ATT RI Blizzard Release

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    For more information, contact:

    Meaghan Wims

    Duffy & Shanley for AT&T New England(401) 278-4434

    [email protected]

    AT&T NETWORKS PREPARED AS BLIZZARD

    APPROACHES NEW ENGLAND

    Company Encourages Customers to Prepare, Offers Communication Tips

    PROVIDENCE, R.I., JANUARY 26, 2015 - With an arsenal of disaster response

    equipment and personnel on standby as a blizzard nears, AT&T* is ready to respond

    quickly.

    AT&T has activated our storm preparedness process as we closely monitor the blizzard,

    which is expected to impact New England over the next several days. Among our

    preparations, weve topped off fuel at generators positioned at cell sites, installed and

    tested high-capacity back-up batteries at cell sites, installed Quick Connect Generator

    Plugs at many of our cell sites and staged additional emergency response equipment in

    strategic locations. Our national reliability center is monitoring outages for quick action.

    In addition, AT&T has continued to enhance network redundancy in storm-prone areas

    by installing more back-up and permanent generators at critical cell sites and switching

    facilities; locating critical equipment in less vulnerable areas and upgrading electronics

    critical to network operations above expected flood levels.

    We know our customers rely on AT&T, particularly during major snowstorms like

    this," said Patricia Jacobs, President, AT&T New England. "That's why we conduct

    extensive readiness drills and simulations throughout the year and do all that we can to

    have our networks prepared when severe weather strikes. We have been working for the

    past few days to position equipment and crews to respond to the storm and are closely

    linked with Rhode Island public officials in their storm response efforts. With a storm of

    this magnitude, we may have some outages. But if service goes down, we'll do all we

    can to get it back up as fast as possible."

    Just as we prepare our networks and personnel, AT&T encourages residents and small

    businesses to consider the following recommendations in the wake of the storm.

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    Consumer Tips:

    Keep your wireless phone batteries charged at all times.Have an alternativeplan to recharge your battery in case of a power outage, such as using your car

    charger to charge your device or having extra mobile phone batteries on hand.

    Keep your wireless phone dry.The biggest threat to your device during stormsis water, so keep your equipment safe from the elements by storing it in a baggie

    or some other type of protective covering.

    Have a family communication plan in place. Designate someone out of the

    area asa central contact, and make certain that all family members know who tocontact if they get separated. Most importantly, practice your emergency plan in

    advance.

    Program all of your emergency contact numbers and e-mail addresses intoyour mobile phone. Numbers should include the police department, fire stationand hospital, as well as your family members.

    Forward your home number to your wireless number in the event of an

    evacuation.Because call forwarding is based out of the telephone central office,you will get incoming calls from your landline phone even if your local telephone

    service is disrupted at your home. In the unlikely event that the central office is

    not operational, services such as Voicemail, Call Forwarding, Remote Accesscall forwarding and call forwarding busy line/dont answer may be useful.

    Track the storm and access weather information on your wireless device.Many homes lose power during severe weather. If you have a wireless devicethat provides access to the Internet, you can keep updated with local radar and

    severe weather alerts

    Camera phones provide assistance. If you have a camera phone, take, storeand send photos even video clips of damaged property to your insurance

    company from your device.

    Take advantage of location-based mapping technology. Services such as

    AT&T Navigator and AT&T FamilyMap can help you seek evacuation routes oravoid traffic congestion from downed trees or power lines, as well as track a

    family members wireless device in case you get separated.

    Maximizing Service During and After a Snowstorm:

    Try text messaging. During an emergency situation, text messages may gothrough more quickly than voice calls because they require fewer network

    resources. All of AT&Ts wireless devices are text messaging capable.

    Depending on your text or data plan, additional charges may apply.

    Be prepared for high call volume. During an emergency, many people aretrying to use their phones at the same time. The increased calling volume maycreate network congestion, leading to fast busy signals on your wireless phone

    or a slow dial tone on your landline phone. If this happens, hang up, wait several

    seconds and then try the call again. This allows your original call data to clear thenetwork before you try again.

    Keep non-emergency calls to a minimum, and limit your calls to the mostimportant ones. If there is severe weather, chances are many people will be

    attempting to place calls to loved ones, friends and business associates.

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    Small Business Tips:

    Set up a call-forwarding service to a predetermined backup location.Set upa single or multiple hotline number(s) for employees, employees families,

    customers and partners, as appropriate, to call so that all parties know about the

    business situation and emergency plan. For this to be most effective, maintain anupdated contact list, including mobile and home phone numbers and e-mail

    addresses, for all employees.

    Protect hardware/software/data records/employee records, etc.Routinelyback up these files to an off-site location. Use a generator for supplying backup

    power to vital computer hardware and other mission-critical equipment.Prearrange the replacement of damaged hardware with vendors to ensure quickbusiness recovery.

    Outline detailed plans for evacuation and shelter-in-place plans.Practicethese plans (employee training, etc.). Establish a backup location for your

    business and meeting place for all employees.

    Assemble a crisis-management team and coordinate efforts with

    neighboring businesses and building management.Be aware that disastersaffecting your suppliers also affect your business. Outline a plan for supply chain

    continuity for business essentials.

    Additional information and tips for disaster preparedness can be found atwww.att.com/vitalconnections.

    *AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc.

    under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

    About AT&T

    AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions of people and businesses around the globe stay connected

    through leading wireless, high-speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. Were helping

    people mobilize their worlds with state-of-the-art communications, entertainment services and

    amazing innovations like connected cars and devices for homes, offices and points in between.

    Our U.S. wireless network offers customers the nations strongest LTE signal and the nations

    most reliable 4G LTE network. We offer the best global wireless coverage. Were improving how

    our customers stay entertained and informed with AT&T U-verseTV and High Speed Internet

    services. And businesses worldwide are serving their customers better with AT&Ts mobility and

    highly secure cloud solutions.

    Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at http://about.att.com.

    Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube

    at http://www.youtube.com/att.

    2015 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks

    contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

    All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

    Reliability and signal strength claims based on nationwide carriers LTE. Signal strength claim

    based ONLY on avg. LTE signal strength. LTE not available everywhere. Global coverage claim

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    based on offering voice and data roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier,

    and offering the most wireless smartphones and tablets that work in the most countries.