AT&T Wireless 2008 Annual Report Download - page 78

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| AT&T Annual Report 2008
Report of Management
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
The integrity and objectivity of the data in these financial statements, including estimates and judgments relating to matters
not concluded by year-end, are the responsibility of management, as is all other information included in the Annual Report,
unless otherwise indicated.
The financial statements of AT&T Inc. (AT&T) have been audited by Ernst&YoungLLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm. Management has made available to Ernst&YoungLLP all of AT&T’s financial records and related data, as well as the minutes
of stockholders’ and directors’ meetings. Furthermore, management believes that all representations made to Ernst&YoungLLP
during its audit were valid and appropriate.
Management maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed
by AT&T is recorded, processed, summarized, accumulated and communicated to its management, including its principal executive
and principal financial officers, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and reported within the time periods
specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.
Management also seeks to ensure the objectivity and integrity of its financial data by the careful selection of its managers,
by organizational arrangements that provide an appropriate division of responsibility and by communication programs aimed
at ensuring that its policies, standards and managerial authorities are understood throughout the organization.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors meets periodically with management, the internal auditors and the independent
auditors to review the manner in which they are performing their respective responsibilities and to discuss auditing, internal
accounting controls and financial reporting matters. Both the internal auditors and the independent auditors periodically meet
alone with the Audit Committee and have access to the Audit Committee at any time.
Assessment of Internal Control
The management of AT&T is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as
defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. AT&T’s internal control system was designed to
provide reasonable assurance to the company’s management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation
of published financial statements.
AT&T management assessed the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008.
In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework. Based on its assessment, AT&T management believes that,
as of December 31, 2008, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements included in this
Annual Report, has issued an attestation report on the company’s internal control over financial reporting. The attestation
report is included on Page 78.
Randall Stephenson Richard G. Lindner
Chairman of the Board, Senior Executive Vice President and
Chief Executive Officer and President Chief Financial Officer