Print View

DAVENPORT, Iowa, March 22, 2006 — AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced that it has been awarded a $3 million integrated networking contract from Lee Enterprises (NYSE: LEE), the fourth-largest newspaper group in America with 58 daily newspapers and more than 300 weekly newspapers and specialty publications in 23 states. The three-year agreement renews and expands a long-standing relationship between the two companies.

With numerous communities relying on Lee to deliver the news each day, network reliability is vital to the company’s success. Under terms of the contract, AT&T will combine Lee’s voice and data onto one integrated platform, which will significantly speed network access at Lee’s offices nationwide. As a result, the company will improve its ability to share mission-critical information both internally and to its 4 million daily readers.

“With our rapid online growth, news deadlines come every minute of every day, so the journalists at our various locations need the reliable and fast access to information that AT&T delivers,” said Brian Kardell, vice president of production and chief information officer at Lee Enterprises. “AT&T’s advanced networking solutions also help our managers optimize efficiency and performance across the company’s operations.”
The Lee family has been growing rapidly. Four years ago, the company had 28 daily newspapers; today, it has 58, along with rapidly growing online sites and a rich roster of weekly newspapers and specialty publications. Last year, Lee acquired Pulitzer Inc., adding 14 markets to the company’s reach.

AT&T’s solution will seamlessly combine Lee’s network with existing properties to ensure reliable and secure voice and data flow on a single integrated platform. With such systemwide deployment of enterprise resource management applications, Lee expects to significantly improve business operations.

AT&T also provides Lee Enterprises with the highest network availability and reliability by deploying AT&T ACCU-Ring® Network Access Service at its Davenport, Iowa headquarters building. ACCU-Ring’s self-healing capabilities help ensure that financial and business data can flow securely and uninterrupted among the company’s locations.

In addition, the contract includes AT&T domestic local, long distance and toll-free services.

# # #

About Lee Enterprises

Lee Enterprises is a premier publisher of newspapers in midsize markets, with 52 dailies and a joint interest in six others, a rapidly growing online business and more than 300 weekly newspapers and specialty publications in 23 states. Lee''s newspapers have circulation of 1.7 million daily and 1.9 million Sunday, reaching more than 4 million readers daily, and its weekly publications have distribution of more than 4.5 million households. Lee''s newspapers include such diverse markets as Napa, Calif.; Bloomington, Ill.; Billings, Mont.; Escondido, Calif.; Madison, Wis.; and St. Louis, Mo. Lee is based in Davenport, Iowa. For more information about Lee Enterprises, please visit www.lee.net.

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.

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved. Subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. provide products and services under the AT&T brand.

For more information and detailed disclaimer information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at www.sbc.com/newsroom.