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AT&T: Difference between revisions
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== Political involvement == | == Political involvement == | ||
{{Update section|date=June 2018}} | {{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 Democrats. In 2005, AT&T was among 53 entities that contributed the maximum of $250,000 to the second inauguration of President [[George W. Bush]].<ref name="drinkard2005">{{Cite news |last=Drinkard |first=Jim |date=January 17, 2005 |title=Donors get good seats, great access this week |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inauguration-donors_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=May 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628235354/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inauguration-donors_x.htm |archive-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref><ref name="usatoday25may2008">{{Cite news |date=January 16, 2005 |title=Financing the inauguration |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inaugural-donors_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=May 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628235320/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inaugural-donors_x.htm |archive-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref><ref name="AP25may2005">{{Cite news |date=January 14, 2005 |title=Some question inaugural's multi-million price tag |work=[[USA Today]] |agency= | According to [[OpenSecrets]], AT&T was the fourteenth-largest donor to United States federal political campaigns and committees from 1989 to 2019,<ref name="osorghh2011">{{Cite web |year=2020 |title=Top Organization Contributors |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?cycle=ALL |access-date=January 2, 2020 |website=[[OpenSecrets]] |location=United States |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230184031/http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?cycle=ALL |url-status=live }}</ref> having contributed more than {{US$|84.1 million}}, 42% of which went to [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 58% of which went to 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> | 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> | ||
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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 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= | 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> | 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> | ||
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=== Aaron Slator controversy === | === 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= | 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> | 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> | ||