SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) is one of the country's Top 25 Companies for Executive Women, according to the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE). This marks the third consecutive year SBC has been singled out for its commitment to and success in providing opportunities for women at all levels of the company.

SBC ranks 12th on this year's list and is the only telecommunications company to make NAFE's top 25 ranking, which recognizes companies that provide the best opportunities for women among Fortune 1000 companies.

"Promoting opportunities for women has been fundamental to our success. There's no doubt that women will continue to play an important role in driving the future of this company," said Edward E. Whitacre Jr., chairman and CEO, SBC Communications. "Diversity in our employee and management ranks makes us more responsive to our customers and employees."

To make the Top 25 list, a Fortune 1000 company must have at least two women on its board of directors, a high proportion of women at all levels of the organization, and a steadily increasing percentage of women in senior management. NAFE also analyzed how companies measure women's progress and hold managers accountable, particularly with financial incentives. Other considerations included the existence of programs that groom women for upper management, mentoring initiatives, networking, and flexible work arrangements and child-care benefits.

"When companies conscientiously transform their environments so women can succeed, they deserve recognition," said Dr. Betty C. Spence, president of NAFE.

SBC's workforce is 48 percent female; women make up 26 percent of SBC's corporate officers. In addition, women make up 29 percent of SBC's board of directors. The most recent Catalyst Census of Women Corporate Officers and Top Earners shows that SBC's female representation among its executive ranks is more than double that among the average Fortune 500 company.

The Top 25 Companies for Executive Women, previously published by Working Woman magazine, will now continue under NAFE's auspices. Other Fortune 1000 companies to make this year's list include Fannie Mae, IBM, Merck & Co. Inc, and Hewlett-Packard.

SBC is a national leader in fostering diversity. In 2001, SBC received the Center for Responsibility in Business's Corporate Conscience Award for Employee Empowerment: Workforce Diversity and Fortune magazine named SBC one of the 50 Best Companies for Minorities for the third consecutive year. Last year the company was also named Working Woman's Top Company for Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses.

SBC Communications Inc. (www.sbc.com) is one of the world's leading data, voice and Internet services providers. Through its world-class network and its subsidiaries' trusted brands - SBC Southwestern Bell, SBC Ameritech, SBC Pacific Bell, SBC Nevada Bell, SBC SNET and Sterling Commerce - SBC companies provide a full range of voice, data, networking and e-business services, as well as directory advertising and publishing. A Fortune 15 company, America's leading provider of DSL high-speed Internet service, and one of the nation's leading Internet Service Providers, SBC companies currently serve nearly 60 million access lines nationwide. In addition, SBC owns 60 percent of America's second largest wireless company -- Cingular Wireless -- which serves more than 21 million wireless customers. Internationally, SBC has telecommunications investments in 28 countries.

The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), founded in 1977, is the largest women's professional and business association in the country. It publishes Executive Female, a bi-monthly publication distributed to 125,000 members. NAFE is part of Working Mother Media, which also operates Working Mother magazine, the annual WorkLife Congress, and the 9/11 Working Mother Children's Fund to aid organizations assisting working parents and children affected by the September 11th tragedy.

SBC Communications Inc.

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