grouping them into seven individual companies.<ref>{{cite news |last= Pollack |first= Andrew |date= August 4, 1983 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/04/business/at-t-us-agree-on-final-aspects-of-bell-breakup.html |title= A.T.& T., U.S. AGREE ON FINAL ASPECTS OF BELL BREAKUP |work= [[The New York Times]] |access-date= April 22, 2021 |quote= The local companies, grouped into seven regional holding companies, will provide local telephone service and can sell, but not manufacture, telephone equipment. |archive-date= April 23, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210423035751/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/04/business/at-t-us-agree-on-final-aspects-of-bell-breakup.html |url-status= live }}</ref> These new companies were known as Regional Bell Operating Companies, or more informally, Baby Bells.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 3, 2014 |title=Lessons from the AT&T break up, 30 years later-CICTP |language=en-US |work=Tech Policy Daily |url=http://www.techpolicydaily.com/communications/lessons-att-break-30-years-later/ |access-date=April 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422035122/http://www.techpolicydaily.com/communications/lessons-att-break-30-years-later/ |archive-date=April 22, 2017}}</ref> AT&T continued to operate long-distance services but faced increasing competition from competitors such as [[MCI Communications|MCI]] and [[Sprint Corporation|Sprint]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZMgb9jEvriUC&q=AT&pg=PA21 |title=Factors affecting U.S. trade and shipments of information technology products computer equipment, telecommunications equipment, and semiconductors |publisher=DIANE Publishing |isbn=978-1-4289-5190-7 |language=en |access-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-date=March 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313023400/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZMgb9jEvriUC&q=AT&pg=PA21#v=snippet&q=AT&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>

Southwestern Bell Corporation (SBC) was one of the companies created by the breakup of AT&T Corp.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=A brief history of AT&T - Jul. 9, 2001 |url=https://money.cnn.com/2001/07/09/deals/att_history/#:~:text=In%201899,%20AT&T%20bought%20Bell%27s,of%20$75%20for%20five%20minutes. |access-date=June 30, 2020 |website=money.cnn.com |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107230504/https://money.cnn.com/2001/07/09/deals/att_history/#:~:text=In%201899,%20AT&T%20bought%20Bell%27s,of%20$75%20for%20five%20minutes. |url-status=live }}</ref> The company soon started a series of acquisitions, including the 1987 acquisition of [[Metromedia]] mobile business and the acquisition of several cable companies in the early 1990s.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} In the latter half of the 1990s, the company acquired several other telecommunications companies, including two Baby Bells ([[Pacific Telesis|Pacific Telesis Group]] and [[Ameritech|Ameritech Corporation]]),<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=TE004 |title= TELEPHONE INDUSTRY |website= [[Oklahoma Historical Society]] |access-date= April 22, 2021 |quote= After Congress de-regulated the telecommunications industry in February 1996, allowing regional companies to compete with long distance carriers, among other rule changes, SBC began to expand. In 1996 it merged with Pacific Telesis Group, and in 1998 the company bought the Ameritech Corporation. |archive-date= April 23, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210423035751/https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=TE004 |url-status= live }}</ref> while selling its cable business. During this time, the company changed its name to SBC Communications Inc.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Roundup |first=An Interactive Journal News |date=June 24, 1998 |title=AT&T Agrees to Acquire TCI, Creating a Telecom Behemoth |language=en-US |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB898571162416331500 |access-date=June 30, 2020 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=July 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703050823/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB898571162416331500 |url-status=live }}</ref> In early 1997 [[C. Michael Armstrong]] was named CEO, and Armstrong appointed [[John Zeglis]] as president later in that same year. By 1998, the company was in the top 15 of the Fortune 500, and by 1999, when Zeglis assumed the positions of chairman and CEO of [[At&t wireless|AT&T Wireless]], AT&T was part of the [[Dow Jones Industrial Average]] (lasting through 2015).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dow-jones-djia.com/2007/05/26/november-1-1999-changes-to-dow-jones-industrial-average/ |title= NOVEMBER 1, 1999 Changes to Dow Jones Industrial Average |website= Dow Jones Industrial Stocks |access-date= April 22, 2021 |archive-date= April 23, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210423035752/http://www.dow-jones-djia.com/2007/05/26/november-1-1999-changes-to-dow-jones-industrial-average/ |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Gaffen |first= David |date= March 6, 2015 |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-dow/at-long-last-dow-gets-a-taste-for-apple-idUKKBN0M21H020150306 |title= At long last, Dow gets a taste for Apple |work= [[Reuters]] |access-date= April 22, 2021 |quote= Apple Inc AAPL.O, the largest U.S. company by market value, will join the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI, replacing AT&T Inc T.N, in a change that reflects the dominant position of the iPhone maker in the U.S. consumer economy. |archive-date= April 23, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210423035749/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-dow/at-long-last-dow-gets-a-taste-for-apple-idUKKBN0M21H020150306 |url-status= live }}</ref> Zeglis ended his service as president of AT&T in 2001 and resigned from his positions in AT&T Wireless in 2004.

=== Purchase of former parent and acquisitions (2005–2013) ===
{{Further|History of AT&T#Rise of SBC|History of AT&T#Post-consolidation wireless acquisitions}}

On November 18, 2005, SBC Communications purchased its former parent, AT&T Corporation for $16 billion.<ref>{{cite news |last = Van |first = Jon |date = November 19, 2005 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-11-19-0511190029-story.html |title = SBC wraps up acquisition of AT&T |newspaper = [[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date = April 22, 2021 |quote = SBC Communications Inc. completed its acquisition of AT&T Corp. on Friday after California regulators approved the $16 billion deal. |archive-date = May 20, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210520175139/https://www.chicagotribune.com/ |url-status = live }}</ref> After this purchase, SBC adopted the better-known AT&T name and brand, with the original AT&T Corporation still existing as the long-distance landline subsidiary of the merged company.<ref>{{cite news |last = Belson |first = Ken |title = SBC Agrees to Acquire AT&T for $16 Billion |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/31/business/sbc-agrees-to-acquire-att-for-16-billion.html |access-date = 25 April 2021 |newspaper = [[The New York Times]] |date = 31 January 2005 |quote = SBC Communications last night was close to concluding a $16 billion deal for its former parent, AT&T, that would lead to the virtual disappearance of one of America's best known corporate icons and set off what promises to be a new round of competition between the Baby Bells, executives close to the negotiations said. |archive-date = May 12, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200512170342/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/31/business/sbc-agrees-to-acquire-att-for-16-billion.html |url-status = live }}</ref> The current AT&T Inc. claims the original AT&T Corporation's history (dating to 1877) as its own,<ref>{{cite book |last= Danielian |first = N. R. |year = 1939 |title = AT&T The Story of Industrial Conquest |location= New York |publisher= The Vanguard Press |page= 9 |isbn= 0405060386 |quote= The Bell Telephone Company, a Massachusetts voluntary association, was formed on July 9, 1877, with Gardiner G. Hubbard as trustee.}}</ref> but retains SBC's pre-2005 corporate structure and stock price history. As well, all SEC filings before 2005 are under SBC, not AT&T.

AT&T made [[History of AT&T#2011: Attempted acquisition of T-Mobile USA|an attempt in 2011]] to purchase [[T-Mobile US|T-Mobile]] for a $39 billion stock and cash offer.<ref name="abc">{{cite news |date=March 20, 2011 |title = AT&T to Buy T-Mobile USA for $39&nbsp;billion |newspaper = [[The New York Times]] |url = https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/att-to-buy-t-mobile-usa-for-39-billion/?hp |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110322105956/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/att-to-buy-t-mobile-usa-for-39-billion/?hp |archive-date=March 22, 2011 }}</ref> The bid was withdrawn after the takeover company was faced with significant regulatory and legal hurdles, along with heavy resistance from the U.S. government. As per the original acquisition agreement, T-Mobile received $3 billion in cash as well as access to $1 billion worth of AT&T-held wireless spectrum.<ref>{{cite web |author = AT&T |date = December 19, 2011 |title = AT&T Ends Bid To Add Network Capacity Through T-Mobile USA Purchase |url = http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=22146&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=33560&mapcode=corporate%7Cwireless-networks-general |access-date = December 19, 2011 |website = AT&T |archive-date = July 21, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150721114105/http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=22146&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=33560&mapcode=corporate%7Cwireless-networks-general |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Timothy B. |date=December 19, 2011 |title=AT&T admits defeat on T-Mobile takeover, will pay $4 billion breakup fee |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2011/12/att-admits-defeat-on-t-mobile-takeover-will-pay-4-billion-breakup-fee/ |access-date=October 8, 2020 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |archive-date=October 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008213842/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2011/12/att-admits-defeat-on-t-mobile-takeover-will-pay-4-billion-breakup-fee/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2013, AT&T announced it would expand into [[Latin America]] through a collaboration with [[América Móvil]].<ref>{{cite news |last= Carew |first = Sinead |date=September 18, 2013 |title = AT&T to expand in Latin America with America Movil deal |work=[[Reuters]] |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-att-americamovil-idUSBRE98H02Z20130918 |url-status=live |access-date=September 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924184845/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/18/us-att-americamovil-idUSBRE98H02Z20130918 |archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref> In December 2013, AT&T announced plans to sell its Connecticut wireline operations to Stamford-based [[Frontier Communications]].<ref>{{cite web |author=AT&T |date=December 17, 2013 |title=AT&T Announces Plans to Sell Connecticut Wireline Operations to Frontier Communications for $2.0 Billion |website=AT&T |url = http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=25160&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=37344 |url-status=live |access-date=December 18, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224345/http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=25160&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=37344 |archive-date=December 17, 2013}}</ref>

AT&T acquired [[BellSouth|BellSouth Corporation]] on December 29, 2006, following [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] approval.<ref>{{cite news |last= Bajaj |first= Vikas |date= December 30, 2006 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/30/business/30tele.html |title= BellSouth and AT&T Close Deal |newspaper= [[The New York Times]] |access-date= April 22, 2021 |quote= Federal regulators approved AT&T's $85.8 billion acquisition of BellSouth yesterday, allowing the companies to close their delayed deal. |archive-date= April 23, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210423035751/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/30/business/30tele.html |url-status= live }}</ref> The transaction consolidated ownership and management of Cingular Wireless.<ref>{{cite news |last= Vorman |first= Julie |date= January 21, 2007 |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/businesspro-bellsouth-fcc-dc/att-closes-86-billion-bellsouth-deal-idUSWBT00636120061230 |title= AT&T closes $86 billion BellSouth deal |work= [[Reuters]] |access-date= April 22, 2021 |quote= Now four of the seven companies that were spun off from the original AT&T in 1984 are back under one roof, and it includes 66.1 million telephone lines, 58.7 million Cingular Wireless customers and 11.6 million high-speed Internet customers. |archive-date= April 25, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210425014719/https://www.reuters.com/article/businesspro-bellsouth-fcc-dc/att-closes-86-billion-bellsouth-deal-idUSWBT00636120061230 |url-status= live }}</ref> AT&T rebranded its wireless retail stores from Cingular to AT&T in January 2007.<ref>{{cite news |last= Searcey |first= Dionne |date= January 12, 2007 |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116855760238674492 |title= Bye, Cingular, in AT&T Rebranding |newspaper= [[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date= April 22, 2021 |quote= But in the long term, Mr. Lerman said, AT&T will benefit from the efficiency of having its well-known name appear on all its services. AT&T executives wouldn't say how much the rebranding will cost as they change signs in roughly 2,000 stores as well as employee uniforms and billing letterhead. But executives estimate 20% of the expected operating-expense savings from the merger will come from advertising, because of the single AT&T brand. |archive-date= April 23, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210423035751/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116855760238674492 |url-status= live }}</ref>

=== Recent developments (2013–present) ===
{{See also|History of AT&T#Recent developments (2013–present)}}
In late 2014, AT&T purchased Mexican cellular carrier [[Iusacell]],<ref name="androidcentral.com">{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Chuong |date=November 7, 2014 |title=AT&T to expand North American coverage area with Mexico carrier Iusacell acquisition |url=http://www.androidcentral.com/att-expand-north-american-coverage-area-mexico-carrier-iusacell-acquisition |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103231304/http://www.androidcentral.com/att-expand-north-american-coverage-area-mexico-carrier-iusacell-acquisition |archive-date=January 3, 2016 |access-date=January 1, 2016 |website=Android Central}}</ref> and two months later, it purchased the Mexican wireless business of [[NII Holdings]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2015 |title=AT&T to buy NII Holdings' wireless business in Mexico |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-niiholdings-divestment-at-t-idUSKBN0KZ17820150126 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918215427/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/26/us-niiholdings-divestment-at-t-idUSKBN0KZ17820150126 |archive-date=September 18, 2015 |access-date=January 1, 2016 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> AT&T merged the two companies to create [[AT&T Mexico]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2015 |title=Report: AT&T in talks to tap Mexico towers |url=https://www.rcrwireless.com/20150616/carriers/report-att-in-talks-to-tap-mexico-towers-tag2 |access-date=June 30, 2020 |website=RCR Wireless News |language=en-US |archive-date=October 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028090900/https://www.rcrwireless.com/20150616/carriers/report-att-in-talks-to-tap-mexico-towers-tag2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2015, AT&T purchased [[DirecTV]] for $48.5 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2015 |title=AT&T Completes Acquisition of DirecTV |url=http://about.att.com/story/att_completes_acquisition_of_directv.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129024321/http://about.att.com/story/att_completes_acquisition_of_directv.html |archive-date=January 29, 2017 |access-date=January 1, 2016 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2015 |title=AT&T & DirecTV Merger Gets FCC Approval – With Conditions |url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/att-directv-merger-fcc-approval-1201484821/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725013408/http://deadline.com/2015/07/att-directv-merger-fcc-approval-1201484821/ |archive-date=July 25, 2015 |access-date=July 24, 2015 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2015 |title=FCC approves AT&T–DirecTV merger |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/7/24/8876267/att-directv-merger-approved |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724230531/http://www.theverge.com/2015/7/24/8876267/att-directv-merger-approved |archive-date=July 24, 2015 |access-date=July 24, 2015 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> AT&T then announced plans to converge its existing U-verse home internet and IPTV brands with [[DirecTV]], to create [[AT&T Entertainment]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bode |first=Karl |date=December 2, 2015 |title=AT&T Plans on Killing the DirecTV Name Starting in January |url=http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Plans-on-Killing-the-DirecTV-Name-Starting-in-January-135765 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208044449/http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Plans-on-Killing-the-DirecTV-Name-Starting-in-January-135765 |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=December 2, 2015 |website=DSL Reports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Farrell |first=Mike |date=December 2, 2015 |title=AT&T Enters Next Phase in DirecTV Branding |url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/distribution/att-enters-next-phase-directv-branding/395664 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204094054/http://www.multichannel.com/news/distribution/att-enters-next-phase-directv-branding/395664 |archive-date=December 4, 2015 |access-date=December 3, 2015 |website=MultiChannel News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=April 26, 2016 |title=AT&T Sees DirecTV, Broadband Subscriber Gains in Q1 as U-verse Fades |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/att-directv-u-verse-earnings-1201761111/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427151417/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/att-directv-u-verse-earnings-1201761111/ |archive-date=April 27, 2016 |access-date=April 28, 2016 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

On October 22, 2016, AT&T announced a deal to buy [[Time Warner]] for $108.7 billion in an effort to increase its media holdings.<ref name="discucssesideaholdings">{{Cite news |last1=Hammond |first1=Ed |last2=Sherman |first2=Alex |last3=Moritz |first3=Scott |date=October 20, 2016 |title=AT&T Discussed Idea of Takeover in Time Warner Meetings |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-20/at-t-said-to-discuss-idea-of-takeover-in-time-warner-meetings |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021013535/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-20/at-t-said-to-discuss-idea-of-takeover-in-time-warner-meetings |archive-date=October 21, 2016 |access-date=October 20, 2016 |newspaper=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]}}</ref><ref name="asutotoincrease">{{Cite web |last=Yu |first=Robert |date=October 20, 2016 |title=Report: AT&T considering buying Time Warner |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/10/20/report-t-considering-buying-time-warner/92475270/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024233649/http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/10/20/report-t-considering-buying-time-warner/92475270/ |archive-date=October 24, 2016 |access-date=October 20, 2016 |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref name="advancedtalksa">{{Cite web |last1=Hagey |first1=Keach |last2=Sharma |first2=Amol |last3=Cimilluca |first3=Dana |date=October 21, 2016 |title=AT&T Is in Advanced Talks to Acquire Time Warner |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/at-t-is-in-advanced-talks-to-acquire-time-warner-1477061850 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022013505/http://www.wsj.com/articles/at-t-is-in-advanced-talks-to-acquire-time-warner-1477061850 |archive-date=October 22, 2016 |access-date=October 21, 2016 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yu |first=Roger |date=October 22, 2016 |title=AT&T agrees to buy Time Warner for more than $80B |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/10/22/reports-t-agrees-buy-time-warner-more-than-80b/92589816/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023013659/http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/10/22/reports-t-agrees-buy-time-warner-more-than-80b/92589816/ |archive-date=October 23, 2016 |access-date=October 22, 2016 |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Gryta |first1=Thomas |last2=Hagey |first2=Keach |last3=Cimilluca |first3=Dana |date=October 22, 2016 |title=AT&T Reaches Deal to Buy Time Warner for $86 Billion |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/at-t-reaches-deal-to-buy-time-warner-for-more-than-80-billion-1477157084 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023013659/http://www.wsj.com/articles/at-t-reaches-deal-to-buy-time-warner-for-more-than-80-billion-1477157084 |archive-date=October 23, 2016 |access-date=October 22, 2016 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=October 22, 2016 |title=AT&T Sets $85.4 Billion Time Warner Deal, CEOs Talk 'Unique' Potential of Combination |url=https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/att-time-warner-deal-1201897938/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023204133/http://variety.com/2016/biz/news/att-time-warner-deal-1201897938/ |archive-date=October 23, 2016 |access-date=October 23, 2016 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> On November 20, 2017, Assistant Attorney General [[Makan Delrahim]] filed a lawsuit for the [[United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division]] to block the merger with Time Warner, saying it "will harm competition, result in higher bills for consumers and less innovation."<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 20, 2017 |title=Justice Department sues to block AT&T-Time Warner merger |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/att-time-warner-merger-justice-department-antitrust/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120225324/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/att-time-warner-merger-justice-department-antitrust/ |archive-date=November 20, 2017 |access-date=November 20, 2017 |website=[[CBS News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Fung |first=Brian |date=November 21, 2017 |title=The Justice Department is suing AT&T to block its $85 billion bid for Time Warner |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/11/20/the-justice-department-just-sued-att-to-block-its-85-billion-bid-for-time-warner/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121061809/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/11/20/the-justice-department-just-sued-att-to-block-its-85-billion-bid-for-time-warner/ |archive-date=November 21, 2017 |access-date=November 21, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> On June 12, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge [[Richard J. Leon]] ruled that the merger could go forward.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ivanova |first=Irina |date=June 12, 2018 |title=Judge approves AT&T-Time Warner merger without conditions |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/att-time-warner-merger-approved-without-conditions-judge-rules-today-time-warner-stock-price-rises-in-after-hours-trading/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613041013/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/att-time-warner-merger-approved-without-conditions-judge-rules-today-time-warner-stock-price-rises-in-after-hours-trading/ |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |access-date=June 12, 2018 |website=[[CBS News]]}}</ref> The merger closed two days afterwards, with Time Warner becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T. A day later, the company was renamed WarnerMedia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2018 |title=AT&T Completes Acquisition of Time Warner Inc |url=http://about.att.com/story/att_completes_acquisition_of_time_warner_inc.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615011751/http://about.att.com/story/att_completes_acquisition_of_time_warner_inc.html |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=June 15, 2018 |website=AT&T}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chmielewski |first=Dawn C. |date=June 14, 2018 |title=AT&T Completes $85B Acquisition Of Time Warner |url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/att-completes-time-warner-acquisition-1202411103/ |access-date=August 14, 2020 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |language=en |archive-date=November 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119214347/https://deadline.com/2018/06/att-completes-time-warner-acquisition-1202411103/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Three months after completing the acquisition, AT&T reorganized into four main units: Communications, including consumer and business wireline telephony, AT&T Mobility, and consumer entertainment video services; WarnerMedia, including Turner cable television networks, [[Warner Bros.]] film and television production, and [[HBO]]; AT&T Latin America, consisting of wireless service in Mexico and video in Latin America and the Caribbean under the [[Vrio Corp.|Vrio]] brand; and Advertising and Analytics, since renamed [[Xandr]].<ref name="otp.tools.investis.com">{{Cite web |title=SEC-Show |url=https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/atnt2/sec/sec-show.aspx?Type=html&FilingId=12972266&CIK=0000732717&Index=10000 |website=otp.tools.investis.com |access-date=September 21, 2018 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224022459/https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/atnt2/sec/sec-show.aspx?Type=html&FilingId=12972266&CIK=0000732717&Index=10000 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Betz |first=Brandy |date=September 21, 2018 |title=AT&T revises segment structure on Time Warner buy |url=https://seekingalpha.com/news/3392053-t-revises-segment-structure-time-warner-buy |website=Seeking Alpha |access-date=September 21, 2018 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726125732/https://seekingalpha.com/news/3392053-t-revises-segment-structure-time-warner-buy |url-status=live }}</ref>

On July 13, 2017, it was reported that AT&T would introduce a [[cloud computing|cloud-based]] [[Digital video recorder|DVR]] streaming service. It hoped to create a unified platform across DirecTV and its [[DirecTV Now]] streaming service, with [[AT&T U-verse|U-verse]] to be added shortly afterward.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawler |first=Richard |date=July 13, 2017 |title=AT&T's 'next-gen' TV platform rollout will start on DirecTV Now |url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/07/13/att-directv-now-next-gen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713131555/https://www.engadget.com/2017/07/13/att-directv-now-next-gen/ |archive-date=July 13, 2017 |access-date=July 13, 2017 |website=Engadget}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lieberman |first=David |date=July 13, 2017 |title=AT&T To Offer Cloud-Based DVR To Streaming Services |url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/att-offer-cloud-based-dvr-streaming-services-1202127918/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713153337/http://deadline.com/2017/07/att-offer-cloud-based-dvr-streaming-services-1202127918/ |archive-date=July 13, 2017 |access-date=July 13, 2017 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frankel |first=Daniel |date=July 13, 2017 |title=DirecTV Now to finally get cloud DVR as part of AT&T video platform rollout |url=http://www.fiercecable.com/cable/directv-now-to-finally-get-cloud-dvr-as-part-at-t-video-platform-rollout |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723024302/http://www.fiercecable.com/cable/directv-now-to-finally-get-cloud-dvr-as-part-at-t-video-platform-rollout |archive-date=July 23, 2017 |access-date=July 13, 2017 |website=Fierce Cable}}</ref> The service, named [[HBO Max]], launched in May 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Welch |first=Chris |date=July 9, 2019 |title=WarnerMedia confirms its Netflix rival will be called HBO Max |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/9/20687792/hbo-max-warnermedia-announcement-friends-streaming-details-subscription-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822095403/https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/9/20687792/hbo-max-warnermedia-announcement-friends-streaming-details-subscription-service |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |access-date=August 23, 2019 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

On September 12, 2017, it was reported that AT&T planned to launch a new cable TV-like service for delivery over-the-top over its own or a competitor's broadband network sometime the following year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Engebretson |first=Joan |date=September 12, 2017 |title=AT&T CEO: Bye-Bye DirecTV, Hello AT&T OTT Video |url=http://www.telecompetitor.com/att-ceo-bye-bye-directv-hello-att-ott-video/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914035457/http://www.telecompetitor.com/att-ceo-bye-bye-directv-hello-att-ott-video/ |archive-date=September 14, 2017 |access-date=September 13, 2017 |website=Telecompetitor}}</ref>

On March 7, 2018, the company prepared to sell a minority stake of DirecTV Latin America through an [[Initial public offering|IPO]], creating a new holding company for those assets named Vrio Corp.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 7, 2018 |title=AT&T Inc. Announces Filing of a Registration Statement for Potential IPO of Minority Stake in DIRECTV Latin America |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180307005563/en/ATT-Announces-Filing-Registration-Statement-Potential-IPO |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315220828/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180307005563/en/ATT-Announces-Filing-Registration-Statement-Potential-IPO |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |access-date=March 14, 2018 |website=Business Wire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=March 7, 2018 |title=AT&T's DirecTV Latin America Unit Files for IPO as Prelude to Possible Spinoff |url=https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/atts-directv-latin-america-ipo-spinoff-vrio-1202720505/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310070238/http://variety.com/2018/biz/news/atts-directv-latin-america-ipo-spinoff-vrio-1202720505/ |archive-date=March 10, 2018 |access-date=March 14, 2018 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> On April 18, just a day before the public debut of Vrio, AT&T canceled the IPO due to market conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 18, 2018 |title=AT&T Inc. Statement Regarding Planned Vrio Corp. IPO |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/att-inc-statement-regarding-planned-vrio-corp-ipo-300632663.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615004650/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/att-inc-statement-regarding-planned-vrio-corp-ipo-300632663.html |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=June 14, 2018 |website=PR Newswire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 19, 2018 |title=At the last minute, AT&T withdraws the planned IPO of its Vrio unit |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/19/at-the-last-minute-att-withdraws-the-planned-ipo-of-its-vrio-unit.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615004913/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/19/at-the-last-minute-att-withdraws-the-planned-ipo-of-its-vrio-unit.html |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=June 14, 2018 |website=[[CNBC]]|agency=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

{{as of|2019|post=,}} AT&T is the world's largest telecommunications company.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The World's Largest Telecom Companies 2019: AT&T, Verizon Hold On To Top Spots Amid 5G Buzz |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahhansen/2019/05/15/worlds-largest-telecom-companies-2019/ |date=May 15, 2019 |website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-date=June 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611074039/https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahhansen/2019/05/15/worlds-largest-telecom-companies-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref> AT&T is also the largest provider of mobile telephone<ref name="AT&T">{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2019 |title=Financial and Operational Trends |url=https://investors.att.com/~/media/Files/A/ATT-IR/financial-reports/quarterly-earnings/2019/2q-2019/2Q19_Trending_Schedules.pdf |access-date=August 18, 2019 |website=AT&T |archive-date=March 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303011427/https://investors.att.com/~/media/Files/A/ATT-IR/financial-reports/quarterly-earnings/2019/2q-2019/2Q19_Trending_Schedules.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Verizon Wireless">{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2019 |title=Financial and Operating Information |url=https://www.verizon.com/about/file/36103/download?token=R4-WHI7h |access-date=August 18, 2019 |website=Verizon |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806231405/https://www.verizon.com/about/file/36103/download%3Ftoken%3DR4-WHI7h |url-status=live }}</ref> services and the largest provider of [[telephone|fixed telephone]] (landline) services in the United States.<ref name="LRG">Leichtman Research Group, [http://www.leichtmanresearch.com/research/notes04_2012.pdf "Research Notes,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020173306/http://www.leichtmanresearch.com/research/notes04_2012.pdf |date=October 20, 2016}} First Quarter 2012, pg. 6, AT&T (#1) with 21,232,000 residential phone lines.</ref>

In September 2019, [[activist investor]] [[Elliott Management Corporation|Elliott Management]] revealed that it had purchased $3.2 billion of AT&T stock (a 1.2% equity interest), and had pushed for the company to divest assets to improve its share value.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Franck |first=Thomas |title=AT&T shares rally after activist Elliott Management takes $3.2 billion stake, sees stock worth $60 |website=[[CNBC]] |date=September 9, 2019 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/09/att-shares-jump-after-activist-elliot-management-takes-stake-sees-shares-nearly-doubling.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910011933/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/09/att-shares-jump-after-activist-elliot-management-takes-stake-sees-shares-nearly-doubling.html |archive-date=September 10, 2019 |access-date=September 9, 2019}}</ref>

On March 4, 2020, AT&T announced its intent to perform major cost-cutting moves, including cuts to capital investment, and plans to promote [[AT&T TV]] (which officially launched nationally on March 2) as its primary pay television service offering. AT&T stated it would still primarily promote DirecTV "where cable broadband is not prevalent", and as a specialty option.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=March 4, 2020 |title=Struggling AT&T plans "tens of billions" in cost cuts, more layoffs |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/03/struggling-att-plans-tens-of-billions-in-cost-cuts-more-layoffs/ |access-date=March 4, 2020 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=March 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318212102/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/03/struggling-att-plans-tens-of-billions-in-cost-cuts-more-layoffs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 24, 2020, AT&T announced that effective July 1, 2020, company COO [[John Stankey]] would replace [[Randall L. Stephenson]] as CEO of AT&T.<ref name="newceo">{{Cite web |last=Feiner |first=Lauren |date=April 24, 2020 |title=AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson to step down, COO Stankey to take over |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/24/att-ceo-randall-stephenson-to-step-down.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925205448/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/24/att-ceo-randall-stephenson-to-step-down.html |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |website=[[CNBC]]}}</ref> It was also acknowledged that AT&T's acquisitions of DirecTV and Time Warner had by this point resulted in a massive debt burden of $200 billion for the company.<ref name="newceo" />

As a result of planned cost cutting programs, the sale of [[Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]] was proposed, but ultimately abandoned due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]]-related growth in the video gaming industry, as well as a positive reception to upcoming [[DC Comics]], [[Lego]] ''[[Star Wars]],'' and ''[[Harry Potter]]'' titles from fans and critics.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Nabila |last2=Moritz |first2=Scott |date=September 1, 2020 |title=AT&T to Scrap Sale of Warner Bros. Video-Game Unit |language=en |work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-01/at-t-is-said-to-scrap-sale-of-warner-bros-video-game-unit |url-status=live |access-date=October 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904021610/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-01/at-t-is-said-to-scrap-sale-of-warner-bros-video-game-unit |archive-date=September 4, 2020}}</ref>

[[Crunchyroll]] was sold to [[Sony]]'s [[Funimation]] for {{USD|1.175 billion}} in December 2020, with the acquisition closing in August 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/12/9/21547657/sonys-funimation-acquires-crunchyroll-deal-price-watching-anime |title=Sony's Funimation acquires anime streaming service Crunchyroll for $1.175 billion |first=D.M. |last=Moore |date=December 9, 2020 |access-date=December 9, 2020 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202182322/https://www.polygon.com/2020/12/9/21547657/sonys-funimation-acquires-crunchyroll-deal-price-watching-anime |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|date=August 9, 2021|title=Sony's Funimation Global Group Completes Acquisition of Crunchyroll from AT&T|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-08-09/sony-funimation-global-group-completes-acquisition-of-crunchyroll-from-at-t/.176073|access-date=August 9, 2021|website=[[Anime News Network]]|archive-date=August 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809205048/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-08-09/sony-funimation-global-group-completes-acquisition-of-crunchyroll-from-at-t/.176073|url-status=live}}</ref>

On February 25, 2021, AT&T announced that it would spin-off DirecTV, U-Verse TV, and DirecTV Stream into a separate entity, selling a 30% stake to [[TPG Capital]] (owners of [[Astound Broadband]] cable), while retaining a 70% stake in the new standalone company. The deal was closed on August 2, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=February 25, 2021 |title=WarnerMedia Parent AT&T Sells DirecTV Stake To Private Equity Firm TPG |url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/att-deal-directv-with-private-equity-firm-tpg-1234701305/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |access-date=February 11, 2022 |archive-date=September 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922021134/https://deadline.com/2021/02/att-deal-directv-with-private-equity-firm-tpg-1234701305/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=AT&T Completes DirecTV Spinoff; Satellite Operator Unites Its Internet-Delivered Bundles Under New Brand DirecTV Stream|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/att-directv-spinoff-tpg-streaming-bundles-warnermedia-1234807615/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Dade|last=Hayes|date=August 2, 2021|access-date=February 11, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230054624/https://deadline.com/2021/08/att-directv-spinoff-tpg-streaming-bundles-warnermedia-1234807615/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 17, 2021, AT&T announced plans to relinquish its equity interest in [[WarnerMedia]], and have it merge with [[Discovery, Inc.]] in a {{USD|43 billion}} deal to establish a new media company.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/17/media/warnermedia-discovery-deal/index.html|work=[[CNN]]|title=AT&T spins off WarnerMedia, combines it with Discovery|date=17 May 2021|first=Brian|last=Stelter|access-date=May 17, 2021|archive-date=May 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517124915/https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/17/media/warnermedia-discovery-deal/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Electronic Arts]], which was a bidder in the proposed sale of Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment, purchased the mobile gaming studio Playdemic from WBIE for {{USD|1.4 billion}} in June 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://deadline.com/2021/06/att-warnermedia-playdemic-mobile-game-studio-electronic-arts-1234780023/ | title = AT&T, WarnerMedia Sell Playdemic Mobile Game Studio To Electronic Arts For $1.4 Billion | first = Jill | last = Goldsmith | date = June 23, 2021 | access-date = June 23, 2021 | work = [[Deadline Hollywood]] | archive-date = March 31, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220331075838/https://deadline.com/2021/06/att-warnermedia-playdemic-mobile-game-studio-electronic-arts-1234780023/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

In September 2021, Fox Corporation acquired [[TMZ]] from [[WarnerMedia]] in a deal worth about $50 million with TMZ being operated under the [[Fox Entertainment]] division.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |title=Fox Entertainment Closes Acquisition Of TMZ From WarnerMedia |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/fox-entertainment-closes-acquisition-tmz-201509654.html |website=[[Yahoo!]] |access-date=13 September 2021 |date=13 September 2021 |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306024956/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/fox-entertainment-closes-acquisition-tmz-201509654.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On December 21, 2021, AT&T announced that they had agreed to sell Xandr (and [[AppNexus]]) to [[Microsoft]] for an undisclosed price.<ref>{{cite web|title=Microsoft to buy Xandr ad marketplace from AT&T|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-to-buy-xandr-ad-marketplace-from-at-t/|work=[[ZDNet]]|first=Mary Jo|last=Foley|date=December 21, 2021|access-date=December 21, 2021|archive-date=December 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221151043/https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-to-buy-xandr-ad-marketplace-from-at-t/|url-status=live}}</ref> The deal was completed in June 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://searchengineland.com/microsoft-atts-xandr-acquisition-complete-385631|title= Microsoft, AT&T's Xandr acquisition complete|website= SearchEngine Land|first= Nicole|last= Farley|date= June 6, 2022|access-date= June 10, 2022|archive-date= June 9, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220609212235/https://searchengineland.com/microsoft-atts-xandr-acquisition-complete-385631|url-status= live}}</ref>

On April 8, 2022, the spinoff of WarnerMedia and its subsequent merger with Discovery, Inc. to form [[Warner Bros. Discovery]] was completed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Koblin|first=John|date=April 8, 2022|title=Hollywood Gets a New Giant|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/08/business/media/discovery-warner-media.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 8, 2022|archive-date=October 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013195439/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/08/business/media/discovery-warner-media.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result of this merger, HBO Max and other video services were dropped from AT&T's unlimited plan offering.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shakir |first=Umar |date=2022-06-10 |title=New AT&T subscribers will no longer get HBO Max (or any other video service) |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/10/23162832/att-drops-hbo-max-carrier-perk-unlimited-plan |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=[[The Verge]] |language=en |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613194719/https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/10/23162832/att-drops-hbo-max-carrier-perk-unlimited-plan |url-status=live }}</ref>

AT&T was one of several clients of [[Snowflake Inc.]] that had data stolen in a 2024 breach.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gorrivan |first1=Charles |last2=Ford |first2=Brody |title=Toll of Snowflake Hack Widens With Theft of AT&T Text, Calling Data |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-12/at-t-hack-part-of-snowflake-customer-cyberattack-campaign |access-date=13 July 2024 |work=Bloomberg.com |date=12 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Phone and text logs from May 1, 2022 to October 31, 2022 of "nearly all" AT&T customers were exposed as part of the breach.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sanders |first1=Hank |title=Are You an AT&T Customer? Here's What to Know About the Data Breach |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/12/us/phone-data-breach.html |access-date=13 July 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=12 July 2024}}</ref> AT&T was also reported to have been affected by a 2024 [[2024 U.S. internet service provider hack|attack]] from the [[Salt Typhoon]] [[advanced persistent threat]] linked to the [[Government of China|Chinese government]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krouse |first=Sarah |last2=Volz |first2=Dustin |last3=Viswanatha |first3=Aruna |last4=McMillan |first4=Robert |date=October 5, 2024 |title=U.S. Wiretap Systems Targeted in China-Linked Hack |url=https://www.wsj.com/tech/cybersecurity/u-s-wiretap-systems-targeted-in-china-linked-hack-327fc63b |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2024 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>

== Landline operating companies ==
Of the eight companies that were part of the Breakup of the Bell System, these five are a part of the current AT&T:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agreements Between SNET America, Inc. (SAI) DBA AT&T Long Distance East, and AT&T Telephone Companies |url=http://www.att.com/gen/public-affairs?pid=8101 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011214558/http://att.com/gen/public-affairs?pid=8101 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=September 29, 2007 |website=AT&T}}</ref>
* [[Ameritech]], acquired by SBC in 1999
* AT&T Corp., acquired by SBC in 2005
* BellSouth, acquired by AT&T in 2006
* [[Pacific Telesis]], acquired by SBC in 1997
* [[Southwestern Bell]], rebranded as [[SBC Communications]] in 1995

=== Baby Bells chart ===
{{Main|Regional Bell Operating Company}}
{{AT&T chart}} <!-- To edit go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:AT%26T_chart -->

=== Current states ===
AT&T's wireline business provides services in 22 states.<ref>[https://www.att.com/local/internet Select your state to find service near you]</ref>

* Alabama
* Arkansas
* Arizona
* California
* Florida
* Georgia
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Michigan
* Missouri
* Mississippi
* North Carolina
* Nevada
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* South Carolina
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Wisconsin

=== Former operating companies ===
The following companies have become defunct or were sold under SBC/AT&T ownership:

*[[Woodbury Telephone]] merged with Southern New England Telephone on June 1, 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dan Haar |date=October 23, 1996 |title=SNET To Buy Woodbury Telephone |url=https://www.courant.com/1996/10/23/snet-to-buy-woodbury-telephone/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319150626/http://articles.courant.com/1996-10-23/business/9610230018_1_snet-woodbury-s-president-woodbury-telephone |archive-date=March 19, 2012 |access-date=March 9, 2018 |newspaper=The Hartford Courant}}</ref>
* [[Southern New England Telephone]] was sold to Frontier Communications in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dan Haar column: AT&T Selling Connecticut Operations to Frontier |language=en |work=tribunedigital-thecourant |url=https://www.courant.com/2013/12/17/att-selling-connecticut-operations-to-frontier/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813122833/http://articles.courant.com/2013-12-17/business/hc-haar-snet-att-frontier-merger-20131217_1_frontier-communications-connecticut-operations-wireline |archive-date=August 13, 2017}}</ref>

=== Decline of rural landlines ===
Of the [[Baby Bell]]s, Ameritech sold some of its [[Wisconsin]] landlines to [[CenturyTel]], in 1998; BellSouth sold some of its lines to MebTel, during the 2000s; [[US West]] sold many historically Bell landlines to Lynch Communications and [[Pacific Telecom]], in the 1990s; [[Verizon]] sold many of its [[Verizon New England|New England]] lines to [[FairPoint Communications|FairPoint]], in 2008, and its [[Frontier West Virginia|West Virginia]] operations to Frontier Communications, in 2010.

On October 25, 2014, Frontier Communications took over control of the AT&T landline network in Connecticut after being approved by state utility regulators. The deal was worth about $2 billion, and included Frontier inheriting about 2,500 of AT&T's employees and many of AT&T's buildings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turmelle |first=Luther |date=October 24, 2014 |title=Frontier takes over AT&T landline service Saturday |url=http://www.nhregister.com/business/20141024/frontier-takes-over-att-landline-service-saturday |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231938/http://www.nhregister.com/business/20141024/frontier-takes-over-att-landline-service-saturday |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=January 7, 2016 |website=New Haven Register}}</ref>

== Corporate structure ==
[[File:AT&TOrange.JPG|thumb|AT&T office in [[San Antonio]], Texas]]

=== Facilities and regions ===
{{expand section|date=November 2016}}
The company is headquartered at Whitacre Tower in [[downtown]] Dallas, Texas.<ref name="Jbodonkor" /> On June 27, 2008, AT&T announced that it would move its corporate headquarters from downtown San Antonio to [[One AT&T Plaza]] in downtown Dallas.<ref name="Jbodonkor" /><ref>"[http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=1916 Corporate Inquiries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319011856/http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=1916 |date=March 19, 2009}}." ''AT&T''. Retrieved March 25, 2009.</ref> The company said that it moved to gain better access to its customers and operations throughout the world, and to the key technology partners, suppliers, innovation and human resources needed as it continues to grow, domestically and internationally.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 27, 2008 |title=AT&T moving headquarters to Dallas from San Antonio |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/062808dnbusattmove.4515fb49.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704013741/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/062808dnbusattmove.4515fb49.html |archive-date=July 4, 2008 |work=Dallas News}}</ref> AT&T Inc. previously relocated its corporate headquarters to San Antonio from St. Louis, Missouri, in 1992, when it was then named Southwestern Bell Corporation. The company's Telecom Operations group, which serves residential and regional business customers in 22 U.S. states, remains in San Antonio.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anders |first1=David |date=April 21, 2022 |title=Need Home Internet Service? Find the Internet Providers in Your Area |url=https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/internet-providers-in-my-area/ |url-status=live |work=[[CNET]] |publication-date=April 21, 2022 |agency=Red Ventures |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307165031/https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/internet-providers-in-my-area/ |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |access-date=May 5, 2022 |url-access= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Paul |first1=Trey |date=April 20, 2022 |title=AT&T Home Internet Review: Fiber's Nice, but Think Twice on DSL |url=https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/att-internet-review/ |url-status=live |work=[[CNET]] |publication-date=April 20, 2022 |agency=Red Ventures |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506020603/https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/att-internet-review/ |archive-date=May 6, 2022 |access-date=May 5, 2022 |url-access= }}</ref> Atlanta, Georgia, continues to be the headquarters for AT&T Mobility, with significant offices in Redmond, Washington, the former home of [[AT&T Wireless Services|AT&T Wireless]]. Bedminster, New Jersey, is the headquarters for the company's Global Business Services group and AT&T Labs and is where the original AT&T Corp. remains located. St. Louis continues as home to the company's Directory operations, [[AT&T Advertising Solutions]].<ref>{{cite web|date=June 27, 2008|url=http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=25882|title=AT&T Corporate Headquarters to Move to Dallas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828161432/http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=25882 |archive-date=August 28, 2008}}</ref>

AT&T also offers services in many locations throughout the [[Asia-Pacific|Asia Pacific]]; its regional headquarters is located in Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corp.att.com |url=http://www.corp.att.com/ap/about/where/hk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126131243/http://www.corp.att.com/ap/about/where/hk/ |archive-date=November 26, 2011 |access-date=November 28, 2011 |website=AT&T}}</ref> The company is also active in Mexico, and on November 7, 2014, it was announced that Mexican carrier Iusacell would be acquired by AT&T.<ref name="androidcentral.com" /> The acquisition was approved in January 2015.<ref>{{cite web|first=Roger|last=Cheng|website=CNET|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/done-deal-at-t-closes-2-5-billion-purchase-of-mexicos-iusacell/ |title=Done deal: AT&T closes $2.5 billion purchase of Mexico's Iusacell|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105123138/https://www.cnet.com/news/done-deal-at-t-closes-2-5-billion-purchase-of-mexicos-iusacell/|archive-date=January 5, 2018|date=January 16, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Phil|last=Goldstein|newspaper=Fierce Wireless|url=https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/at-t-closes-2-5b-deal-for-mexican-operator-iusacell|title=AT&T closes $2.5B deal for Mexican operator Iusacell|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105180413/https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/at-t-closes-2-5b-deal-for-mexican-operator-iusacell |archive-date=January 5, 2018|date=January 16, 2015|access-date=January 4, 2018}}</ref> On April 30, 2015, AT&T acquired wireless operations Nextel Mexico from NII Holdings (now AT&T Mexico).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meyer |first=Dan |date=April 25, 2015 |title=AT&T bolsters Mexico operations with closing of Nextel Mexico deal |url=http://www.rcrwireless.com/20150430/carriers/att-bolsters-mexico-operations-with-closing-of-nextel-mexico-deal-tag2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024221135/http://www.rcrwireless.com/20150430/carriers/att-bolsters-mexico-operations-with-closing-of-nextel-mexico-deal-tag2 |archive-date=October 24, 2016 |access-date=October 24, 2016 |website=RCR Wireless News}}</ref>

=== Corporate governance ===
{{See also|Category:AT&T people}}
[[File:Randall Stephenson, CEO of AT&T.jpg|thumb|CEO [[Randall L. Stephenson]] at the 2008 [[World Economic Forum]]]]
AT&T's current [[board of directors]] {{as of|2024|March|lc=y|df=US|post=:}}<ref name="bodirectorso">{{cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=https://investors.att.com/corporate-governance/board-of-directors |website=AT&T |access-date=9 March 2024 |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807203144/https://investors.att.com/corporate-governance/board-of-directors |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=300px|rules=yes|
* [[William Kennard]] – [[Chairperson|Chairman]]
* [[Scott T. Ford]]
* [[Glenn Hutchins]]
* [[Stephen J. Luczo]]
* [[Marissa Mayer]]
* [[Michael McCallister]]
* [[Beth E. Mooney]]
* [[Matthew K. Rose]]
* [[John Stankey]]
* Cynthia B. Taylor
* [[Luis Ubiñas]]
}}

The current management {{as of|2024|March|lc=y|df=}} includes:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leadership |website=AT&T |url=https://investors.att.com/corporate-governance/leadership |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223024455/https://investors.att.com/corporate-governance/leadership |archive-date=February 23, 2024 |access-date=March 9, 2024}}</ref>
* [[John Stankey]] – [[Chief executive officer]]
* Thaddeus Arroyo – Chief Strategy and Development Officer
* Pascal Desroches – Senior Executive Vice President & [[Chief financial officer]]
* [[Ed Gillespie]] – Senior Executive Vice President - External and Legislative Affairs
* Kellyn Smith Kenny – Chief Marketing & Growth Officer
* Lori Lee – CEO – AT&T Latin America & Global Marketing Officer
* Jeremy Legg – Chief Technology Officer, AT&T Services, Inc.
* David R. McAtee II – Senior Executive Vice President and [[General counsel]]
* Jeff McElfresh – [[Chief operating officer]]

== Political involvement ==
{{Update section|date=June 2018}}
According to [[OpenSecrets]], AT&T was the fourteenth-largest donor to United States federal political campaigns and committees from 1989 to 2019,<ref name="osorghh2011">{{Cite web |year=2020 |title=Top Organization Contributors |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?cycle=ALL |access-date=January 2, 2020 |website=[[OpenSecrets]] |location=United States |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230184031/http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?cycle=ALL |url-status=live }}</ref> having contributed more than {{US$|84.1 million}}, 42% of which went to [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 58% of which went to [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]]. In 2005, AT&T was among 53 entities that contributed the maximum of $250,000 to the second inauguration of President [[George W. Bush]].<ref name="drinkard2005">{{Cite news |last=Drinkard |first=Jim |date=January 17, 2005 |title=Donors get good seats, great access this week |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inauguration-donors_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=May 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628235354/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inauguration-donors_x.htm |archive-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref><ref name="usatoday25may2008">{{Cite news |date=January 16, 2005 |title=Financing the inauguration |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inaugural-donors_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=May 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628235320/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inaugural-donors_x.htm |archive-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref><ref name="AP25may2005">{{Cite news |date=January 14, 2005 |title=Some question inaugural's multi-million price tag |work=[[USA Today]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-14-price_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=May 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628235330/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-14-price_x.htm |archive-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref> Bill Leahy, representing AT&T, sits on the Private Enterprise Board of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Private Enterprise Board |website=American Legislative Exchange Council |url=http://www.alec.org/about-alec/private-enterprise-board/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511000739/http://www.alec.org/about-alec/private-enterprise-board/ |archive-date=May 11, 2012 |access-date=May 11, 2012}}</ref> ALEC is a [[nonprofit organization]] of [[conservatism in the United States|conservative]] [[state legislature (United States)|state legislators]] and [[private sector]] representatives that drafts and shares model state-level legislation for distribution among state governments in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news |last=May|first=Clifford |date=August 30, 1987 |title=Transportation Chief Attacks Congress on Safety |work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/30/us/transportation-chief-attacks-congress-on-safety.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813143739/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/30/us/transportation-chief-attacks-congress-on-safety.html |archive-date=August 13, 2017}}</ref><ref name="fcir">{{Cite news |last=Goodman |first=Howard |date=March 23, 2013 |title=NRA's Behind-the-Scenes Campaign Encouraged 'Stand Your Ground' Adoption |work=[[Florida Center for Investigative Reporting]] |url=http://fcir.org/2012/03/23/nras-behind-the-scenes-campaign-encouraged-stand-your-ground-adoption-across-the-country/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404154558/http://fcir.org/2012/03/23/nras-behind-the-scenes-campaign-encouraged-stand-your-ground-adoption-across-the-country/ |archive-date=April 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Griffin |first=Marshall |date=January 14, 2014 |title='Right-to-work' bill praised and blasted in House committee hearing |work=[[KBIA]] |url=http://kbia.org/post/right-work-bill-praised-and-blasted-house-committee-hearing |url-status=live |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311233732/http://kbia.org/post/right-work-bill-praised-and-blasted-house-committee-hearing |archive-date=March 11, 2016}}</ref>

During the period of 1998 to 2019, the company expended {{US$|380.1 million}} on [[lobbying]] in the United States.<ref name="osorgatt2019">{{Cite web |year=2020 |title=AT&T Inc: Summary |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000076&cycle=A |access-date=January 2, 2020 |website=[[OpenSecrets]] |location=United States |archive-date=November 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110135351/http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?cycle=A&id=D000000076 |url-status=live }}</ref> A key political issue for AT&T has been the question of which businesses win the right to profit by providing broadband internet access in the United States.<ref name="osorgatt2007">{{Cite web |title=AT&T Inc |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.asp?ID=D000000076&Name=AT%26T+Inc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930035728/http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.asp?ID=D000000076&Name=AT&T+Inc |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=September 29, 2007 |website=[[OpenSecrets]]}}</ref> The company has also lobbied in support of several federal bills. AT&T supported the [[Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2013 (H.R. 3675; 113th Congress)]], a bill that would make a number of changes to procedures that the [[U.S. Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) follows in its rulemaking processes.<ref name="3675cbo">{{Cite web |title=H.R. 3675 - CBO |date=January 29, 2014 |url=http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45057 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312212828/http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45057 |archive-date=March 12, 2014 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |website=Congressional Budget Office}}</ref> The FCC would have to act in a more transparent way as a result of this bill, forced to accept public input about regulations.<ref name="PeteVotesTransparency">{{Cite news |last=Kasperowicz |first=Pete |date=March 11, 2014 |title=House votes for more transparency at the FCC |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/votes/200503-house-votes-for-more-transparency-at-the-fcc/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312074500/http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/votes/200503-house-votes-for-more-transparency-at-the-fcc |archive-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref> AT&T's Executive Vice President of Federal Relations, Tim McKone, said that the bill's "much needed institutional reforms will help arm the agency with the tools to keep pace with the Internet speed of today's marketplace. It will also ensure that outmoded regulatory practices for today's competitive marketplace are properly placed in the dustbin of history."<ref name="ATTblog">{{Cite web |last=McKone |first=Tim |date=December 11, 2013 |title=AT&T Statement on Bipartisan Spectrum and FCC Reform Legislation |url=http://www.attpublicpolicy.com/fcc/att-statement-on-bipartisan-spectrum-and-fcc-reform-legislation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312225128/http://www.attpublicpolicy.com/fcc/att-statement-on-bipartisan-spectrum-and-fcc-reform-legislation/ |archive-date=March 12, 2014 |access-date=March 12, 2014 |website=AT&T Public Policy Blog}}</ref>

In May 2018, reports emerged that AT&T made 12 monthly payments between January and December 2017 to Essential Consultants, a company set up by President [[Donald Trump]]'s lawyer [[Michael Cohen (lawyer)|Michael Cohen]], totaling $600,000.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bartz |first=Diane |date=May 9, 2018 |title=AT&T payments to Trump lawyer more than reported |work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-daniels-at-t/att-payments-to-trump-lawyer-more-than-reported-source-idUSKBN1IA2KK |url-status=live |access-date=May 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509222116/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-daniels-at-t/att-payments-to-trump-lawyer-more-than-reported-source-idUSKBN1IA2KK |archive-date=May 9, 2018}}</ref> Although initial reports on May 8 mentioned only four monthly payments totaling $200,000,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mangan |first1=Dan |last2=Breuninger |first2=Kevin |last3=Ruggiero |first3=Ryan |date=May 8, 2018 |title=AT&T confirms it paid Trump lawyer Michael Cohen for 'insights' on administration |work=[[CNBC]]|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/08/att-confirms-it-paid-trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-for-insights-on-administration.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510005726/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/08/att-confirms-it-paid-trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-for-insights-on-administration.html |archive-date=May 10, 2018}}</ref> documents obtained by the ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' on May 10 confirmed the figure of 12 payments, which had begun three days after the President was [[First inauguration of Donald Trump|sworn into office]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last1=Helderman |first1=Rosalind S. |last2=Fung |first2=Brian |last3=Hamburger |first3=Tom |date=May 10, 2018 |title=Cohen's $600,000 deal with AT&T specified he would advise on Time Warner merger, internal company records show |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cohens-600000-deal-with-atandt-specified-he-would-advise-on-time-warner-merger-internal-company-records-show/2018/05/10/cd541ae0-5468-11e8-a551-5b648abe29ef_story.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511000608/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cohens-600000-deal-with-atandt-specified-he-would-advise-on-time-warner-merger-internal-company-records-show/2018/05/10/cd541ae0-5468-11e8-a551-5b648abe29ef_story.html |archive-date=May 11, 2018 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Christine |date=May 10, 2018 |title=AT&T reportedly paid Michael Cohen for guidance on Time Warner deal |work=[[CNBC]]|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/10/att-reportedly-paid-michael-cohen-for-guidance-on-time-warner-deal.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511012806/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/10/att-reportedly-paid-michael-cohen-for-guidance-on-time-warner-deal.html |archive-date=May 11, 2018}}</ref> AT&T confirmed the report the same day.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Gold |first=Hadas |date=May 10, 2018 |title=AT&T confirms it paid Michael Cohen for consulting on Time Warner deal |work=CNNMoney |url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/10/media/att-michael-cohen/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511063705/https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/10/media/att-michael-cohen/index.html |archive-date=May 11, 2018}}</ref> The report from ''The Washington Post'', as well as additional reporting from [[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]], revealed the payments had been made for Cohen to "provide guidance" relating to the attempted $85 billion merger with [[Time Warner]],<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> to gain information on the Trump administration's planned tax reforms, as well as about potential changes to [[Net neutrality in the United States|net neutrality]] policies under the new FCC.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Turner |first1=Nick |last2=Moritz |first2=Scott |date=May 9, 2018 |title=AT&T Was Paying Trump's Lawyer While White House Turned Into Foe |work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-09/at-t-was-paying-trump-s-lawyer-as-administration-turned-into-foe |url-status=live |access-date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522181322/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-09/at-t-was-paying-trump-s-lawyer-as-administration-turned-into-foe |archive-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref> Chairman of the FCC [[Ajit Pai]] denied Cohen ever inquired about net neutrality on AT&T's behalf.<ref name=":02" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shields |first=Todd |date=May 10, 2018 |title='No' Cohen Inquiries on Net Neutrality on AT&T's Behalf, FCC Chairman Says |work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-10/-no-cohen-inquiries-to-fcc-on-net-neutrality-on-at-t-s-behalf |url-status=live |access-date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522181328/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-10/-no-cohen-inquiries-to-fcc-on-net-neutrality-on-at-t-s-behalf |archive-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref> A spokesperson for AT&T said that the company had been contacted by [[Special Counsel investigation (2017–present)|the Special Counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller]] regarding the payments, and had provided all the information requested in November and December 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Katie |last2=Kang |first2=Cecilia |date=May 9, 2018 |title=Novartis and AT&T Spoke to Mueller's Office About Payments to Michael Cohen |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/09/business/novartis-att-cohen-mueller.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509220529/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/09/business/novartis-att-cohen-mueller.html |archive-date=May 9, 2018 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mangan |first1=Dan |last2=Ruggiero |first2=Ryan |date=May 9, 2018 |title=AT&T says it was contacted by special counsel's office about Michael Cohen |work=[[CNBC]]|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/09/att-paid-trump-lawyer-cohen-up-to-6000000.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509231719/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/09/att-paid-trump-lawyer-cohen-up-to-6000000.html |archive-date=May 9, 2018}}</ref>

In early 2019, the Democratic [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary]] requested records related to the AT&T-Time Warner merger from the [[White House]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cristiano Lima |date=April 16, 2019 |title=White House denies House Democrats' AT&T-Time Warner records request |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/16/time-warner-merger-justice-department-1278013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416211241/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/16/time-warner-merger-justice-department-1278013 |archive-date=April 16, 2019 |access-date=April 16, 2019 |website=Politico }}</ref>

While it has expressed support for [[LGBTQ]] causes, AT&T has also donated to sponsors of anti-transgender legislation in several US states, especially those predominantly [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]-governed, including Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Texas and Florida.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Christian|last1=Spencer|access-date=2021-09-21|title=CVS, AT&T, Comcast and others donated to anti-LGBTQ+ politicians, new study finds|url=https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/558610-cvs-att-comcast-and-others-donated-to-anti-lgbtq/|date=15 June 2021|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921050214/https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/558610-cvs-att-comcast-and-others-donated-to-anti-lgbtq|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2021-09-21|title=25 corporations marking Pride donated over $10m to anti-LGBTQ+ politicians – study|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/14/corporations-anti-lgbtq-politicians-donations-study|date=14 June 2021|website=[[The Guardian]]|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921050215/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/14/corporations-anti-lgbtq-politicians-donations-study|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2021-09-21|title=Corporate America has embraced Pride but made some crucial missteps|url=https://fortune.com/2021/06/30/corporate-america-pride-mistakes-lgbtq-political-donations-companies-anti-trans-laws-allyship/|website=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921050214/https://fortune.com/2021/06/30/corporate-america-pride-mistakes-lgbtq-political-donations-companies-anti-trans-laws-allyship/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Historical financial performance ==
The financial performance of the company is reported to shareholders on an annual basis and a matter of public record. Where performance has been restated, the most recent statement of performance from an annual report is used.<ref name="AR-2015">{{Cite web |title=Annual Report 2015 |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/732717/000073271716000147/ex13.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513140909/http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/732717/000073271716000147/ex13.htm |archive-date=May 13, 2016 |access-date=June 8, 2016 |website=AT&T |language=en}}</ref><ref name="AR-2014">{{Cite web |title=Annual Report - 2014 |url=http://www.att.com/Investor/ATT_Annual/2014/downloads/att_ar2014_annualreport.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923180019/http://www.att.com/Investor/ATT_Annual/2014/downloads/att_ar2014_annualreport.pdf |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |access-date=November 17, 2015 |website=AT&T |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2006 |title=SEC Filings — Form K-10 - 2005 |url=http://services.corporate-ir.net/SEC/Document.Service?id=P3VybD1hSFIwY0RvdkwyRndhUzUwWlc1cmQybDZZWEprTG1OdmJTOWtiM2R1Ykc5aFpDNXdhSEEvWVdOMGFXOXVQVkJFUmlacGNHRm5aVDAwTURBd09ESTFKbk4xWW5OcFpEMDFOdz09JnR5cGU9MiZmbj1BVFRJbmMucGRm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813123410/http://services.corporate-ir.net/SEC/Document.Service?id=P3VybD1hSFIwY0RvdkwyRndhUzUwWlc1cmQybDZZWEprTG1OdmJTOWtiM2R1Ykc5aFpDNXdhSEEvWVdOMGFXOXVQVkJFUmlacGNHRm5aVDAwTURBd09ESTFKbk4xWW5OcFpEMDFOdz09JnR5cGU9MiZmbj1BVFRJbmMucGRm |archive-date=August 13, 2017 |access-date=November 18, 2015 |website=AT&T |language=en}}</ref><ref name="10K">{{Cite web |date=February 17, 2017 |title=Annual Report 2016 |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/732717/000073271717000021/ex13.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222054744/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/732717/000073271717000021/ex13.htm |archive-date=February 22, 2017 |access-date=February 21, 2017 |website=AT&T}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AT&T Inc. (T) Income Statement - Yahoo Finance |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/T/financials/ |access-date=May 11, 2020 |website=finance.yahoo.com |language=en-US |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531233322/https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/T/financials |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AT&T Inc. (T) Balance Sheet - Yahoo Finance |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/T/balance-sheet/ |access-date=May 11, 2020 |website=finance.yahoo.com |language=en-US |archive-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103023406/https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/T/balance-sheet/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AT&T employees 2007-2018 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/220683/number-of-atundt-employees-since-2007/ |access-date=May 11, 2020 |website=Statista |language=en |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814154823/https://www.statista.com/statistics/220683/number-of-atundt-employees-since-2007/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite report |author= AT&T Inc. |date= March 14, 2003 |title= Form 10-K ANNUAL REPORT - 2002 |url= https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/atnt2/sec/sec-show.aspx?FilingId=2204390&Cik=0000732717&Type=PDF&hasPdf=1 |page= 155 |access-date= March 22, 2021 |quote= 2002 Operating Revenues - $43,138 (dollars in millions |archive-date= June 28, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220628142215/https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/atnt2/sec/sec-show.aspx?FilingId=2204390&Cik=0000732717&Type=PDF&hasPdf=1 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite report |author= AT&T Inc. |date= March 14, 2003 |title= Form 10-K ANNUAL REPORT - 2006 |url= https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/atnt2/sec/sec-show.aspx?FilingId=4990665&Cik=0000732717&Type=PDF&hasPdf=1 |page= 312 |access-date= March 22, 2021 |quote= 2005 Net Income - $4,786 (dollars in millions |archive-date= June 28, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220628142210/https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/atnt2/sec/sec-show.aspx?FilingId=4990665&Cik=0000732717&Type=PDF&hasPdf=1 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite report |author= AT&T Inc. |date= February 24, 2012 |title= Form 10-K ANNUAL REPORT - 2011 |url= https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/atnt2/sec/sec-show.aspx?FilingId=8434955&Cik=0000732717&Type=PDF&hasPdf=1 |page= 267 |access-date= March 22, 2021 |quote= 2009 Net Income (Loss) Attributable to AT&T - $12,138 (dollars in millions |archive-date= June 28, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220628142230/https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/atnt2/sec/sec-show.aspx?FilingId=8434955&Cik=0000732717&Type=PDF&hasPdf=1 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite report |author= AT&T Inc. |date= February 24, 2012 |title= Form 10-K ANNUAL REPORT - 2011 |url= https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/atnt2/sec/sec-show.aspx?FilingId=8434955&Cik=0000732717&Type=PDF&hasPdf=1 |page= 267 |access-date= March 22, 2021 |quote= 2010 Net Income (Loss) Attributable to AT&T - $19,864 (dollars in millions |archive-date= June 28, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220628142230/https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/atnt2/sec/sec-show.aspx?FilingId=8434955&Cik=0000732717&Type=PDF&hasPdf=1 |url-status= live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Performance measurements, by year
|-
!scope="col"| Measurement
!scope="col"| 2001
!scope="col"| 2002
!scope="col"| 2003
!scope="col"| 2004
!scope="col"| 2005
!scope="col"| 2006
!scope="col"| 2007
!scope="col"| 2008
!scope="col"| 2009
!scope="col"| 2010
!scope="col"| 2011
!scope="col"| 2012
!scope="col"| 2013
!scope="col"| 2014
!scope="col"| 2015
!scope="col"| 2016
!scope="col"| 2017
!scope="col"| 2018
!scope="col"| 2019
|-
!scope="row"| Revenues (billion USD)
| 45.38 || 43.14 || 40.50 || 40.79 || 43.86 || 63.06 || 118.9 || 124.0 || 122.5 || 124.8 || 126.7 || 127.4 || 128.8 || 132.4 || 146.8 || 163.8
|160.5
|170.8
|181.2
|-
!scope="row"| Net Income (billion USD)
| 7.008 || 5.653 || 8.505 || 5.887 || 4.786 || 7.356 || 11.95 || 12.87 || 12.14 || 19.86 || 3.944 || 7.264 || 18.25 || 6.224 || 13.69 || 13.33
|29.85
|19.37
|13.90
|-
!scope="row"| Assets (billion USD)
| 96.42 || 95.17 || 102.0 || 110.3 || 145.6 || 270.6 || 275.6 || 265.2 || 268.3 || 268.5 || 270.3 || 272.3 || 277.8 || 292.8 || 402.7 || 403.8
|444.1
|531.9
|551.7
|-
!scope="row"| Number of employees (thousands)
| 193.4 || 175.0 || 168.0 || 162.7 || 190.0 || 304.2 || 309.1 || 302.7 || 282.7 || 266.6 || 256.4 || 241.8 || 243.4 || 243.6 || 281.5 || 268.5
|254.0
|268.2
|247.8
|}

==Carbon footprint==
AT&T reported Total [[carbon footprint|CO2e emissions]] (Direct + Indirect) for the twelve months ending 31 December 2020 at 5,788 Kt (-737 /-11.3% y-o-y)<ref name ="AT&T Total CO2e emissions for 2020Q4">{{Cite web |title=AT&T's CDP Disclosure for 2020Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929114557/https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/csr/2019/library/corporate-responsibility/CDP-Climate-Change-Disclosure-2021.pdf |url=https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/csr/2019/library/corporate-responsibility/CDP-Climate-Change-Disclosure-2021.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2021 }} [https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/AT%26T/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202&#91;Total%20CO2e%20emissions%20-%20market-based%20(Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202)&#93;/2020Q4/12/2020Q4 Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112182021/https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/AT%26T/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202%5BTotal%20CO2e%20emissions%20-%20market-based%20%28Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202%29%5D/2020Q4/12/2020Q4 |date=January 12, 2022 }}</ref> and plans to reduce emissions by 63% by 2030 from a 2015 base year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AT&T's Sustainability Report for 2020Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704150911/https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/csr/2019/library/corporate-responsibility/2020-2021-summary.final.pdf |url=https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/csr/2019/library/corporate-responsibility/2020-2021-summary.final.pdf |archive-date=July 4, 2021 }} [https://analytics.exerica.com/App/UnifiedId/0060E95D578B96570001450AE50F00FB26EE177984EF14 Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112182021/https://analytics.exerica.com/App/UnifiedId/0060E95D578B96570001450AE50F00FB26EE177984EF14 |date=January 12, 2022 }}</ref> This [[Science Based Targets initiative|science-based target]] is aligned with [[Paris Agreement]] to limit global warming to 1.5&nbsp;°C above pre-industrial levels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Science Based Targets |url=https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action |access-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111080233/https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ AT&T's annual Total CO2e Emissions - Market-Based Scope 1 + Scope 2 (in kilotonnes)
|-
! Dec 2015 !! Dec 2017 !! Dec 2018 !! Dec 2019 !! Dec 2020
|-
| 8,829<ref>{{Cite web |title=AT&T's CDP Disclosure for 2020Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929114557/https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/csr/2019/library/corporate-responsibility/CDP-Climate-Change-Disclosure-2021.pdf |url=https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/csr/2019/library/corporate-responsibility/CDP-Climate-Change-Disclosure-2021.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2021 }} [https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/AT%26T/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202&#91;Total%20CO2e%20emissions%20-%20market-based%20(Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202)&#93;/2015Q4/12/2020Q4 Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112182025/https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/AT%26T/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202%5BTotal%20CO2e%20emissions%20-%20market-based%20%28Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202%29%5D/2015Q4/12/2020Q4 |date=January 12, 2022 }}</ref> || 7,801<ref>{{Cite web |title=AT&T's CDP Disclosure for 2017Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112182022/https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/csr/aug2018/ATT-CDP-Climate-Change.pdf |url=https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/csr/aug2018/ATT-CDP-Climate-Change.pdf |archive-date=January 12, 2022 }} [https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/AT%26T/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202&#91;Total%20CO2e%20emissions%20-%20market-based%20(Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202)&#93;/2017Q4/12/2017Q4 Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112182023/https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/AT%26T/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202%5BTotal%20CO2e%20emissions%20-%20market-based%20%28Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202%29%5D/2017Q4/12/2017Q4 |date=January 12, 2022 }}</ref> || 7,749<ref>{{Cite web |title=AT&T's CDP Disclosure for 2018Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112182022/https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/csr/2019/reporting/AT&T%20CDP%20Climate%20Change%20Response%202019.pdf |url=https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/csr/2019/reporting/AT&T%20CDP%20Climate%20Change%20Response%202019.pdf |archive-date=January 12, 2022 }} [https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/AT%26T/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202&#91;Total%20CO2e%20emissions%20-%20market-based%20(Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202)&#93;/2018Q4/12/2018Q4 Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113093103/https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/AT%26T/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202%5BTotal%20CO2e%20emissions%20-%20market-based%20%28Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202%29%5D/2018Q4/12/2018Q4 |date=January 13, 2022 }}</ref> || 6,525<ref>{{Cite web |title=AT&T's CDP Disclosure for 2019Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515214346/https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/csr/2019/library/corporate-responsibility/ATT-CDP-Climate-Change-Response-2020.pdf |url=https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/csr/2019/library/corporate-responsibility/ATT-CDP-Climate-Change-Response-2020.pdf |archive-date=May 15, 2021 }} [https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/AT%26T/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202&#91;Total%20CO2e%20emissions%20-%20market-based%20(Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202)&#93;/2019Q4/12/2019Q4 Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112182021/https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/AT%26T/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202%5BTotal%20CO2e%20emissions%20-%20market-based%20%28Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202%29%5D/2019Q4/12/2019Q4 |date=January 12, 2022 }}</ref> || 5,788<ref name="AT&T Total CO2e emissions for 2020Q4"/>
|}

== Criticism and controversies ==
=== Hemisphere database ===
{{main|Hemisphere Project}}
The company maintains a database of [[call detail record]]s of all telephone calls that have passed through its network since 1987. AT&T employees work at [[High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area]] offices (operated by the [[Office of National Drug Control Policy]]) in [[Los Angeles]], [[Atlanta]], and [[Houston]] so data can be quickly turned over to law enforcement agencies. Records are requested via an administrative subpoena, without the involvement of a court or grand jury.

=== Censorship ===
In September 2007, AT&T changed its legal policy to state that "AT&T may immediately terminate or suspend all or a portion of your Service, any Member ID, electronic mail address, IP address, Universal Resource Locator or domain name used by you, without notice for conduct that AT&T believes ... (c) tends to damage the name or reputation of AT&T, or its parents, affiliates and subsidiaries."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fisher |first=Ken |date=October 1, 2007 |title=AT&T threatens to disconnect subscribers who criticize the company |url=https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070930-att-threatens-to-disconnect-subscribers-who-are-critical-of-the-company.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022222836/http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070930-att-threatens-to-disconnect-subscribers-who-are-critical-of-the-company.html |archive-date=October 22, 2008 |access-date=November 28, 2011 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> By October 10, 2007, AT&T had altered the terms and conditions for its Internet service to explicitly support freedom of expression by its subscribers, after an outcry claiming the company had given itself the right to censor its subscribers' transmissions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin H. Bosworth |title=AT&T Changes Terms Of Service After Outcry |url=http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/10/att_tos.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102012925/http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/10/att_tos.html |archive-date=January 2, 2012 |access-date=November 28, 2011 |website=Consumer Affairs}}</ref>

=== Privacy controversy ===
{{further|MAINWAY|Room 641A|Mark Klein|NSA warrantless surveillance controversy|Hepting v. AT&T}}
[[File:Page9-SER klein exhibits.jpg|thumb|Diagram of how alleged wiretapping worked, from [[Electronic Frontier Foundation|EFF]] court filings<ref name=kleinex/>]]
In 2006, the Electronic Frontier Foundation lodged the [[class action]] lawsuit ''Hepting v. AT&T'', which alleged that AT&T had allowed agents of the [[National Security Agency]] (NSA) to monitor phone and Internet communications of AT&T customers without warrants. If true, this would violate the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]] of 1978 and the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First]] and [[Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fourth Amendments]] of the [[United States Constitution|U.S. Constitution]]. AT&T has yet to confirm or deny that monitoring by the NSA is occurring. In April 2006, retired former AT&T technician Mark Klein lodged an [[affidavit]] supporting this allegation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nakashima|first=Ellen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/07/AR2007110700006_pf.html|title=A Story of Surveillance|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119082703/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/07/AR2007110700006_pf.html |archive-date=November 19, 2010|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 7, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Singel |first=Ryan |date=April 7, 2006 |title=Whistle-Blower Outs NSA Spy Room |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/04/70619 |url-status=live |access-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430142924/http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/04/70619 |archive-date=April 30, 2008}}</ref> The [[United States Department of Justice|US Department of Justice]] stated it would intervene in this lawsuit by means of [[State Secrets Privilege]].<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Government Moves to Intervene in AT&T Surveillance Case |date=April 28, 2006 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) |url=https://www.eff.org/news/archives/2006_04.php#004613 |access-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929123042/http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2006_04.php#004613 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref>

In July 2006, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California – in which the suit was filed – rejected a federal government motion to dismiss the case. The motion to dismiss, which invoked the State Secrets Privilege, had argued that any court review of the alleged partnership between the federal government and AT&T would harm national security. The case was immediately appealed to the Ninth Circuit. It was dismissed on June 3, 2009, citing retroactive legislation in the [[FISA Amendments Act|Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.eff.org/cases/hepting |title= Hepting v. AT&T |date= July 2011 |website= [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] |access-date= March 23, 2021 |quote= In June of 2009, a federal judge dismissed Hepting and dozens of other lawsuits against telecoms. EFF appealed that decision but it was affirmed, and in October, 2012, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case. |archive-date= January 22, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180122170130/https://www.eff.org/cases/hepting |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Arshad|last=Mohammed|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/20/AR2006072001792.html|title=Judge Declines to Dismiss Lawsuit Against AT&T|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214074204/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/20/AR2006072001792.html |archive-date=December 14, 2017|date=July 21, 2006|access-date=January 4, 2018}}</ref>

In May 2006, ''[[USA Today]]'' reported that all international and domestic calling records had been handed over to the National Security Agency by AT&T, Verizon, SBC, and BellSouth for the purpose of creating a massive [[NSA call database|calling database]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cauley |first=Leslie |date=May 11, 2006 |title=NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-05-10-nsa_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223235913/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-05-10-nsa_x.htm |archive-date=February 23, 2011}}</ref> The portions of the ''new'' AT&T that had been part of SBC Communications before November 18, 2005, were not mentioned.

On June 21, 2006, the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' reported that AT&T had rewritten rules on its privacy policy. The policy, which took effect June 23, 2006, says that "AT&T – not customers – owns customers' confidential info and can use it 'to protect its legitimate business interests, safeguard others, or respond to legal process.'"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lazarus |first=David |date=June 21, 2006 |title=AT&T Rewrites Rules: Your Data Isn't Yours |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/21/BUG9VJHB9C1.DTL&hw=at&sn=002&sc=870 |url-status=live |access-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112225858/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2006%2F06%2F21%2FBUG9VJHB9C1.DTL&hw=at&sn=002&sc=870 |archive-date=November 12, 2007}}</ref>

On August 22, 2007, National Intelligence Director [[John Michael McConnell|Mike McConnell]] confirmed that AT&T was one of the telecommunications companies that assisted with the government's warrantless wire-tapping program on calls between foreign and domestic sources.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shrader |first=Katherine |date=August 22, 2007 |title=Spy Chief Reveals Classified Surveillance Details |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna20396282 |url-status=live |access-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110221437/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/20396282/ |archive-date=November 10, 2013}}</ref>

On November 8, 2007, Mark Klein, a former AT&T technician, told [[Keith Olbermann]] of [[MSNBC]] that all Internet traffic passing over AT&T lines was copied into [[Room 641A|a locked room]] at the company's San Francisco office – to which only employees with National Security Agency clearance had access.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Olbermann |first=Keith |date=November 8, 2007 |title=Whistleblower Saw AT&T Assist Bush Administration |url=http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&brand=msnbc&vid=297abdd5-d0dc-4617-a6c9-c482fa316b59 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110231322/http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&brand=msnbc&vid=297abdd5-d0dc-4617-a6c9-c482fa316b59 |archive-date=November 10, 2007 |access-date=November 10, 2007 |work=[[MSNBC]]}}</ref>

AT&T keeps for five to seven years a record of who text messages whom and the date and time, but not the content of the messages.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Svensson |first=Peter |date=September 29, 2011 |title=Document Shows How Phone Cos. Treat Private Data |url=https://phys.org/news/2011-09-document-cos-private.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513134626/https://phys.org/news/2011-09-document-cos-private.html |archive-date=May 13, 2019 |quote=T-Mobile USA doesn't keep any information on Web browsing activity. Verizon, on the other hand, keeps some information for up to a year that can be used to ascertain if a particular phone visited a particular Web site. According to the sheet, Sprint Nextel Corp.'s Virgin Mobile brand keeps the text content of text messages for three months. Verizon keeps it for three to five days. None of the other carriers keep texts at all, but they keep records of who texted who for more than a year. The document says AT&T keeps for five to seven years a record of who text messages who —and when, but not the content of the messages. Virgin Mobile only keeps that data for two to three months. |website=Phys.org |agency=Associated Press }}</ref>

AT&T has a one star [[privacy]] rating from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 10, 2017 |title=Who Has Your Back? Government Data Requests 2017 |url=https://www.eff.org/who-has-your-back-2017 |first1= Rainey |last1=Reitman |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915003333/https://www.eff.org/who-has-your-back-2017 |archive-date=September 15, 2018 |access-date=October 19, 2018}}</ref>

=== Copyright enforcement ===
In January 2008, reports emerged that the company planned to begin filtering all [[Internet traffic]] which passed through its network for intellectual property violations.<ref name="Wu">{{Cite news |last=Wu |first=Tim |date=January 16, 2008 |title=Has AT&T Lost Its Mind? A baffling proposal to filter the Internet |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2182152/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117101450/http://www.slate.com/id/2182152/ |archive-date=January 17, 2008 |access-date=January 16, 2008 |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]}}</ref> Media commentators speculated that if this plan was implemented, it would have led to a mass exodus of subscribers from AT&T,<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 25, 2008 |title=AT&T's Proposed Filtering Policy Is Bad News – Netiquette – NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22829568 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204052516/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22829568/ |archive-date=December 4, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2011 |work=[[NBC News]]}}</ref> although Internet traffic of non-subscribers may have gone through the company's network anyway.<ref name=Wu/> Internet freedom proponents used these developments as justification for government-mandated [[network neutrality]].

Under AT&T's current copyright enforcement program, content owners may notify AT&T when they allege unlawful sharing of material. The program is based on IP addresses visible to content owners in peer-to-peer networks, not on filtering. AT&T has terminated the broadband service of some customers accused of copyright infringement.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/11/att-boots-customers-off-broadband-network-to-fight-piracy/ |title= AT&T steps up copyright enforcement, kicks customers off network |work= [[Ars Technica]] |date= November 6, 2018 |access-date= March 23, 2021 |quote= Content owners notified us when they believed they had evidence that an Internet account was sharing copyrighted material unlawfully. Based on the notices we received, we identified the customer on the account and share[d] with them the information we received. We also reached out to the customer to educate them about copyright infringement and offer assistance to help prevent the activity from continuing. A small number of customers who continue to receive additional copyright infringement notifications from content owners despite our efforts to educate them will have their service discontinued. When files are distributed on the Internet over peer-to-peer networks, the IP address associated with a subscriber's account is visible by design to other users on the network. Content owners provide these IP addresses to AT&T along with additional information about the content that was allegedly shared by that IP address. |archive-date= December 1, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201201191345/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/11/att-boots-customers-off-broadband-network-to-fight-piracy/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

=== Discrimination against local public-access television channels ===
In 2009 AT&T was accused by [[community media]] groups of discriminating against local [[public, educational, and government access]] (PEG) cable TV channels, by "impictions that will severely restrict the audience".<ref name="dn10">{{cite web|date=March 9, 2009|url=http://www.democracynow.org/2009/3/9/at_t_accused_of_discriminating_against|title=AT&T Accused of Discriminating Against Local Public Access Channels, Deadline for Public Comment Expires Tonight|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312075258/http://www.democracynow.org/2009/3/9/at_t_accused_of_discriminating_against|archive-date=March 12, 2009|website=Democracy Now!|access-date=March 13, 2009}}</ref>

According to Barbara Popovic, executive director of the Chicago public-access service [[Chicago Access Network Television|CAN-TV]], the new AT&T [[U-verse]] system forced all [[Public-access television]] into a special menu system, denying normal functionality such as channel numbers, access to the standard [[program guide]], and DVR recording.<ref name="dn10" /> The Ratepayer Advocates division of the [[California Public Utilities Commission]] reported: "Instead of putting the stations on individual channels, AT&T has bundled community stations into a generic channel that can only be navigated through a complex and lengthy process."<ref name="dn10" />

Sue Buske (president of telecommunications consulting firm the Buske Group and a former head of the National Federation of Local Cable Programmers/[[Alliance for Community Media]]) argue that this is "an overall attack [...] on public access across the [United States], the place in the dial around cities and communities where people can make their own media in their own communities".<ref name="dn10" />

=== Information security ===
In June 2010, a [[hacker group]] known as [[Goatse Security]] discovered a [[Vulnerability (computing)|vulnerability]] within AT&T that could allow anyone to uncover email addresses belonging to customers of AT&T 3G service for the [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] [[iPad]].<ref name="computerworld1">{{Cite news |last=Keizer |first=Gregg |date=June 10, 2010 |title='Brute force' script snatched iPad e-mail addresses |work=[[Computerworld]] |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177921/Brute_force_script_snatched_iPad_e_mail_addresses |access-date=September 18, 2010}}</ref> These email addresses could be accessed without a protective password.<ref name="computerworld2-2">{{Cite news |last=Keizer |first=Gregg |date=June 11, 2010 |title=iPad e-mail hackers defend attack as 'ethical' |page=2 |work=[[Computerworld]] |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177991/iPad_e_mail_hackers_defend_attack_as_ethical_?taxonomyId=17&pageNumber=2 |url-status=live |access-date=September 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302073447/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177991/iPad_e_mail_hackers_defend_attack_as_ethical_?taxonomyId=17&pageNumber=2 |archive-date=March 2, 2012}}</ref> Using a script, Goatse Security collected thousands of email addresses from AT&T.<ref name="computerworld1" /> Goatse Security informed AT&T about the security flaw through a third party.<ref name="computerworld2-1">{{Cite news |last=Keizer |first=Gregg |date=June 11, 2010 |title=iPad e-mail hackers defend attack as 'ethical' |page=1 |work=[[Computerworld]] |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177991/iPad_e_mail_hackers_defend_attack_as_ethical_ |url-status=live |access-date=September 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119211317/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177991/iPad_e_mail_hackers_defend_attack_as_ethical_ |archive-date=January 19, 2012}}</ref> Goatse Security then disclosed around 114,000 of these emails to [[Gawker Media]], which published an article about the security flaw and disclosure in ''[[Valleywag]]''.<ref name="computerworld1" /><ref name="computerworld2-1" /> Praetorian Security Group criticized the web application that Goatse Security exploited as "poorly designed".<ref name="computerworld1" />

In April 2015, AT&T was fined $25 million over data security breaches, marking the largest ever fine issued by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) for breaking data privacy laws. The investigation revealed the theft of details of approximately 280,000 people from call centers in Mexico, [[Colombia]] and the [[Philippines]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 9, 2015 |title=AT&T pays record $25m fine over customer data thefts |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32232604 |url-status=live |access-date=July 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108110433/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32232604 |archive-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 8, 2015 |title=F.C.C. Fines AT&T $25 Million for Privacy Breach |url=https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/08/f-c-c-fines-att-25-million-for-privacy-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113023431/https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/08/f-c-c-fines-att-25-million-for-privacy-breach/ |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |access-date=November 2, 2018 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

In March 2024, AT&T confirmed the 2021 leak of contact information for over 7.6 million current users, as well as 65 million former ones. The leaked records may contain "full name, email address, mailing address, phone number, social security number, date of birth, AT&T account number and passcode".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Wes |title=AT&T confirms data breach and resets millions of customer passcodes |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/30/24116515/att-data-leak-passcode-reset-cybersecurity-privacy |website=The Verge |access-date=30 March 2024 |language=en |date=31 March 2024}}</ref> Multiple class-action lawsuits have been filed as a result of this.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jewett |first=Abraham |date=2024-04-08 |title=Multiple class actions filed over AT&T data breach |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/att-class-action-lawsuit-and-settlement-news/multiple-class-actions-filed-over-att-data-breach/ |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=Top Class Actions |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Petroski v. AT&T Inc. |url=https://www.classaction.org/media/petroski-v-att-inc.pdf |access-date=May 2, 2024}}</ref>

In July 2024, the company stated it experienced a new breach, the largest to date. The company is expected to notify around 110 million customers who were affected.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whittaker |first1=Zack |title=AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' customers in new data breach |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/12/att-phone-records-stolen-data-breach/ |website=TechCrunch |access-date=12 July 2024 |date=12 July 2024}}</ref>

=== Accusations of enabling fraud ===
In March 2012, the United States federal government announced a lawsuit against AT&T. The specific accusations state that AT&T "violated the False Claims Act by facilitating and seeking federal payment for IP Relay calls by international callers who were ineligible for the service and sought to use it for fraudulent purposes. The complaint alleges that, out of fears that fraudulent call volume would drop after the registration deadline, AT&T knowingly adopted a non-compliant registration system that did not verify whether the user was located within the United States. The complaint further contends that AT&T continued to employ this system even with the knowledge that it facilitated the use of IP Relay by fraudulent foreign callers, which accounted for up to 95 percent of AT&T's call volume. The government's complaint alleges that AT&T improperly billed the TRS Fund for reimbursement of these calls and received millions of dollars in federal payments as a result."<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 22, 2012 |title=Welcome to the United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/March/12-civ-357.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519015822/http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/March/12-civ-357.html |archive-date=May 19, 2012 |access-date=May 11, 2012 |website=United States Department of Justice}}</ref> In 2013, AT&T entered into a consent decree with the FCC and paid a total of $21.75 million.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/att-agrees-settle-allegations-involving-ip-relay-services-provided-hearing-and-speech |title= AT&T Agrees to Settle Allegations Involving IP Relay Services Provided to Hearing- and Speech-Impaired Persons |date= November 7, 2013 |website= [[United States Department of Justice]] |access-date= March 23, 2021 |quote= On May 7, 2013, AT&T entered into a consent decree with the FCC that resolved allegations based on conduct related to the subject matter of today's settlement. Pursuant to that consent decree, AT&T paid a total of $18.25 million. Under the settlement announced today, AT&T has agreed to pay an additional $3.5 million to resolve its remaining liability under the False Claims Act. |archive-date= March 25, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210325202825/https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/att-agrees-settle-allegations-involving-ip-relay-services-provided-hearing-and-speech |url-status= live }}</ref>

=== Aaron Slator controversy ===
On April 28, 2015, AT&T announced that it had fired Aaron Slator, President of Content and Advertising Sales, for sending text messages critics described as racist.<ref>{{Cite news |title=AT&T Fires President Over Racist Text; $100M Lawsuit Goes On |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/att-fires-president-racist-text-100m-lawsuit-30658834 |access-date=April 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429063307/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/att-fires-president-racist-text-100m-lawsuit-30658834 |archive-date=April 29, 2015}}</ref> African-American employee Knoyme King filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Slator.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Aaron Slator, AT&T president, fired over racist text messages |work=The Washington Times |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/28/aaron-slator-t-president-fired-over-racist-text-me/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501202930/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/28/aaron-slator-t-president-fired-over-racist-text-me/ |archive-date=May 1, 2015}}</ref> The day before that, protesters arrived at AT&T's headquarters in Dallas and its satellite offices in Los Angeles as well as at the home of CEO Randall Stephenson to protest alleged systemic racial policies. According to accounts, the protesters demanded that AT&T begin working with 100% black-owned media companies.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Protesters Picket AT&T CEO's Dallas Estate |work=[[CNN]] iReport |url=http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1237563 |url-status=live |access-date=May 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502002645/http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1237563 |archive-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref>

On January 24, 2017, Slator sued AT&T in the [[Los Angeles County Superior Court|Los Angeles Superior Court]], accusing the company of [[defamation]] and wrongful termination. Slator had been involved in organizing AT&T's planned $48.5 billion acquisition of DirecTV since 2014, and he claimed that when news headlines speculated that his text messages could prevent the acquisition from going through, he was fired as a "scapegoat" by company executives. He also claimed that the executives had known about the text messages since at least late 2013, and had promised him at the time that he would not be fired for them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Garrett |first=Arnessa |date=January 25, 2017 |title=AT&T sued by exec who was fired over racist text |work=The Dallas Morning News |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/local-companies/2017/01/25/att-sued-by-exec-who-was-fired-over-racist-text/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726102837/https://www.dallasnews.com/business/local-companies/2017/01/25/att-sued-by-exec-who-was-fired-over-racist-text/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Robb |first=David |date=January 24, 2017 |title=Former AT&T Content President Files Wrongful Termination Suit, Claims He Was Fired To Save DirecTV Merger |work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/lawsuit-attt-directv-aaron-slator-sues-for-wrongful-termination-1201892998/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726102611/https://deadline.com/2017/01/lawsuit-attt-directv-aaron-slator-sues-for-wrongful-termination-1201892998/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The company stood by its decision to terminate Slator.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.dallasnews.com/business/local-companies/2017/01/25/att-sued-by-exec-who-was-fired-over-racist-text/ |title= AT&T sued by exec who was fired over racist text |newspaper= [[The Dallas Morning News]] |date= January 24, 2017 |access-date= March 23, 2021 |quote= "Diversity and inclusion are important core values to us," the statement said. "We stand behind our decision to terminate Mr. Slator and are confident that his baseless allegations will ultimately be rejected." |archive-date= March 8, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210308145808/https://www.dallasnews.com/business/local-companies/2017/01/25/att-sued-by-exec-who-was-fired-over-racist-text/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

=== Overcharging government agencies ===
In 2020 AT&T paid out $48 million to settle a lawsuit with 30 government entities. The suit (under the California False Claims Act) related to contractual undertakings to provide services at "the lowest cost available". AT&T denied any wrongdoing in the matter.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Osborne |first=Charlie |title=Verizon, AT&T settle overcharging whistleblower case for $116 million |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/verizon-at-t-settle-overcharging-whistleblower-case-for-116-million/ |access-date=September 25, 2020 |website=ZDNet |language=en |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925210004/https://www.zdnet.com/article/verizon-at-t-settle-overcharging-whistleblower-case-for-116-million/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== One America News Network ===
An investigative report by [[Reuters]] in 2021 revealed that AT&T played a key role in creating, funding and sustaining [[One America News Network]] (OAN), a [[far-right]] TV network known for promoting [[conspiracy theories]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Special Report: How AT&T helped build far-right One America News|language=en|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-oneamerica-att/|access-date=2021-10-06|archive-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006235411/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-oneamerica-att/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to 2020 sworn testimony by an OAN accountant, 90% of OAN's revenue came from AT&T. According to OAN founder [[Robert Herring (businessman)|Robert Herring Sr.]], AT&T wanted to create a conservative network to compete with [[Fox News]]. Court documents showed OAN promised to "cast a positive light" on AT&T during newscasts. AT&T denied the allegations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Darcy|first=Oliver|date=October 7, 2021|title=AT&T played key role in founding of far-right conspiracy outlet OAN, channel's president said in court|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/06/media/att-oan/index.html|access-date=2021-10-22|website=[[CNN]]|archive-date=October 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007103959/https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/06/media/att-oan/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 7, 2021 |first=Samira |last=Sadeque |title=AT&T funds rightwing channel One America News, Reuters reveals |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/oct/07/att-source-revenue-one-america-news |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708012355/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/oct/07/att-source-revenue-one-america-news |url-status=live }}</ref> Comedian [[John Oliver]] criticized AT&T in his weekly show for funding OAN.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Stern|first=Marlow|date=2021-10-11|title=John Oliver Torches His AT&T Bosses Over OAN Reveal: 'You Make the World Worse'|language=en|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/john-oliver-torches-his-atandt-bosses-over-oan-reveal-you-make-the-world-worse|access-date=2021-10-18|archive-date=October 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011124418/https://www.thedailybeast.com/john-oliver-torches-his-atandt-bosses-over-oan-reveal-you-make-the-world-worse|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Leaking data to Wall Street ===

In March 2021 the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] (SEC) filed suit against AT&T and three of its executives for violating the [[Regulation Fair Disclosure|Fair Disclosure Rule]] against making selective disclosures of "material nonpublic information" to analysts and others. The SEC alleged that beginning in early 2016 these executives leaked key information to [[Wall Street]] analysts in order to manipulate revenue forecasts for the company.<ref name="Shapero-2022">{{Cite news|last=Shapero |first=Julia |date=3 December 2022 |title=AT&T to pay $6.25M to SEC over alleged leaks to Wall Street analysts |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/3760729-att-to-pay-6-25m-to-sec-over-alleged-leaks-to-wall-street-analysts/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204161710/https://thehill.com/policy/finance/3760729-att-to-pay-6-25m-to-sec-over-alleged-leaks-to-wall-street-analysts/ |archive-date=4 December 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2022, without acknowledging any guilt, AT&T agreed to pay $6.25 million in fines to settle the lawsuit. The individual executives were also on the hook for $25,000 each.<ref name="Shapero-2022" /><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Khushi |first1=Akanksha |last2=Bhowmik |first2=Sneha |date=3 December 2022 |title=AT&T to pay $6 million to SEC to settle lawsuit over leaks to analysts |work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/att-pay-6-million-sec-settle-lawsuit-over-leaks-analysts-court-filing-2022-12-03/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205080633/https://www.reuters.com/legal/att-pay-6-million-sec-settle-lawsuit-over-leaks-analysts-court-filing-2022-12-03/ |archive-date=5 December 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Bribery to influence legislation ===
In October 2022, AT&T agreed to pay a $23 million fine to resolve a federal criminal investigation into the company's efforts to unlawfully influence former Illinois Speaker of the House [[Mike Madigan|Michael J. Madigan]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=2022-10-14 |title=AT&T to pay $23M fine for bribing powerful lawmaker's ally in exchange for vote |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/10/att-to-pay-23m-fine-for-bribing-powerful-lawmakers-ally-in-exchange-for-vote/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221014203728/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/10/att-to-pay-23m-fine-for-bribing-powerful-lawmakers-ally-in-exchange-for-vote/ |archive-date=2022-10-14 |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |language=en-us}}</ref> Under a deferred prosecution with the [[United States Department of Justice|US Department of Justice]], AT&T admitted that it arranged for payments to an ally of Madigan in order to influence Madigan's vote in 2017 on legislation that would eliminate AT&T's so-called "Carrier of Last Resort" obligation to provide landline telephone service to all Illinois residents, which was expected to save the company millions of dollars.<ref name=":4" /> Madigan also helped to defeat an amendment to a bill that became law in 2018 regarding fees for small cell tower attachments that would have been harmful to AT&T's interests.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=2024-05-14 |title=AT&T paid bribes to get two major pieces of legislation passed, US gov't says |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/05/att-paid-bribes-to-get-two-major-pieces-of-legislation-passed-us-govt-says/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240514195138/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/05/att-paid-bribes-to-get-two-major-pieces-of-legislation-passed-us-govt-says/ |archive-date=2024-05-14 |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |language=en-us}}</ref> Former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza, who is set to go on trial in September 2024 for the alleged bribery scheme, described AT&T's [[quid pro quo]] relationship with Madigan in an email to an AT&T employee as "the friends and family plan."<ref name=":5" />

=== 2024 outage ===
On February 22, 2024, cellular service was disrupted across the United States with "millions" unable to connect to the cellular network.<ref name=wp2024outage>{{cite news |last1=Gregg |first1=Aaron |title=FCC opens formal investigation into massive AT&T outage |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/03/07/fcc-att-outage-investigation/ |access-date=15 March 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=7 March 2024}}</ref> Municipalities reported that AT&T customers were unable to place calls to emergency services, even when using their phone's SOS capability.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fung |first=Melissa Alonso, Brian |date=2024-02-22 |title=AT&T customers report a massive outage, disrupting phone service across America {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/22/tech/att-cell-service-outage/index.html |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> The blackout prompted the FBI and Department of Homeland Security to launch investigations into the possibility of a cyber attack being the cause of the blackout.<ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=A. B. C. |title=AT&T outage caused by software update, company says |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/att-outage-impacting-us-customers-company/story?id=107440297 |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> AT&T later claimed that the cause was instead a poorly timed server update.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AT&T Network Update |url=https://about.att.com/pages/network-update |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=about.att.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Users were later compensated credit as a result of the outage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-25 |title=AT&T will give $5 to customers hit by cellphone network outage |url=https://apnews.com/article/cellular-att-outage-compensation-five-dollars-5fca100330ed57960ac43dc4e3240a21 |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>  In March, the FCC opened an investigation into the outage.<ref name=wp2024outage/>

'''2024 Data Breach Fine'''

On September 18, 2024, AT&T was fined $13 million by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) following a major data breach that exposed millions of customers' personal information. The FTC found that AT&T failed to implement adequate cybersecurity measures and did not promptly notify affected individuals. As part of the settlement, AT&T is required to enhance its data protection practices and provide identity theft protection to those impacted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=2024-09-17 |title=AT&T fined $13M for data breach after giving customer bill info to vendor |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/09/att-fined-13m-for-data-breach-after-giving-customer-bill-info-to-vendor/ |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref>

== Naming rights and sponsorships ==
=== Buildings ===
[[File:Att-midtown-center-atlanta.jpg|thumb|[[AT&T Midtown Center]] in [[Atlanta]], Georgia]]
* [[Whitacre Tower]] (One AT&T Plaza) – corporate headquarters, [[Dallas]], Texas
* [[AT&T 220 Building]] – building in [[Indianapolis]], Indiana
* [[AT&T Building (Detroit)|AT&T Building]] – building in Detroit, Michigan
* [[AT&T Building (Indianapolis)|AT&T Building]] – building in Indianapolis, Indiana
* [[AT&T Building (Kingman, Arizona)|AT&T Building]] – building in [[Kingman, Arizona]]
* [[AT&T Building (Nashville)|AT&T Building]] – (aka "The Batman Building") in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]
* [[AT&T Building (Omaha)|AT&T Building]] – building in [[Omaha, Nebraska]]
* [[AT&T Building Addition (Detroit)|AT&T Building Addition]] – building in Detroit, Michigan
* [[AT&T Building (San Diego)|AT&T Building]] – building in San Diego
* [[AT&T Center (Los Angeles)|AT&T Center]] – building in Los Angeles
* [[AT&T Center (St. Louis)|AT&T Center]] – building in [[St. Louis, Missouri]]
* [[AT&T City Center]] – building in [[Birmingham, Alabama]]
* [[AT&T Corporate Center]] – building in Chicago, Illinois
* [[AT&T Huron Road Building]] – skyscraper in [[Cleveland]], Ohio
* AT&T [[Lenox Park (DeKalb County, Georgia)|Lenox Park]] Campus – AT&T Mobility Headquarters in DeKalb County just outside Atlanta, Georgia
* [[AT&T Midtown Center]] – building in Atlanta, Georgia
* [[AT&T Switching Center]] – building in Los Angeles
* AT&T Switching Center – building in [[Oakland, California]]
* AT&T Switching Center – building in San Francisco
* [[AT&T Tower (Minneapolis)|AT&T Tower]] – building in Minneapolis, Minnesota
* AT&T Building – building in Meriden, Connecticut
* AT&T Entertainment Group HQ – DirecTV corporate campus in [[El Segundo, California]]

=== Venues ===
* [[AT&T Field]] – [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]] (formerly ''BellSouth Park'')
* [[AT&T Plaza (Chicago)|AT&T Plaza]] – [[Chicago]], Illinois (public space that hosts the Cloud Gate sculpture in [[Millennium Park]])
* [[AT&T Performing Arts Center]] – Dallas, Texas
* [[AT&T Stadium]] – [[Arlington, Texas]] (formerly ''Cowboys Stadium'')
* AT&T Stadium – [[Glen Jean, West Virginia]] (outdoor open-seating stadium at the [[Boy Scouts of America]]'s [[The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve|Summit Bechtel Reserve]])
* [[Jones AT&T Stadium]] – [[Lubbock, Texas]] (formerly ''Clifford B. and Audrey Jones Stadium'', ''Jones SBC Stadium'')

=== Sponsorships ===
* [[100 Thieves]]<ref name="Nicholson 2021">{{cite news | last=Nicholson | first=Jonno | title=100 Thieves unveils AT&T as 5G and Fibre Innovations sponsor | newspaper=Esportsinsider | date=2021-01-14 | url=https://esportsinsider.com/2021/01/100-thieves-att-partnership-2021/ | access-date=2021-09-15 | archive-date=September 28, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928040753/https://esportsinsider.com/2021/01/100-thieves-att-partnership-2021/ | url-status=live }}</ref> (esports)
* [[CJ Cup Byron Nelson|AT&T Byron Nelson]] – [[Irving, Texas]] (golf)
* [[AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am]] (golf)
* [[Capitanes de Ciudad de México]] (basketball)
* [[Chicago Bulls]]<ref name="Candy 2020">{{cite web | last=Candy | first=Will | title=AT&T Sponsorship Brand Profile | website=Sportcal | date=2020-08-04 | url=https://www.sportcal.com/Insight/Features/132837 | access-date=2021-09-15 | archive-date=September 27, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927225944/https://www.sportcal.com/Insight/Features/132837 | url-status=dead }}</ref> (basketball)
* [[College Football Playoff National Championship]]<ref name="Dallas News 2015">{{cite web | title=Sponsorship? AT&T says hello to college football championship | website=Dallas News | date=2015-01-09 | url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/2015/01/09/sponsorship-att-says-hello-to-college-football-championship/ | access-date=2021-09-15 | archive-date=August 19, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819230613/https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/2015/01/09/sponsorship-att-says-hello-to-college-football-championship/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Dallas Stars]]<ref name="DeFranks 2021">{{cite web | last=DeFranks | first=Matthew | title=Young forwards provide intrigue to Stars roster lacking ambiguity | website=Dallas News | date=2021-01-05 | url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/stars/2021/01/04/young-forwards-provide-intrigue-to-stars-roster-lacking-ambiguity/ | access-date=2021-09-15 | archive-date=August 19, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819204901/https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/stars/2021/01/04/young-forwards-provide-intrigue-to-stars-roster-lacking-ambiguity/ | url-status=live }}</ref> (ice hockey)
* [[Houston Rockets]]<ref name="Candy 2020"/> (basketball)
* [[Major League Soccer]] and the [[United States Soccer Federation]], including the [[United States men's national soccer team|U.S. men's]] and [[United States women's national soccer team|U.S. women's]] national teams and the [[Major League Soccer All-Star Game]] from [[2009 MLS All-Star Game|2009]]
* [[Mexico national football team]]
* [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (Corporate Champion)<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2007 |title=NCAA.org |url=http://ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/corp_relations/CorpRel/Corporate+Relationships/Corporate+Alliances/partners.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929220805/http://ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=%2Fcorp_relations%2FCorpRel%2FCorporate+Relationships%2FCorporate+Alliances%2Fpartners.html |archive-date=September 29, 2011 |access-date=November 28, 2011 |website=NCAA.org}}</ref>
* [[National Basketball Association]],<ref name="Marketing Dive 2019">{{cite web |title=NBA names AT&T as official sponsor to create tech-focused fan experiences |website=Marketing Dive |date=2019-02-06 |url=https://www.marketingdive.com/news/nba-names-att-as-official-sponsor-to-create-tech-focused-fan-experiences/547767/ |access-date=2021-09-15 |archive-date=August 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819204901/https://www.marketingdive.com/news/nba-names-att-as-official-sponsor-to-create-tech-focused-fan-experiences/547767/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Women's National Basketball Association]],<ref name="SportsPro 2021">{{cite web |title=WNBA 2021 commercial guide: Every franchise, every sponsor, all the major TV deals |website=SportsPro |date=2021-05-20 |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/analysis/wnba-2021-commercial-guide-jersey-sponsors-local-tv-rights-partners/ |access-date=2021-09-15 |archive-date=September 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915043557/https://www.sportspromedia.com/analysis/wnba-2021-commercial-guide-jersey-sponsors-local-tv-rights-partners/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[NBA G League]],<ref name="SportsPro 2019">{{cite web |title=NBA dials in AT&T to replace Verizon in major sponsorship slot |website=SportsPro |date=2019-02-06 |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/nba-at-t-verizon-sponsorship-turner-5g/ |access-date=2021-09-15 |archive-date=September 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915043601/https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/nba-at-t-verizon-sponsorship-turner-5g/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[USA Basketball]]<ref name="SportsPro 2019"/> and [[NBA 2K League]]<ref>{{cite web |website=bizjournals.com |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2019/02/05/at-t-replacing-verizon-as-official-nba-wireless.html |title=AT&T replacing Verizon as official NBA wireless sponsor |access-date=2023-05-08 |archive-date=June 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625050557/https://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2019/02/05/at-t-replacing-verizon-as-official-nba-wireless.html |url-status=live }}</ref> (basketball, esports)
* [[BMW in Formula One|BMW Sauber]] (Formula 1 racing team) – 2005 <ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Sponsorship, the big business behind F1 - CNN.com |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/09/18/behind.sponsorship/index.html |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=edition.cnn.com}}</ref>
* [[Scuderia Ferrari]] (Formula 1 racing team) – 2005 <ref name=":6" />
* [[Red Bull Racing]] (Formula 1 racing team) – technical support and sponsorship, 2011 to 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=AT&T and Infiniti Red Bull Racing – Speeding up Team Communications |url=http://about.att.com/newsroom/att_and_infiniti_red_bull_racing.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010184553/http://about.att.com/newsroom/att_and_infiniti_red_bull_racing.html |archive-date=October 10, 2016 |access-date=May 27, 2016 |website=AT&T}}</ref>
* [[Cloud9]], sponsorship since March 2019<ref>{{cite news |date=March 5, 2019 |title=AT&T Taking Esports Strategy to New Heights with Cloud9 Agreement |work=AT&T |url=https://about.att.com/story/2019/cloud9.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326223409/https://about.att.com/story/2019/cloud9.html |archive-date=March 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Fitch |first=Adam |date=March 5, 2019 |title=Cloud9 enters sponsorship deal with AT&T |work=Esports Insider |url=https://esportsinsider.com/2019/03/cloud9-att-sponsorship/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326223411/https://esportsinsider.com/2019/03/cloud9-att-sponsorship/ |archive-date=March 26, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Club América]] – sponsorship since July 19, 2018

== See also ==
{{columns-list|colwidth=400px|rules=yes|
* [[List of public corporations by market capitalization]]
* [[List of largest companies by revenue]]
* [[List of United States telephone companies]]
* [[List of mobile network operators in the United States]]
* [[List of telecommunications companies]]
* [[List of Internet exchange points]]
* [[List of public utilities]]
* [[Bell System]]
** [[Breakup of the Bell System]]
*** ''[[United States v. AT&T (1982)|United States v. AT&T]]''
*** [[Modification of Final Judgment]]
* [[Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act]]
* [[NSA warrantless surveillance]]
** [[MAINWAY]]
** ''[[Hepting v. AT&T]]''
*** [[Mark Klein]]
*** [[Room 641A]]
*[[Pat Fleet]]
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em|refs =

<ref name="kleinex">"Klein Exhibit" Document from Hepting vs AT&T lawsuit from 2007. Reported by Ryan Singel in Wired Magazine, article [https://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2007/06/spy_room "AT&T 'Spy Room' Documents Unsealed; You've Already Seen Them"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122162440/http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2007/06/spy_room |date=January 22, 2014}} June 13, 2007, Documents posted at the [https://www.eff.org Electronic Frontier Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016100545/http://www.eff.org/ |date=October 16, 2008}} website: [http://eff.org/legal/cases/att (File "SER_klein_exhibits.pdf")] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011182610/http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/att/ |date=October 11, 2008}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|AT&T}}
; Corporate information
* {{Official website|https://www.att.com/}}
* [https://bellsystemmemorial.com/bellopercomp-att.html Bell Operating Companies (from Bell System Memorial)]
{{Finance links
| name = AT&T Inc.
| symbol = T
| sec_cik = 732717
| yahoo = T
| google = T:NYSE
}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110830202115/http://www.fi.edu/learn/case-files/att/ AT&T] – History and science resources at The Franklin Institute's Case Files online exhibit (archived 30 August 2011)

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