4.18.2006 ET

(CSRwire) AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2006--AT&T Inc. and its philanthropic arm, the AT&T Foundation, announced today a sponsorship agreement with The University of Texas System to be named a Title Sponsor of Transforming Texas, a new public television series airing this fall on public stations across the state.

Transforming Texas is a series of 13 half-hour programs that will address the most critical issues facing Texas and demonstrate what public higher education is doing to address these challenges. The series will air in public television markets in Texas. The series will run for 13 weeks with potential for re-broadcasts in other venues.

"AT&T's support helps ensure that Transforming Texas will develop a more informed populace that is knowledgeable about the challenges and opportunities facing Texas and aware of what higher education contributes to the health, prosperity, and quality of life in our state," said Mark G. Yudof, chancellor of The University of Texas System. "We are extremely grateful for this partnership and for the opportunity to be aligned with one of the world's leading communications companies."

Partners in the project include the nine University of Texas System academic institutions in Austin, Arlington, Brownsville, Dallas, Edinburg, El Paso, Midland-Odessa, San Antonio, and Tyler, and the six UT System health institutions: the UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston); UT Medical Branch at Galveston; UT Health Science Center at San Antonio; UT Health Science Center at Houston; and the UT Health Center at Tyler. A number of other state universities with major research capabilities in Texas have been invited to be featured in the television series. These institutions will provide content and access for filming to highlight the value and contributions to Texas of their research, star educators and scientists, and innovative solutions to global problems.

"Public-private partnerships such as this create innovative solutions," said John Montford, AT&T senior vice president, legislative and regulatory affairs. "We hope this sponsorship encourages and challenges other corporate citizens to continue stepping forward as partners in future endeavors like these."

Public institutions of higher education have remarkable impact on the every day lives of individuals and the overall economy of Texas, according to Randa S. Safady, vice chancellor for external relations for the UT System. "But while higher education may be known as a private benefit to an individual, its broader public benefit to society is often not conveyed," Safady said. "Thanks to the generosity of AT&T, this television series will demonstrate how higher education provides solutions to some of the most critical issues facing Texans - such as health care, security, clean water and air, medical advancements and improving public education. Not only has AT&T been a friend to higher education by supporting cutting edge research and new discoveries, it is also helping higher education demonstrate its value to society. We could not ask for anything more important than that, and once again, AT&T has responded with a progressive and visionary approach to partner with us in this capacity."

Additionally, institutions of higher education contribute billions of dollars in direct spending, recirculated wealth and personal income; and they are among the largest employers in the state. But more and more, public higher education entities in Texas rely upon private support from foundations, corporations and individuals to maintain cutting edge research development, attract and retain top scholars in both teaching and student populations and perform in ways that contribute to health and prosperity in the state.

Transforming Texas will illustrate the advances in health, education, economic development and quality of life being led by University of Texas institutions. Potential themes for episodes include:

-- The Aging of Texas. Examines the health, medical and social advances that are confronting the new problems of an increasing elderly population.

-- Thinking Small. Some of the best scientists in Texas are focusing on nanotechnology - the science of using atoms and molecules to create new and different materials for medicine and industry.

-- Learning Curves. To improve K-12 teaching and learning in public schools, education experts are developing new research-based approaches for public education.

-- Living With It. Cutting-edge programs and treatments offered by Texas institutions that are enabling increasing numbers of Texans not only to survive cancer but to live with disease and treatment after-effects.

AT&T Inc. and the AT&T Foundation have been longstanding supporters of The University of Texas System and of programs to support higher education in Texas, contributing more than $16.6 million in grants, matching gifts, and corporate contributions to University of Texas entities since 1992. Examples of recent AT&T Foundation grants to UT System institutions and to support Texas higher education include:

-- The University of Texas - M. D.Anderson Cancer Center ($2 million grant) - To support a Telehealth Center providing clinical telemedicine services, distance education and multi-media instruction, and a multi-purpose auditorium.

-- The University of Texas at Austin ($1 million grant) - To support programs to strengthen math, science, engineering and arts education and promote the use of technology in teaching and learning.

-- The College for All Texans Foundation ($800,000 grant) - To provide technology for a fleet of mobile educational resource centers, designed to bring college-related information, motivation and assistance to students and their families, especially in high-density urban areas and in underserved rural communities, helping meet the challenge of getting more students to prepare for and succeed in higher education.

About the new AT&T Foundation

The new AT&T Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AT&T Inc., supports programs that build communities and improve access to information technologies, technology training and professional skills development. The new AT&T Foundation will provide more than $60 million in 2006 in charitable contributions, thereby, placing it among the top five largest corporate foundations in the country. The new AT&T Foundation combines more than 40 years and $1.7 billion of philanthropic commitment to communities across the country.

About the New AT&T

AT&T Inc. is one of the world's largest telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high-speed DSL Internet, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with more than 54 million wireless customers. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at www.TheNewATT.com.

About the UT System

The UT System is one of the nation's largest higher education systems with 15 campuses, including nine academic and six health institutions, and an annual operating budget of $9.6 billion (FY 2006). Student enrollment exceeds 184,000 in the 2005 academic year.

The UT System confers one-third of the state's undergraduate degrees and educates three-fourths of Texas health care professionals. With more than 76,000 employees, the UT System is one of the largest employers in Texas.


Copyright Business Wire 2006

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