OUR COMMITMENT: RESPECTING AND PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY
The AT&T family of companies ("AT&T") recognizes that the trust of our customers and Web visitors requires vigilant, responsible privacy protections.
We respect and protect the privacy of our customers. As a provider of telecommunications and related services and products we recognize that we must maintain the confidentiality of every customer's telephone calling and other account information.
We also respect and protect the privacy of our Web visitors. The expansion of online services and changing technologies continues to create unique privacy concerns and we recognize the need to maintain the confidentiality of information that Web visitors reasonably expect to remain private.
We have a long history of vigorously protecting customer and web visitor privacy. Our customers and web visitors expect, deserve and receive nothing less than our fullest commitment to their privacy. We also have an obligation to assist law enforcement and other government agencies responsible for protecting the public welfare, whether it be an individual or the security interests of the entire nation. If and when we are asked to help, we do so strictly within the law and under the most stringent conditions.
* AT&T Inc. was created on Nov. 18, 2005, through a merger of SBC Communications Inc. and AT&T Corp. We continue to undergo branding changes to bring together all former SBC and AT&T brands and this privacy policy applies irrespective of AT&T or SBC branding.
This privacy policy addresses the privacy of AT&T retail customers and Web visitors in the United States. Where applicable, AT&T will comply with the laws of other countries that contain mandatory requirements that differ from this policy. In selected jurisdictions outside the United States, a member of the AT&T family of companies may adopt a separate privacy policy to reflect the requirements of applicable local laws.
This policy identifies the types of data and information we collect, how we use it, how you can control its use and the steps we take to protect it. The primary focus of this policy is non-public information that identifies or that is linked to the identity of a customer or Web visitor ("personal identifying information").
In this policy, the AT&T family of companies means AT&T Inc. and its subsidiary and affiliated entities. Members of the AT&T family of companies have agreed to the privacy practices in this policy - except for Cingular® Wireless and YELLOWPAGES.COM, both of which are joint ventures between AT&T and Bell South and operate under their own privacy policies. Personal identifying information shared between Cingular® Wireless or YELLOWPAGES.com and other AT&T family of company members will be used and protected as set forth in this policy.
This policy does not apply where non-members of the AT&T family of companies ("third parties") have licensed the AT&T brand for use with their own products or services. For example, the policy does not apply to Advanced American Telephones, which licenses the AT&T Brand to sell telephone equipment, or to Citibank, which licenses the AT&T Brand to offer its AT&T Universal Card.
When you sign up for certain AT&T-offered services, you may agree to additional privacy policies that address service-specific privacy practices. For example, certain AT&T Internet services - AT&T Yahoo! Dial, AT&T Yahoo! DSL, AT&T Yahoo! Small Business and AT&T Yahoo! Geocities - and AT&T U-verse TV and Homezone services are subject to an additional privacy policy. View a copy of the AT&T Yahoo! and Video Services policy. Similarly, AT&T | DISH network service is subject to an additional privacy policy.
WHAT PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION WE COLLECT, HOW WE USE IT AND HOW YOU CAN CONTROL ITS USE
Personal identifying information we collect and use
We collect personal identifying information regarding our customers, including information customers give us, information collected as a result of the customer’s relationship with us and information we obtain from other sources. Examples include name; address; e-mail address; telephone number; billing, payment, usage, credit and transaction information (including credit card numbers, account numbers and/or social security number); and demographic information.
We also collect personal identifying information that our Web visitors choose to provide to us (e.g., name, address, telephone number, e-mail address) when registering on our Web sites; ordering AT&T-offered products or services; sending us e-mail; responding to our surveys; entering contests or sweepstakes; or in connection with online ordering or billing functions.
We use the personal identifying information of a customer to provide, confirm, change, bill, monitor and resolve problems with the quality of AT&T-offered products and services. We also use the personal identifying information of a customer or Web visitor to develop, market and sell our products and services.
We may aggregate the personal identifying information of different customers or Web visitors to produce data about a group or category of services, customers or Web visitors. For example, we might use aggregate data about the types of services our customers have generally purchased at the same time in order to develop attractive bundled service offerings. Such aggregate data, however, will not reflect any personal identifying information of any specific customer or Web visitor.
Personal identifying information we disclose to third parties
We may provide personal identifying information to third parties where required to provide certain AT&T-offered products and services. For example, we disclose certain AT&T | DISH Network-related personal identifying information to Echostar Satellite Corporation, L.L.C. and its affiliates solely in order to provide AT&T | DISH Network services.
We may also provide personal identifying information to third parties who perform functions or services on our behalf. Examples include shipping companies who deliver AT&T products; AT&T-authorized agents who market and sell AT&T-offered products and services on our behalf; and Web site development or advertising companies, who provide Web design, analysis and advertising services.
When we provide such personal identifying information to third parties to perform such functions or services on our behalf, we require that they protect personal identifying information consistent with this policy and do not allow them to use such information for other purposes.
We may, where permitted or required by law, provide personal identifying information to third parties (including credit bureaus or collection agencies) without your consent:
To obtain payment for AT&T-offered products and services, enforce or apply our customer agreements, and/or protect our rights or property.
To comply with court orders, subpoenas, or other legal or regulatory requirements.
To prevent unlawful use of communications or other services, to assist in repairing network outages, and when a call is made to 911 from a customer phone and information regarding the caller’s location is transmitted to a public safety agency .
To notify a responsible governmental entity if we reasonably believe that an emergency involving immediate danger of death or serious physical injury to any person requires or justifies disclosure without delay.
A customer’s name and telephone number may also be transmitted and displayed on a Caller ID device unless the customer has elected to block such information. Caller ID Blocking does not prevent the display of the number when you dial certain business numbers, 911, 900 numbers or toll-free 800, 888, 877 or 866 numbers.
Information included in our directories and directory assistance service
We publish and distribute directories in print, on the Internet, and on CDs and/or other electronic media (some complimentary and some for a fee). These directories include limited personal identifying information about our customers - i.e., published customer names, addresses and telephone numbers - without restriction to their use. Our directories may also include information obtained from third parties. We also make that information available through directory assistance operators and through the Internet. For more information on controlling the disclosure of this information, see Obtaining non-published and non-listed numbers below.
We are required by law to provide published customer names, addresses and telephone numbers (or non-published status) to unaffiliated directory publishers and directory assistance providers, over whom AT&T has no control, for their use in creating directories and offering directory assistance services.
This directory information is not legally protected by copyrights and may be sorted, packaged, repackaged and made available again in different formats by anyone, including AT&T.
Obtaining non-published and non-listed numbers
Except as described below, telephone listings of AT&T local telephone customers are made available in our directories and through directory assistance.
When a customer subscribes to AT&T local telephone service, we offer the opportunity to request that the customer’s name, number, and address not be published in our directories or made available through our directory assistance.
The names, numbers and addresses of customers who choose to have a "non-published" number will not be available in our directories or through our directory assistance. Likewise, we do not make non-published numbers available to others to include in directories or to provide directory assistance services.
The names, numbers and addresses of customers who choose to have a "non-listed" number will not be available in AT&T directories, but the information will be publicly available through directory assistance and will be provided to unaffiliated directory assistance providers over whom AT&T exercises no control.
There is a fee for customers who choose to have non-published or non-listed telephone numbers.
Customers may choose to exclude partial or all address information from their listings.
Customers in Nevada do not have the option of a non-listed number.
We comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding "Do Not Call" lists. These laws generally permit companies to contact their own customers even though such customers are listed on the federal and, in some instances, state "Do Not Call" lists.
Residential consumers may request that they be removed from AT&T’s telemarketing lists at any time, including when an AT&T marketing and promotional call is received or by contacting an AT&T service representative.
Where required by state laws and/or regulations, we also honor requests from business customers to be removed from our telemarketing lists.
Cingular® Wireless maintains its own "Do Not Call" policy and lists. Please contact Cingular Wireless directly at 1-866-CINGULAR if you wish to be placed on its "Do Not Call" list.
Customer Proprietary Network Information
In the normal course of providing telecommunications services to our customers, we collect and maintain certain customer proprietary network information, also known as "CPNI". Your CPNI includes the types of telecommunications services you currently purchase, how you use them and related billing information for those services. Your telephone number, name and address are not CPNI.
Protecting the confidentiality of your CPNI is your right and our duty under federal law. We do not sell, trade or share your CPNI - including your calling records - with anyone outside of the AT&T family of companies or with anyone not authorized to represent us to offer our products or services, or to perform functions on our behalf except as may be required by law or authorized by you.
As a general rule, we are permitted to use CPNI in our provision of telecommunications services you purchase, including billing and collections for those services. We are permitted to use or disclose CPNI to offer telecommunications services of the same type that you already purchase from us. We may also use or disclose your CPNI for legal or regulatory reasons such as a court order, to investigate fraud or to protect against the unlawful use of our telecommunications network and services and to protect other users.
WHAT ONLINE INFORMATION WE COLLECT, HOW WE USE IT AND HOW YOU CAN CONTROL ITS USE
Web usage information we collect and use
When Web visitors access our Web sites we automatically receive certain "Web usage" information. For example, our Web servers automatically collect the visitor's IP address, the visitor's Web browser and operating system types, and the identity of the Web page from which the visitor's browser entered our Web site. In addition, primarily through the use of cookies or Web beacons, we may collect other Web usage information, such as the Web pages the browser visits on our Web sites, the amount of time spent on such Web pages and whether the browser re-visits our Web sites/pages.
We use Web usage information to facilitate and enable the functioning of our Web sites and to expand and improve our Web visitors' online experience. We may also aggregate such Web usage information with other visitors' Web usage information to assess trends and better design, monitor and otherwise improve our Web sites, as well as to focus our marketing efforts.
In some cases we may combine Web usage information related to your access to our Web sites with personal identifying information. We use the combined information to provide our customers and Web visitors with a better online experience by providing customized features and services and to market and provide advertising about goods and services that may be of particular interest. Once combined, the resulting data is protected as personal identifying information as described in this policy.
How we use cookies, Web beacons, etc.
Cookies are alphanumeric identifiers that a Web server sends to your computer when you visit a Web site. Cookies can contain a variety of information, such as a simple count of how often you visit a Web site or information that allows us to customize our Web site for your use. Web beacons (also known as "clear gifs" or "one-pixel gifs") are small graphic images on a Web page or in an e-mail that allow us to monitor the activity on our Web sites or to make cookies more effective.
We, or a third party acting on our behalf, may use "cookies" to tailor and improve the content we deliver to our Web visitors, to improve our Web sites by assessing which areas, features, and products are most popular, and to personalize our Web sites and make recommendations based on information, including product choices, a particular visitor has previously provided. For example, we may use a cookie to identify your state so we do not ask you to enter it more than once. We also use cookies to store user preferences, complete online order activity and keep track of transactions.
We, or a third party acting on our behalf, may use Web beacons in certain of our Web pages and e-mails to gauge the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns and e-mail correspondence. For example, we may use Web beacons in our HTML-based e-mails to let us know which e-mails have been opened by the recipients.
You can configure your Web browser to alert you when a Web site is attempting to send a cookie to your computer and allow you to accept or refuse the cookie. You can also set your browser to disable the capacity to receive cookies or you can delete cookies previously accepted. Some AT&T Web pages (and other Web pages) may not work correctly if you have cookies disabled.
We may use advertising companies to deliver ads for AT&T-offered services and products on our Web sites or on third party Web sites. These Internet ads are often called "banner ads" and may contain third-party cookies or Web beacons that allow tracking of visitors' responses to our advertisements. Although these third parties may receive anonymous Web usage information about ad viewing on such Web sites, we prohibit them from using this information for any purpose other than to assist us in measuring the effectiveness of our ads.
We may also accept third party advertisements on our Web sites. You should refer to the privacy policy of these advertisers for information regarding their use of cookies and collection of information. You can visit the Network Advertising Initiative Web site to opt out of certain network advertisers' cookies.
Our e-mail marketing practices
We periodically send customers news and updates via e-mail regarding AT&T-offered services, products, and special promotions. Every marketing e-mail we send contains instructions and an opt-out link that will allow you to stop additional AT&T marketing e-mails based on line of business.
We do not provide your e-mail address to third parties for the marketing of third-party products without your consent.
Our policy on online access by children
AT&T Web sites are not designed to attract children under the age of 13. We do not target children for the collection of information online and do not knowingly collect personal identifying information from anyone under the age of 18.
Ordering online products and services from AT&T is limited to adults (age 18 or over or as otherwise legally defined).
We comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which requires the consent of a parent or guardian for the collection of personally identifiable information from children under 13.
Linking to other sites
Our Web sites may provide links to third party sites. We are not responsible for the privacy, security or content of such sites. If you are asked to provide information on one of these Web sites, we encourage you carefully to review their privacy policy before sharing your information.
Online privacy education
We care about the privacy of our customers and Web visitors and strive to provide you with relevant information to help you learn how better to protect your privacy and security while online. Please visit the AT&T Internet Safety Web site and the AT&T Worldnet Security Center.
All AT&T employees are subject to the AT&T Code of Business Conduct and certain state-mandated codes of conduct. The AT&T Code requires all our employees to follow every law, rule, regulation, court and/or commission order that applies to our business at all times. In addition, the Code specifically requires compliance with legal requirements and company policies related to the privacy of communications and the security and privacy of customer records. Employees who fail to meet any of the standards embodied in the Code of Business Conduct may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
We employ security measures designed to protect against unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure or destruction of data, including personal identifying information. We have implemented technology and security features and strict policy guidelines to safeguard the privacy of your personal identifying information, and we will continue to enhance our security procedures as new technology becomes available. For example:
We maintain and protect the security of our servers and we typically require user names and passwords to access sensitive data.
We use industry standard encryption methods to protect your data transmission unless you authorize unencrypted transmission.
We limit access to personal identifying information to those employees, contractors, and agents who need access to such information to operate, develop, or improve our services and products.
If we determine that a security breach has occurred and that such breach creates a risk of identity theft or service disruption, we will make reasonable attempts to notify you.
This privacy policy supersedes and replaces all previously posted privacy policies.
We want you to be aware of the information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it. We reserve the right to update this privacy policy to reflect any changes we make in order to continue to serve the best interests of our customers and Web visitors and will timely post those changes. If we make a material change to this privacy policy, we will post a prominent notice on our Web sites.
If we intend, however, to use personal identifying information in a manner materially different from that stated at the time of collection, we will attempt to notify you at least 30 days in advance using an address or e-mail address, if you have provided one, and by posting a prominent notice on our Web sites, and you will be given a choice as to whether or not we use your information in this different manner.
Please periodically check our Web sites for changes to this privacy policy.
AT&T honors requests from customers and Web visitors to review their personal identifying information that we maintain in reasonably retrievable form and we will gladly correct any such information that is inaccurate. You may verify that appropriate corrections have been made. Please contact an AT&T service representative.
If you are receiving unwanted e-mails at or from an SBC Yahoo! e-mail address (e.g., @sbcglobal.net, @yahoo.com) please visit the AT&T Yahoo! Anti-Spam Resource Center. For AT&T Worldnet unwanted e-mails, please visit the AT&T Worldnet Spam Center.
We are happy to address any concerns you may have about our privacy practices and policies. You may e-mail us at privacypolicy@ATT.com or write to us at AT&T Privacy Policy, 175 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205.
AT&T is a TRUSTe licensee. TRUSTe is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to build user’s trust and confidence in the Internet by promoting the use of fair information practices. Because AT&T wants to demonstrate its commitment to your privacy, it has agreed to disclose its information practices and have its privacy practices reviewed for compliance by TRUSTe. The TRUSTe program covers only information collected through AT&T Web sites, and does not cover information that may be collected through software downloaded from such sites.
AT&T's privacy policy and practices also meet the requirements of the Better Business Bureau’s Online Privacy Program, and we proudly display the BBBOnLine Privacy Seal. Further information about this program is available at http://www.bbbonLine.org.
If you have questions or concerns regarding this policy, you should first contact us via e-mail at privacypolicy@att.com. If you do not receive acknowledgment of your inquiry or your inquiry is not satisfactorily addressed, you should then contact TRUSTe through the TRUSTe Watchdog Dispute Resolution Process and TRUSTe will serve as a liaison to resolve your concerns. You may also contact BBBOnLine at http://www.bbbonLine.org.
