UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
                                                       
(Mark One)
 
x
 
 
  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015
 
or
 
 
 
o
 TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
       
For the transition period from          to

Commission File Number 1-8610

AT&T INC.

Incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware
I.R.S. Employer Identification Number 43-1301883

208 S. Akard St., Dallas, Texas 75202
Telephone Number: (210) 821-4105


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
                                                                                                                                                                        Yes [X]    No [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
                                                                                                                                                               Yes [X]   No [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of "accelerated filer," "large accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer
[X]
 
Accelerated filer
[   ]
Non-accelerated filer
[   ]
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
[   ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
                                                                                                                                                                            Yes [   ]   No [X]

At October 31, 2015, there were 6,152 million common shares outstanding.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements

AT&T INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
       
As Adjusted
       
As Adjusted
 
Operating Revenues
               
Service
 
$
35,625
   
$
29,790
   
$
94,128
   
$
89,122
 
Equipment
   
3,466
     
3,167
     
10,554
     
8,886
 
Total operating revenues
   
39,091
     
32,957
     
104,682
     
98,008
 
                                 
Operating Expenses
                               
Cost of services and sales
                               
   Equipment
   
4,501
     
4,432
     
13,400
     
12,503
 
   Broadcast, programming and operations
   
4,081
     
1,038
     
6,351
     
3,019
 
   Other cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and
         amortization shown separately below)
   
9,214
     
8,866
     
27,604
     
26,167
 
Selling, general and administrative
   
9,107
     
8,475
     
24,535
     
24,932
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
6,265
     
4,539
     
15,539
     
13,706
 
Total operating expenses
   
33,168
     
27,350
     
87,429
     
80,327
 
Operating Income
   
5,923
     
5,607
     
17,253
     
17,681
 
Other Income (Expense)
                               
Interest expense
   
(1,146
)
   
(1,016
)
   
(2,977
)
   
(2,757
)
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates
   
15
     
(2
)
   
48
     
188
 
Other (expense) income – net
   
(57
)
   
42
     
61
     
1,456
 
Total other income (expense)
   
(1,188
)
   
(976
)
   
(2,868
)
   
(1,113
)
Income Before Income Taxes
   
4,735
     
4,631
     
14,385
     
16,568
 
Income tax expense
   
1,657
     
1,444
     
4,784
     
5,914
 
Net Income
   
3,078
     
3,187
     
9,601
     
10,654
 
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
   
(84
)
   
(57
)
   
(262
)
   
(213
)
Net Income Attributable to AT&T
 
$
2,994
   
$
3,130
   
$
9,339
   
$
10,441
 
Basic Earnings Per Share Attributable to AT&T
 
$
0.50
   
$
0.60
   
$
1.71
   
$
2.00
 
Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to AT&T
 
$
0.50
   
$
0.60
   
$
1.71
   
$
2.00
 
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares
                               
   Outstanding – Basic (in millions)
   
5,924
     
5,198
     
5,447
     
5,208
 
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares
                               
   Outstanding with Dilution (in millions)
   
5,943
     
5,214
     
5,463
     
5,224
 
Dividends Declared Per Common Share
 
$
0.47
   
$
0.46
   
$
1.41
   
$
1.38
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
                               
2

AT&T INC.
                       
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
             
Dollars in millions
               
(Unaudited)
                       
   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
       
As Adjusted
       
As Adjusted
 
Net income
 
$
3,078
   
$
3,187
   
$
9,601
   
$
10,654
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
                               
    Foreign Currency:
                               
        Translation adjustment (includes $(20), $(1), $(20) and $0
            attributable to noncontrolling interest), net of taxes of
            $(535), $(22), $(638) and $(17)
   
(1,039
)
   
(35
)
   
(1,224
)
   
(29
)
        Reclassification adjustment included in net income,
            net of taxes of $0, $0, $0 and $224
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
416
 
    Available-for-sale securities:
                               
        Net unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes of $(49), $(15), $(30)
           and $19
   
(85
)
   
(29
)
   
(51
)
   
30
 
        Reclassification adjustment included in net income, net of
           taxes of $2, $(1), $(3) and $(9)
   
3
     
(1
)
   
(6
)
   
(15
)
     Cash flow hedges:
                               
        Net unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes of $(237), $201,
           $(479) and $148
   
(441
)
   
370
     
(890
)
   
272
 
        Reclassification adjustment included in net income,
           net of taxes of $6, $3, $15 and $14
   
11
     
8
     
28
     
29
 
     Defined benefit postretirement plans:
                               
        Amortization of net prior service credit included in
           net income, net of taxes of $(131), $(146), $(393)
           and $(435)
   
(215
)
   
(239
)
   
(644
)
   
(718
)
        Reclassification adjustment included in net income, net of
           taxes $0, $0, $0 and $33
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
61
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
   
(1,766
)
   
74
     
(2,787
)
   
46
 
Total comprehensive income
   
1,312
     
3,261
     
6,814
     
10,700
 
Less: Total comprehensive income attributable to
     noncontrolling interest
   
(64
)
   
(56
)
   
(242
)
   
(213
)
Total Comprehensive Income Attributable to AT&T
 
$
1,248
   
$
3,205
   
$
6,572
   
$
10,487
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
                               
3

AT&T INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
Assets
 
(Unaudited)
   
As Adjusted
 
Current Assets
       
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
6,202
   
$
8,603
 
Accounts receivable - net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $656 and $454
   
16,329
     
14,527
 
Prepaid expenses
   
1,166
     
831
 
Other current assets
   
11,254
     
9,802
 
Total current assets
   
34,951
     
33,763
 
Property, plant and equipment
   
302,194
     
282,295
 
   Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
(179,358
)
   
(169,397
)
Property, Plant and Equipment – Net
   
122,836
     
112,898
 
Goodwill
   
105,966
     
69,692
 
Licenses
   
93,063
     
60,824
 
Customer Lists and Relationships - Net
   
19,608
     
812
 
Other Intangible Assets – Net
   
8,236
     
5,327
 
Investments in Equity Affiliates
   
1,744
     
250
 
Other Assets
   
13,585
     
13,659
 
Total Assets
 
$
399,989
   
$
297,225
 
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
               
Current Liabilities
               
Debt maturing within one year
 
$
7,535
   
$
6,056
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
   
28,280
     
23,592
 
Advanced billing and customer deposits
   
4,640
     
4,105
 
Accrued taxes
   
4,591
     
1,136
 
Dividends payable
   
2,892
     
2,438
 
Total current liabilities
   
47,938
     
37,327
 
Long-Term Debt
   
119,395
     
76,011
 
Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities
               
Deferred income taxes
   
53,044
     
38,549
 
Postemployment benefit obligation
   
36,396
     
37,079
 
Other noncurrent liabilities
   
20,427
     
17,989
 
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities
   
109,867
     
93,617
 
                 
Stockholders' Equity
               
Common stock ($1 par value, 14,000,000,000 authorized at September 30, 2015 and
               
   December 31, 2014: issued 6,495,231,088 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014)
   
6,495
     
6,495
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
89,717
     
91,108
 
Retained earnings
   
32,627
     
31,081
 
Treasury stock (342,990,428 at September 30, 2015 and 1,308,318,131
               
   at December 31, 2014, at cost)
   
(12,309
)
   
(47,029
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
   
5,294
     
8,061
 
Noncontrolling interest
   
965
     
554
 
Total stockholders' equity
   
122,789
     
90,270
 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
$
399,989
   
$
297,225
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
               
4

AT&T INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
Dollars in millions
 
(Unaudited)
           
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
Operating Activities
     
As Adjusted
 
Net income
 
$
9,601
   
$
10,654
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
   Depreciation and amortization
   
15,539
     
13,706
 
   Undistributed earnings from investments in equity affiliates
   
(36
)
   
(45
)
   Provision for uncollectible accounts
   
895
     
692
 
   Deferred income tax expense
   
1,539
     
1,450
 
   Net gain from sale of investments, net of impairments
   
(46
)
   
(1,374
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
   Accounts receivable
   
453
     
(1,269
)
   Other current assets
   
350
     
(840
)
   Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
   
1,279
     
4,790
 
Retirement benefit funding
   
(595
)
   
(420
)
Other - net
   
(2,284
)
   
(1,751
)
Total adjustments
   
17,094
     
14,939
 
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
   
26,695
     
25,593
 
                 
Investing Activities
               
Construction and capital expenditures:
               
   Capital expenditures
   
(13,356
)
   
(16,829
)
   Interest during construction
   
(566
)
   
(178
)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
   
(30,694
)
   
(2,053
)
Dispositions
   
79
     
6,074
 
Sales (purchases) of securities, net
   
1,490
     
(1,996
)
Return of advances to and investments in equity affiliates
   
-
     
3
 
Other
   
-
     
(1
)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
   
(43,047
)
   
(14,980
)
                 
Financing Activities
               
Net change in short-term borrowings with original maturities of three months or less
   
(1
)
   
(16
)
Issuance of long-term debt
   
33,967
     
8,564
 
Repayment of long-term debt
   
(9,962
)
   
(10,376
)
Purchase of treasury stock
   
-
     
(1,617
)
Issuance of treasury stock (excluding acquisition of DIRECTV)
   
133
     
34
 
Dividends paid
   
(7,311
)
   
(7,170
)
Other
   
(2,875
)
   
(913
)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
   
13,951
     
(11,494
)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
   
(2,401
)
   
(881
)
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of year
   
8,603
     
3,339
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents End of Period
 
$
6,202
   
$
2,458
 
Cash paid during the nine months ended September 30 for:
               
   Interest
 
$
3,462
   
$
3,351
 
   Income taxes, net of refunds
 
$
873
   
$
1,337
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
5

AT&T INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
Dollars and shares in millions except per share amounts
 
(Unaudited)
 
   
September 30, 2015
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
 
       
As Adjusted
 
Common Stock
       
Balance at beginning of year
   
6,495
   
$
6,495
 
Issuance of stock
   
-
     
-
 
Balance at end of period
   
6,495
   
$
6,495
 
                 
Additional Paid-In Capital
               
Balance at beginning of year
         
$
91,108
 
Issuance of treasury stock
           
(1,593
)
Share-based payments
           
202
 
Balance at end of period
         
$
89,717
 
                 
Retained Earnings
               
Balance at beginning of year
         
$
31,081
 
Net income attributable to AT&T ($1.71 per diluted share)
           
9,339
 
Dividends to stockholders ($1.41 per share)
           
(7,793
)
Balance at end of period
         
$
32,627
 
                 
Treasury Stock
               
Balance at beginning of year
   
(1,308
)
 
$
(47,029
)
Repurchase of common stock
   
(1
)
   
(10
)
Issuance of treasury stock
   
967
     
34,730
 
Balance at end of period
   
(342
)
 
$
(12,309
)
                 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to AT&T, net of tax
               
Balance at beginning of year
         
$
8,061
 
Other comprehensive loss attributable to AT&T
           
(2,767
)
Balance at end of period
         
$
5,294
 
                 
Noncontrolling Interest
               
Balance at beginning of year
         
$
554
 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
           
262
 
Distributions
           
(214
)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests
           
383
 
Translation adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of taxes
           
(20
)
Balance at end of period
         
$
965
 
                 
Total Stockholders' Equity at beginning of year
         
$
90,270
 
Total Stockholders' Equity at end of period
         
$
122,789
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
               
6

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
NOTE 1. PREPARATION OF INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Basis of Presentation  Throughout this document, AT&T Inc. is referred to as "AT&T," "we" or the "Company." These consolidated financial statements include all adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the results for the presented interim periods, consisting of normal recurring accruals and other items. The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those for the full year. You should read this document in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and our majority-owned subsidiaries and affiliates, including the results of DIRECTV for the 68-day period ended September 30, 2015. Our subsidiaries and affiliates operate in the communications and digital entertainment services industry, providing services and equipment that deliver voice, video and broadband services domestically and internationally.

All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in the consolidation process. Investments in less than majority-owned subsidiaries and partnerships where we have significant influence are accounted for under the equity method. Earnings from certain investments accounted for using the equity method are included for periods ended within up to one month of our period end. We also recorded our proportionate share of our equity method investees' other comprehensive income (OCI) items, including actuarial gains and losses on pension and other postretirement benefit obligations and cumulative translation adjustments.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes, including estimates of probable losses and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation, including our presentation of "Equipment" and "Broadcast, programming and operations" expenses separately from other cost of services in the consolidated statements of income.

Due to recent organizational changes and our July 24, 2015 acquisition of DIRECTV, effective for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, we are revising our operating segments to align with the new management structure and organizational responsibilities. We have revised our prior-period presentation to conform to our current reporting. (See Note 4)

Customer Fulfillment Costs  In August 2015, with our acquisition of DIRECTV, we announced a change in accounting for customer set-up and installation costs. Historically we have followed an accounting policy of deferring customer set-up and installation costs only to the extent of deferred revenues recorded for upfront fees (e.g., activation charges), and to expense any costs that exceed deferred revenues. After discussing this change with the Securities and Exchange Commission, we changed our accounting to a preferable method of capitalizing these costs and amortizing them over the expected economic life of the customer relationship of approximately four years, subject to an assessment of the recoverability of such costs. This change in accounting principle impacts video, broadband Internet and wireline voice services and is considered preferable in that it provides an accurate reflection of assets (i.e., the contractual customer relationship obtained through the set-up and installation) generated by those specific business activities. Our new accounting method is more comparable with the accounting method used in the cable entertainment industry. With our acquisition of DIRECTV, changing to this accounting method will enhance comparability to other companies in the industry. This change in accounting does not have an impact on our wireless results, due to the absence of these types of expenses in those business activities.

The cumulative effect of the change on Retained Earnings as of January 1, 2014, was an increase of approximately $3,128 on our consolidated balance sheets. This change did not have an impact on cash provided by or used in operations for any period presented.
7

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
The following tables present our results under our historical method and as adjusted to reflect the accounting change:
             
   
Historical
Accounting
Method
   
As
Adjusted
   
Effect of
Change
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2015
           
Other cost of services
 
$
9,290
   
$
9,214
   
$
(76
)
Income tax expense
   
1,628
     
1,657
     
29
 
Net Income
   
3,031
     
3,078
     
47
 
Net Income Attributable to AT&T
   
2,947
     
2,994
     
47
 
                         
Basic Earnings per Share Attributable to AT&T
 
$
0.50
   
$
0.50
   
$
-
 
Diluted Earnings per Share Attributable to AT&T
   
0.50
     
0.50
     
-
 
                         
At September 30, 2015 or for the nine months ended
                       
Other cost of services
 
$
27,842
   
$
27,604
   
$
(238
)
Income tax expense
   
4,694
     
4,784
     
90
 
Net Income
   
9,453
     
9,601
     
148
 
Net Income Attributable to AT&T
   
9,191
     
9,339
     
148
 
                         
Basic Earnings per Share Attributable to AT&T
 
$
1.68
   
$
1.71
   
$
0.03
 
Diluted Earnings per Share Attributable to AT&T
   
1.68
     
1.71
     
0.03
 
                         
Other current assets
 
$
9,579
   
$
11,254
   
$
1,675
 
Other Assets
   
10,671
     
13,585
     
2,914
 
Deferred income taxes
   
51,949
     
53,044
     
1,095
 
Retained earnings
   
29,133
     
32,627
     
3,494
 

             
   
Historical
Accounting
Method
   
As
Adjusted
   
Effect of
Change
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2014
           
Other cost of services
 
$
9,071
   
$
8,866
   
$
(205
)
Income tax expense
   
1,367
     
1,444
     
77
 
Net Income
   
3,059
     
3,187
     
128
 
Net Income Attributable to AT&T
   
3,002
     
3,130
     
128
 
                         
Basic Earnings per Share Attributable to AT&T
 
$
0.58
   
$
0.60
   
$
0.02
 
Diluted Earnings per Share Attributable to AT&T
   
0.58
     
0.60
     
0.02
 
                         
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014
                       
Other cost of services
 
$
26,552
   
$
26,167
   
$
(385
)
Income tax expense
   
5,769
     
5,914
     
145
 
Net Income
   
10,414
     
10,654
     
240
 
Net Income Attributable to AT&T
   
10,201
     
10,441
     
240
 
                         
Basic Earnings per Share Attributable to AT&T
 
$
1.96
   
$
2.00
   
$
0.04
 
Diluted Earnings per Share Attributable to AT&T
   
1.95
     
2.00
     
0.05
 
 
8

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
             
   
Historical
Accounting
Method
   
As
Adjusted
   
Effect of
Change
 
At December 31, 2014
           
Other current assets
 
$
8,067
   
$
9,802
   
$
1,735
 
Other Assets
   
10,998
     
13,659
     
2,661
 
Accrued taxes
   
1,091
     
1,136
     
45
 
Deferred income taxes
   
37,544
     
38,549
     
1,005
 
Retained earnings
   
27,736
     
31,081
     
3,345
 

New Accounting Standards

Revenue Recognition  In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" (ASU 2014-09), which replaces existing revenue recognition rules with a comprehensive revenue measurement and recognition standard and expanded disclosure requirements. ASU 2014-09 becomes effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, following the July 2015 approval of a one-year deferral of the effective date by the FASB. While we continue to evaluate the impact of the new standard on revenue and costs of acquisition as well as available adoption methods, the requirement to defer costs is not expected to have a significant impact on our operating results as a result of our policy change on fulfillment costs.

Long-Term Debt and Debt Issuance Costs  In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, "Interest—Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs" (ASU 2015-03), which will result in the reclassification of debt issuance costs from "Other Assets" to inclusion as a reduction of our reportable "Long-Term Debt" balance on our consolidated balance sheets. Since ASU 2015-03 does not address deferred issuance costs for line-of-credit arrangements, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, "Interest—Imputation of Interest:  Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements" (ASU 2015-15), in August 2015. ASU 2015-15 allows a company to defer debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements, including arrangements with no outstanding borrowings, classify them as an asset, and amortize them over the term of the arrangements. ASU 2015-03 becomes effective January 1, 2016, subject to early adoption, and will require full retrospective application. We do not expect these new standards to have a material impact on our consolidated balance sheets.

Business Combinations  In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No 2015-16, "Business Combinations—Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments" (ASU 2015-16), which will result in the ability to recognize, in current-period earnings, any changes in provisional amounts during the measurement period after the closing of an acquisition, instead of retroactively accounting for these changes. ASU 2015-16 becomes effective January 1, 2016, subject to early adoption, and will require prospective application to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date of ASU 2015-16. We are evaluating the impact of the new standard on our operating results.
 
9

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
NOTE 2. EARNINGS PER SHARE

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, is shown in the table below:

   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
Numerators
               
Numerator for basic earnings per share:
               
   Net Income
 
$
3,078
   
$
3,187
   
$
9,601
   
$
10,654
 
   Less:  Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
(84
)
   
(57
)
   
(262
)
   
(213
)
   Net Income attributable to AT&T
   
2,994
     
3,130
     
9,339
     
10,441
 
   Dilutive potential common shares:
                               
      Share-based payment
   
3
     
2
     
9
     
9
 
Numerator for diluted earnings per share
 
$
2,997
   
$
3,132
   
$
9,348
   
$
10,450
 
Denominators (000,000)
                               
Denominator for basic earnings per share:
                               
   Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
   
5,924
     
5,198
     
5,447
     
5,208
 
   Dilutive potential common shares:
                               
      Share-based payment (in shares)
   
19
     
16
     
16
     
16
 
Denominator for diluted earnings per share
   
5,943
     
5,214
     
5,463
     
5,224
 
Basic earnings per share attributable to AT&T
 
$
0.50
   
$
0.60
   
$
1.71
   
$
2.00
 
Diluted earnings per share attributable to AT&T
 
$
0.50
   
$
0.60
   
$
1.71
   
$
2.00
 

10

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
NOTE 3. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Changes in the balances of each component included in accumulated other comprehensive income (accumulated OCI) are presented below. All amounts are net of tax and exclude noncontrolling interest.
 
At September 30, 2015 and for the period ended:
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustment
 
Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Available-
for-Sale
Securities
 
Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Cash Flow
Hedges
 
Defined Benefit
Postretirement
Plans
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
Balance as of December 31, 2014
$
 (26)
 
$
 499 
 
$
 741 
 
$
 6,847 
 
$
 8,061 
Other comprehensive income
   (loss) before reclassifications
 
 (1,204)
 
 
 (51)
 
 
 (890)
 
 
 -   
 
 
 (2,145)
Amounts reclassified
   from accumulated OCI
 
 -   
 
 
 (6)
 
 
 28 
 
 
 (644)
 
 
 (622)
Net other comprehensive
   income (loss)
 
 (1,204)
 
 
 (57)
 
 
 (862)
 
 
 (644)
 
 
 (2,767)
Balance as of September 30,
   2015
$
 (1,230)
 
$
 442 
 
$
 (121)
 
$
 6,203 
 
$
 5,294 
 
                             
At September 30, 2014 and for the period ended:
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustment
 
Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Available-
for-Sale
Securities
 
Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Cash Flow
Hedges
 
Defined Benefit
Postretirement
Plans
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
Balance as of December 31, 2013
$
 (367)
 
$
 450 
 
$
 445 
 
$
 7,352 
 
$
 7,880 
Other comprehensive income
   (loss) before reclassifications
 
 (29)
 
 
 30 
 
 
 272 
 
 
 -   
 
 
 273 
Amounts reclassified
   from accumulated OCI
 
 416 
 
 
 (15)
 
 
 29 
 
 
 (657)
 
 
 (227)
Net other comprehensive
   income (loss)
 
 387 
 
 
 15 
 
 
 301 
 
 
 (657)
 
 
 46 
Balance as of September 30,
   2014
$
 20 
 
$
 465 
 
$
 746 
 
$
 6,695 
 
$
 7,926 
 Translation (gain) loss reclassifications are included in Other income (expense) - net in the consolidated statements of income.
 (Gains) losses are included in Other income (expense) - net in the consolidated statements of income.
 (Gains) losses are included in Interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. See Note 6 for additional information.
  4 The amortization of prior service credits associated with postretirement benefits, net of amounts capitalized as part of construction labor, are included in Other cost of services and Selling, general and administrative in the consolidated statements of income (see Note 5). Actuarial loss
   reclassifications related to our equity method investees are included in Other income (expense) - net in the consolidated statements of income.
 
11

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 4. SEGMENT INFORMATION

Our segments are strategic business units that offer products and services to different customer segments over various technology platforms and/or in different geographies that are managed accordingly. Due to recent organizational changes and our July 24, 2015 acquisition of DIRECTV, effective for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, we are revising our operating segments to align with our new management structure and organizational responsibilities. We analyze our operating segments based on segment contribution, which consists of operating income, excluding acquisition-related costs and other significant items (as discussed below), and equity in net income of affiliates for investments managed within each operating segment. We have four reportable segments: (1) Business Solutions, (2) Entertainment and Internet Services, (3) Consumer Mobility and (4) International. We have revised our prior-period presentation to conform to our current reporting.

We also evaluate segment performance based on segment operating income before depreciation and amortization, which we refer to as EBITDA and/or EBITDA margin. For AT&T, EBITDA is defined as operating income before depreciation and amortization. We believe EBITDA to be a relevant and useful measurement to our investors as it is part of our internal management reporting and planning processes and it is an important metric that management uses to evaluate segment operating performance. EBITDA does not give effect to cash used for debt service requirements and thus does not reflect available funds for distributions, reinvestment or other discretionary uses.

The Business Solutions segment provides both wireless and wireline services to business customers and individual subscribers who purchase wireless services through employer-sponsored plans. We provide advanced IP-based services including Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Ethernet-related products and broadband (strategic business services) as well as traditional data and voice products. Services in this segment utilize our wireless and wired network and are marketed to provide a complete communications solution to our business customers.

The Entertainment and Internet Services segment provides video, Internet and voice communication services to residential customers located in the U.S. or in U.S. territories. Services utilize our copper and IP-based wired network and/or our satellite technology to provide video, high speed Internet and voice services.

The Consumer Mobility segment provides nationwide wireless service to consumers, wholesale and resale subscribers located in the U.S. or in U.S. territories. Services utilize our U.S. wireless network to provide voice and data services, including high-speed Internet, video entertainment and home monitoring services.

The International segment provides entertainment services in Latin America and wireless services in Mexico. Video entertainment services are provided primarily to residential customers using satellite technology. Wireless services utilize our regional and national networks in Mexico to provide consumer and business customers with wireless data and voice communication services. Our international subsidiaries transact in their local currency and operating results are converted to U.S. dollars using official exchange rates. The exchange rate used to report net monetary assets and operating results of our Venezuelan subsidiary is the Sistema Marginal de Divisas (SIMADI), which was 199.65 and 199.42 Venezuelan bolivars per U.S. dollar at July 24, 2015 and September 30, 2015, respectively. Our International segment is subject to foreign currency fluctuations.

In reconciling items to consolidated operating income, Corporate and Other includes: (1) operations that are not considered reportable segments and that are no longer integral to our operations or which we no longer actively market, and (2) impacts of corporate-wide decisions for which the individual operating segments are not being evaluated, including interest costs and expected return on plan assets for our pension and postretirement benefit plans.

Certain operating items are not allocated to our business segments:
·
Acquisition-related items include (1) operations and support items associated with the merger and integration of newly acquired businesses, and (2) the noncash amortization of intangible assets acquired in acquisitions.
·
Certain significant items include (1) noncash actuarial gains and losses from pension and other postretirement benefits, (2) employee separation charges associated with voluntary and/or strategic offers, (3) abandonment or impairments of assets and (4) other items for which the segments are not being evaluated.
12

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Interest expense and other income (expense) – net, are managed only on a total company basis and are, accordingly, reflected only in consolidated results. Therefore, these items are also not included in each segment's reportable results.

Our operating assets are shared by multiple segments and consist of our wireless and wired networks as well as an international satellite fleet. We manage our assets on a total company basis, not by operating segment, and therefore asset information and capital expenditures by operating segment are not presented. Depreciation is allocated based on network usage or asset utilization by segment.
 
13

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

For the three months ended September 30, 2015
 
   
Revenue
   
Operations
and Support
Expenses
   
EBITDA
   
Depreciation
and
Amortization
   
Operating
Income (Loss)
   
Equity in Net
Income (Loss) of
Affiliates
   
Segment
Contribution
 
Business Solutions
 
$
17,692
   
$
10,921
   
$
6,771
   
$
2,474
   
$
4,297
   
$
-
   
$
4,297
 
Entertainment and Internet Services
   
10,858
     
8,450
     
2,408
     
1,389
     
1,019
     
2
     
1,021
 
Consumer Mobility
   
8,784
     
5,065
     
3,719
     
976
     
2,743
     
-
     
2,743
 
International
   
1,526
     
1,384
     
142
     
225
     
(83
)
   
(4
)
   
(87
)
Segment Total
   
38,860
     
25,820
     
13,040
     
5,064
     
7,976
     
(2
)
   
7,974
 
Corporate and Other
   
316
     
315
     
1
     
3
     
(2
)
               
Acquisition-related items
   
(85
)
   
611
     
(696
)
   
1,198
     
(1,894
)
               
Certain significant items
   
-
     
157
     
(157
)
   
-
     
(157
)
               
AT&T Inc.
 
$
39,091
   
$
26,903
   
$
12,188
   
$
6,265
   
$
5,923
                 
                                                         
For the nine months ended September 30, 2015
 
   
Revenue
   
Operations
and Support
Expenses
   
EBITDA
   
Depreciation
and
Amortization
   
Operating
Income (Loss)
   
Equity in Net
Income (Loss) of
Affiliates
   
Segment
Contribution
 
Business Solutions
 
$
52,913
   
$
32,966
   
$
19,947
   
$
7,276
   
$
12,671
   
$
-
   
$
12,671
 
Entertainment and Internet Services
   
22,300
     
18,222
     
4,078
     
3,519
     
559
     
(16
)
   
543
 
Consumer Mobility
   
26,317
     
15,808
     
10,509
     
2,912
     
7,597
     
-
     
7,597
 
International
   
2,253
     
2,131
     
122
     
346
     
(224
)
   
(4
)
   
(228
)
Segment Total
   
103,783
     
69,127
     
34,656
     
14,053
     
20,603
     
(20
)
   
20,583
 
Corporate and Other
   
984
     
785
     
199
     
47
     
152
                 
Acquisition-related items
   
(85
)
   
1,604
     
(1,689
)
   
1,439
     
(3,128
)
               
Certain significant items
   
-
     
374
     
(374
)
   
-
     
(374
)
               
AT&T Inc.
 
$
104,682
   
$
71,890
   
$
32,792
   
$
15,539
   
$
17,253
                 
14

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2014
 
   
Revenue
   
Operations
and Support
Expenses
   
EBITDA
   
Depreciation
and
Amortization
   
Operating
Income (Loss)
   
Equity in Net
Income (Loss) of
Affiliates
   
Segment
Contribution
 
Business Solutions
 
$
17,487
   
$
11,295
   
$
6,192
   
$
2,331
   
$
3,861
   
$
-
   
$
3,861
 
Entertainment and Internet Services
   
5,553
     
4,781
     
772
     
1,109
     
(337
)
   
-
     
(337
)
Consumer Mobility
   
9,208
     
5,731
     
3,477
     
950
     
2,527
     
(1
)
   
2,526
 
International
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Segment Total
   
32,248
     
21,807
     
10,441
     
4,390
     
6,051
     
(1
)
   
6,050
 
Corporate and Other
   
709
     
791
     
(82
)
   
24
     
(106
)
               
Acquisition-related items
   
-
     
213
     
(213
)
   
125
     
(338
)
               
Certain significant items
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
                 
AT&T Inc.
 
$
32,957
   
$
22,811
   
$
10,146
   
$
4,539
   
$
5,607
                 
                                                         
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014
 
   
Revenue
   
Operations
and Support
Expenses
   
EBITDA
   
Depreciation
and
Amortization
   
Operating
Income (Loss)
   
Equity in Net
Income (Loss) of
Affiliates
   
Segment
Contribution
 
Business Solutions
 
$
51,877
   
$
32,836
   
$
19,041
   
$
7,009
   
$
12,032
   
$
-
   
$
12,032
 
Entertainment and Internet Services
   
16,640
     
14,182
     
2,458
     
3,396
     
(938
)
   
-
     
(938
)
Consumer Mobility
   
27,247
     
17,173
     
10,074
     
2,846
     
7,228
     
(1
)
   
7,227
 
International
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
153
     
153
 
Segment Total
   
95,764
     
64,191
     
31,573
     
13,251
     
18,322
     
152
     
18,474
 
Corporate and Other
   
2,244
     
2,027
     
217
     
77
     
140
                 
Acquisition-related items
   
-
     
403
     
(403
)
   
378
     
(781
)
               
Certain significant items
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
                 
AT&T Inc.
 
$
98,008
   
$
66,621
   
$
31,387
   
$
13,706
   
$
17,681
                 
15

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
The following table is a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to "Income Before Income Taxes" reported on our consolidated statements of income.
 
                                  
   
Third Quarter
   
Nine-Month Period
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
Business Solutions 
 
$
4,297
   
$
3,861
   
$
12,671
   
$
12,032
 
Entertainment and Internet Services 
   
1,021
     
(337
)
   
543
     
(938
)
Consumer Mobility 
   
2,743
     
2,526
     
7,597
     
7,227
 
International 
   
(87
)
   
-
     
(228
)
   
153
 
Segment Contribution 
   
7,974
     
6,050
     
20,583
     
18,474
 
Reconciling Items: 
                               
  Corporate and Other 
   
(2
)
   
(106
)
   
152
     
140
 
  Merger and integration charges 
   
(696
)
   
(213
)
   
(1,689
)
   
(403
)
  Amortization of intangibles acquired 
   
(1,198
)
   
(125
)
   
(1,439
)
   
(378
)
  Employee separation charges 
   
(122
)
   
-
     
(339
)
   
-
 
  Other (expenses) credits 
   
(35
)
   
-
     
(35
)
   
-
 
  Less: segment equity in net (income) loss
    of affiliates 
   
2
     
1
     
20
     
(152
)
AT&T Operating Income 
   
5,923
     
5,607
     
17,253
     
17,681
 
Interest Expense 
   
1,146
     
1,016
     
2,977
     
2,757
 
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates 
   
15
     
(2
)
   
48
     
188
 
Other income (expense) - Net 
   
(57
)
   
42
     
61
     
1,456
 
Income Before Income Taxes 
 
$
4,735
   
$
4,631
   
$
14,385
   
$
16,568
 

NOTE 5. PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Substantially all of our employees are covered by one of our noncontributory pension plans. We also provide certain medical, dental, life insurance, and death benefits to certain retired employees under various plans and accrue actuarially determined postretirement benefit costs. Our objective in funding these plans, in combination with the standards of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), is to accumulate assets sufficient to provide benefits described in the plans to employees upon their retirement.

In December 2014, we offered an opportunity for certain management employees who were retirement eligible as of March 31, 2015 to elect an enhanced, full lump sum payment option of their accrued pension if they retired on or before March 31, 2015. The lump sum value totaled approximately $1,200 which was distributed in 2015. We recorded special termination benefits of approximately $150 as a result of this offer.

In 2013, we made a voluntary contribution of a preferred equity interest in AT&T Mobility II LLC, the primary holding company for our domestic wireless business, to the trust used to pay pension benefits under our qualified pension plans. The preferred equity interest had a value of $8,838 at September 30, 2015. The trust is entitled to receive cumulative cash distributions of $560 per annum, which are distributed quarterly in equal amounts and accounted for as contributions. We distributed $420 to the trust during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. So long as we make the distributions, we will have no limitations on our ability to declare a dividend or repurchase shares. This preferred equity interest is a plan asset under ERISA and is recognized as such in the plan's separate financial statements. However, because the preferred equity interest is not unconditionally transferable to an unrelated party, it is not reflected in plan assets in our consolidated financial statements and instead has been eliminated in consolidation. We also agreed to make a cash contribution to the trust of $175 no later than the due date of our federal income tax return for 2014. This contribution was made in June 2015.
 
16

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
    We acquired DIRECTV on July 24, 2015. DIRECTV sponsors a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, which provides benefits to most employees based on either years of service and final average salary, or eligible compensation while employed by DIRECTV. DIRECTV also maintains (1) a postretirement benefit plan for those retirees eligible to participate in health care and life insurance benefits generally until they reach age 65 and (2) an unfunded nonqualified pension plan for certain eligible employees. We have recorded the fair value of the DIRECTV plans using assumptions and accounting policies consistent with those disclosed by AT&T. Upon acquisition, the excess of projected benefit obligation over the plan assets was recognized as a liability and previously existing deferred actuarial gains and losses and unrecognized service costs or benefits were eliminated.
We recognize actuarial gains and losses on pension and postretirement plan assets in our operating results at our annual measurement date of December 31, unless earlier remeasurements are required. The following table details pension and postretirement benefit costs included in operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income; expense credits are denoted with parentheses. A portion of these expenses is capitalized as part of internal construction projects, providing a small reduction in the net expense recorded.

   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
Pension cost:
               
   Service cost – benefits earned during the period
 
$
305
   
$
282
   
$
904
   
$
846
 
   Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
   
477
     
661
     
1,424
     
1,984
 
   Expected return on assets
   
(832
)
   
(849
)
   
(2,484
)
   
(2,549
)
   Amortization of prior service credit
   
(25
)
   
(24
)
   
(77
)
   
(71
)
   Net pension (credit) cost
 
$
(75
)
 
$
70
   
$
(233
)
 
$
210
 
                                 
Postretirement cost:
                               
   Service cost – benefits earned during the period
 
$
55
   
$
59
   
$
166
   
$
175
 
   Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation
   
242
     
365
     
725
     
1,094
 
   Expected return on assets
   
(105
)
   
(165
)
   
(315
)
   
(491
)
   Amortization of prior service credit
   
(320
)
   
(362
)
   
(959
)
   
(1,086
)
   Net postretirement (credit) cost
 
$
(128
)
 
$
(103
)
 
$
(383
)
 
$
(308
)
                                 
   Combined net pension and postretirement (credit) cost
 
$
(203
)
 
$
(33
)
 
$
(616
)
 
$
(98
)

Our combined net pension and postretirement cost decreased $170 in the third quarter and $518 for the first nine months of 2015. Our combined net pension and postretirement cost decreased $223 in the third quarter and $669 for the first nine months due to the change in the method used to estimate the service and interest components of net periodic benefit cost for pension and other postretirement benefits. While this change, which was made in the fourth quarter of 2014, provides a more precise measurement of interim service and interest costs, it will not affect the measurement of our total benefit obligations as of December 31 or our annual net periodic benefit cost as the change in the service and interest costs is completely offset in the actuarial gain or loss reported. The decrease in cost resulting from this change was partially offset by lower amortization of prior service credits as previous postretirement plan changes have become fully amortized, our lower expected long-term rate of return on our postretirement plan assets and updated assumed mortality rates.

We also provide senior- and middle-management employees with nonqualified, unfunded supplemental retirement and savings plans. Net supplemental retirement pension benefits cost, which is not included in the table above, was $22 in the third quarter of 2015, of which $20 was interest cost, and $63 for the first nine months, of which $57 was interest cost. In 2014, net supplemental retirement pension benefits cost was $29 in the third quarter, of which $27 was interest cost, and $87 for the first nine months, of which $82 was interest cost.
 
17

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
NOTE 6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND DISCLOSURE

The Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure framework provides a three-tiered fair value hierarchy that gives highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

Level 1 Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that we have the ability to access.

Level 2 Inputs to the valuation methodology include:
·
Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets.
·
Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets.
·
Inputs other than quoted market prices that are observable for the asset or liability.
·
Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3 Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
·
Fair value is often based on developed models in which there are few, if any, external observations.

The fair value measurements level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used should maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The valuation methodologies described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of future net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. We believe our valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants. The use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date. There have been no changes in the methodologies used since December 31, 2014.

Long-Term Debt and Other Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our long-term debt, including current maturities and other financial instruments, are summarized as follows:

 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
Carrying
 
Fair
 
Carrying
 
Fair
 
 
Amount
 
Value
 
Amount
 
Value
 
Notes and debentures
$
126,042
   
$
129,524
   
$
81,632
   
$
90,367
 
Bank borrowings
 
4
     
4
     
5
     
5
 
Investment securities
 
2,644
     
2,644
     
2,735
     
2,735
 

The carrying value of debt with an original maturity of less than one year approximates market value. The fair value measurements used for notes and debentures are considered Level 2 and are determined using various methods, including quoted prices for identical or similar securities in both active and inactive markets.
 
18

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
Following is the fair value leveling for available-for-sale securities and derivatives as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
 
September 30, 2015
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Available-for-Sale Securities
             
   Domestic equities
$
1,094
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
1,094
 
   International equities
 
561
     
-
     
-
     
561
 
   Fixed income bonds
 
-
     
737
     
-
     
737
 
Asset Derivatives
                             
   Interest rate swaps
 
-
     
217
     
-
     
217
 
   Cross-currency swaps
 
-
     
796
     
-
     
796
 
Liability Derivatives
                             
   Cross-currency swaps
 
-
     
(3,202
)
   
-
     
(3,202
)
   Foreign exchange contracts
 
-
     
(1
)
   
-
     
(1
)
 
                             
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Available-for-Sale Securities
                             
   Domestic equities
$
1,160
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
1,160
 
   International equities
 
553
     
-
     
-
     
553
 
   Fixed income bonds
 
-
     
836
     
-
     
836
 
Asset Derivatives
                             
   Interest rate swaps
 
-
     
157
     
-
     
157
 
   Cross-currency swaps
 
-
     
1,243
     
-
     
1,243
 
   Interest rate locks
 
-
     
5
     
-
     
5
 
Liability Derivatives
                             
   Cross-currency swaps
 
-
     
(1,506
)
   
-
     
(1,506
)
   Interest rate locks
 
-
     
(133
)
   
-
     
(133
)
 Derivatives designated as hedging instruments are reflected as "Other assets," "Other noncurrent liabilities" and, for a portion of interest rate swaps, "Other current assets" in our consolidated balance sheets.
 

Investment Securities
Our investment securities include equities, fixed income bonds and other securities. A substantial portion of the fair values of our available-for-sale securities was estimated based on quoted market prices. Investments in securities not traded on a national securities exchange are valued using pricing models, quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or discounted cash flows. Realized gains and losses on securities are included in "Other income (expense) – net" in the consolidated statements of income using the specific identification method. Unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, on available-for-sale securities are recorded in accumulated OCI. Unrealized losses that are considered other than temporary are recorded in "Other income (expense) – net" with the corresponding reduction to the carrying basis of the investment. Fixed income investments of $93 have maturities of less than one year, $379 within one to three years, $52 within three to five years, and $213 for five or more years.

Our cash equivalents (money market securities), short-term investments (certificate and time deposits) and customer deposits are recorded at amortized cost, and the respective carrying amounts approximate fair values. Short-term investments are recorded in "Other current assets" and our investment securities are recorded in "Other assets" on the consolidated balance sheets.
 
19

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

Derivative Financial Instruments
We employ derivatives to manage certain market risks, primarily interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange risk. This includes the use of interest rate swaps, interest rate locks, foreign exchange forward contracts and combined interest rate foreign exchange contracts (cross-currency swaps). We do not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes. We record derivatives on our consolidated balance sheets at fair value that is derived from observable market data, including yield curves and foreign exchange rates (all of our derivatives are Level 2). Cash flows associated with derivative instruments are presented in the same category on the consolidated statements of cash flows as the item being hedged.

The majority of our derivatives are designated either as a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (fair value hedge), or as a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (cash flow hedge).

Fair Value Hedging We designate our fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps as fair value hedges. The purpose of these swaps is to manage interest rate risk by managing our mix of fixed-rate and floating-rate debt. These swaps involve the receipt of fixed-rate amounts for floating interest rate payments over the life of the swaps without exchange of the underlying principal amount. Accrued and realized gains or losses from interest rate swaps impact interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. Unrealized gains on interest rate swaps are recorded at fair market value as assets, and unrealized losses on interest rate swaps are recorded at fair market value as liabilities. Changes in the fair values of the interest rate swaps are exactly offset by changes in the fair value of the underlying debt. Gains or losses realized upon early termination of our fair value hedges are recognized in interest expense. In the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, no ineffectiveness was measured on interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges.

Cash Flow Hedging  We designate our cross-currency swaps as cash flow hedges. We have entered into multiple cross-currency swaps to hedge our exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that are attributable to foreign currency risk generated from the issuance of our Euro, British pound sterling, Canadian dollar and Swiss Franc denominated debt. These agreements include initial and final exchanges of principal from fixed foreign denominations to fixed U.S. denominated amounts, to be exchanged at a specified rate, usually determined by the market spot rate upon issuance. They also include an interest rate swap of a fixed or floating foreign-denominated rate to a fixed U.S. denominated interest rate.

Unrealized gains on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are recorded at fair value as assets, and unrealized losses on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are recorded at fair value as liabilities, both for the period they are outstanding. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion is reported as a component of accumulated OCI until reclassified into interest expense in the same period the hedged transaction affects earnings. The gain or loss on the ineffective portion is recognized as "Other income (expense) – net" in the consolidated statements of income in each period. We evaluate the effectiveness of our cross-currency swaps each quarter. In the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, no ineffectiveness was measured on cross-currency swaps designated as cash flow hedges.

Periodically, we enter into and designate interest rate locks to partially hedge the risk of changes in interest payments attributable to increases in the benchmark interest rate during the period leading up to the probable issuance of fixed-rate debt. We designate our interest rate locks as cash flow hedges. Gains and losses when we settle our interest rate locks are amortized into income over the life of the related debt, except where a material amount is deemed to be ineffective, which would be immediately reclassified to "Other income (expense) – net" in the consolidated statements of income. Over the next 12 months, we expect to reclassify $59 from accumulated OCI to interest expense due to the amortization of net losses on historical interest rate locks.

We hedge a portion of the exchange risk involved in anticipation of highly probable foreign currency-denominated transactions. In anticipation of these transactions, we often enter into foreign exchange contracts to provide currency at a fixed rate. Some of these instruments are designated as cash flow hedges while others remain nondesignated. Gains and losses at the time we settle or take delivery on our designated foreign exchange contracts are amortized into income in the same period the hedged transaction affects earnings, except where an amount is deemed to be ineffective, which would be immediately reclassified to "Other income (expense) – net" in the consolidated statements of income. In the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, no ineffectiveness was measured on foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges.
 
20

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
Collateral and Credit-Risk Contingency  We have entered into agreements with our derivative counterparties establishing collateral thresholds based on respective credit ratings and netting agreements. At September 30, 2015, we had posted collateral of $1,807 (a deposit asset) and held collateral of $379 (a receipt liability). Under the agreements, if our credit rating had been downgraded one rating level by Fitch Ratings, before the final collateral exchange in September, we would have been required to post additional collateral of $105. If DIRECTV Holdings LLC's credit rating had been downgraded below BBB- (S&P) and below Baa3 (Moody's) we would owe an additional $92. At December 31, 2014, we had posted collateral of $530 (a deposit asset) and held collateral of $599 (a receipt liability). We do not offset the fair value of collateral, whether the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a payable), against the fair value of the derivative instruments.

Following is the notional amount of our outstanding derivative positions:

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
Interest rate swaps
 
$
7,050
   
$
6,550
 
Cross-currency swaps
   
29,642
     
26,505
 
Interest rate locks
   
-
     
6,750
 
Foreign exchange contracts
   
23
     
-
 
Total
 
$
36,715
   
$
39,805
 

Following are the related hedged items affecting our financial position and performance:
 
                           
Effect of Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income 
                            
Fair Value Hedging Relationships
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Interest rate swaps (Interest expense):
             
     Gain (Loss) on interest rate swaps
$
54
   
$
(70
)
 
$
65
   
$
(59
)
     Gain (Loss) on long-term debt
 
(54
)
   
70
     
(65
)
   
59
 

In addition, the net swap settlements that accrued and settled in the quarter ended September 30 were included in interest expense.

   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
 
September 30, 2015
   
September 30, 2014
   
September 30, 2015
   
September 30, 2014
 
Cross-currency swaps:
               
     Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI
 
$
(678
)
 
$
567
   
$
(1,008
)
 
$
418
 
                                 
Interest rate locks:
                               
     Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI
   
-
     
-
     
(361
)
   
-
 
     Interest income (expense) reclassified from
        accumulated OCI into income
   
(17
)
   
(11
)
   
(43
)
   
(33
)
                                 
Foreign exchange contracts:
                               
     Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(2
)
 
21

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
NOTE 7. ACQUISITIONS, DISPOSITIONS AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS

Acquisitions

DIRECTV  On July 24, 2015, we completed our acquisition of DIRECTV, a leading provider of digital television entertainment services in both the United States and Latin America. The acquisition represents an opportunity for us to integrate a unique and complementary set of assets and achieve substantial cost synergies over time, as well as generate revenue from pay television in Latin America. Our distribution scale will enable us to offer consumers bundles including video, high-speed broadband and mobile services, using all the sales channels of both companies. We believe the combined company will be a content distribution leader across mobile, video and broadband platforms.

Under the merger agreement, each share of DIRECTV stock was exchanged for $28.50 cash plus 1.892 shares of our common stock. After adjustment for shares issued to trusts consolidated by AT&T, share-based payment arrangements and fractional shares, which were settled in cash, AT&T issued 954,407,524 shares to DIRECTV shareholders, giving them an approximate 16% stake in the combined company, based on common shares outstanding. Based on our $34.29 per share closing stock price on July 24, 2015, the aggregate value of consideration paid to DIRECTV shareholders was $47,404, including $32,727 of AT&T stock and $14,378 in cash and $299 for share-based payment arrangements.

Our third-quarter 2015 operating results include the results from DIRECTV following the acquisition date. The fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed were preliminarily determined using the income, cost and market approaches. The fair value measurements were primarily based on significant inputs that are not observable in the market and thus represent a Level 3 measurement as defined in ASC 820, other than long-term debt assumed in the acquisition. The income approach was primarily used to value the intangible assets, consisting primarily of acquired technology and customer relationships. The income approach estimates fair value for an asset based on the present value of cash flow projected to be generated by the asset. Projected cash flow is discounted at a required rate of return that reflects the relative risk of achieving the cash flow and the time value of money. The cost approach, which estimates value by determining the current cost of replacing an asset with another of equivalent economic utility, was used, as appropriate, for plant, property and equipment. The cost to replace a given asset reflects the estimated reproduction or replacement cost for the property, less an allowance for loss in value due to depreciation. Our September 30, 2015 consolidated balance sheet includes the assets and liabilities of DIRECTV, which have been measured at fair value.
 
22

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

The following table summarizes the preliminary estimated fair values of the DIRECTV assets acquired and liabilities assumed and related deferred income taxes as of the acquisition date.

   
DIRECTV 
Assets acquired
   
Cash
 
$
4,763
 
Accounts receivable
   
2,116
 
All other current assets
   
1,795
 
Property, plant and equipment (including satellites)
   
8,811
 
Intangible assets not subject to amortization
       
   Orbital slots
   
11,946
 
   Trade name (Latin America)
   
1,371
 
Intangible assets subject to amortization
       
   Customer lists and relationships
   
19,803
 
   Trade name (U.S.)
   
1,634
 
   Other
   
324
 
Investments and other assets
   
3,730
 
Goodwill
   
35,343
 
Total assets acquired
   
91,636
 
         
Liabilities assumed
       
Current liabilities, excluding current portion of long-term debt
   
5,886
 
Long-term debt
   
20,500
 
Other noncurrent liabilities
   
17,492
 
Total liabilities assumed
   
43,878
 
Net assets acquired
   
47,758
 
Noncontrolling interest
   
(354
)
Aggregate value of consideration paid
 
$
47,404
 

These estimates are preliminary in nature and subject to adjustments, which could be material. Any necessary adjustments will be finalized within one year from the date of acquisition. Substantially all the receivables acquired are expected to be collectible. We have not identified any material unrecorded pre-acquisition contingencies where the related asset, liability or impairment is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Goodwill is calculated as the difference between the acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred and the fair value of the net assets acquired, and represents the future economic benefits that we expect to achieve as a result of acquisition. Prior to the finalization of the purchase price allocation, if information becomes available that would indicate it is probable that such events had occurred and the amounts can be reasonably estimated, such items will be included in the final purchase price allocation and may change goodwill. Purchased goodwill is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes. As we finalize the valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, we will determine to which business segments and reporting units that any changes in goodwill should be recorded.

23

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
The following unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations assume that the acquisition of DIRECTV was completed as of January 1 for each of the fiscal years shown below:

   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
Total operating revenues 1
 
$
41,230
   
$
41,301
   
$
123,346
   
$
122,263
 
Net Income Attributable to AT&T
   
2,985
     
3,429
     
9,210
     
11,065
 
                                 
Basic Earnings Per Share Attributable to AT&T
 
$
0.50
   
$
0.56
   
$
1.69
   
$
1.80
 
Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to AT&T
 
$
0.50
   
$
0.55
   
$
1.69
   
$
1.79
 
1 Reflects revenue declines resulting from our fourth-quarter 2014 sale of our Connecticut wireline operations.

Nonrecurring adjustments included in the pro forma results above consist of the following:  At June 30, 2015, due to the continued economic uncertainty and lack of liquidity in all three of the official currency exchange mechanisms in Venezuela, DIRECTV changed the exchange rate used to measure its Venezuelan subsidiary's monetary assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars from Sistema Complementario de Administración de Divisas (SICAD) to SIMADI. The significant change in exchange rates also required the reevaluation of the recoverability of fixed and intangible assets and inventory, which resulted in an impairment charge of $1,060 recorded in DIRECTV's consolidated statement of operations. Prior to DIRECTV's June 30, 2015 change to the SIMADI, operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2015 were measured using the SICAD exchange rate which resulted in revenues in Venezuela of approximately $500 and operating profit before depreciation and amortization of approximately $180. Pro forma data may not be indicative of the results that would have been obtained had these events occurred at the beginning of the periods presented, nor is it intended to be a projection of future results.

Nextel Mexico  On April 30, 2015, we completed our acquisition of the subsidiaries of NII Holdings Inc., operating its wireless business in Mexico, for $1,875, including approximately $427 of net debt and other adjustments. The subsidiaries offer service under the name Nextel Mexico.

The preliminary values of assets acquired were: $376 in licenses, $1,391 in property, plant and equipment, $65 in customer lists and $414 of goodwill.

GSF Telecom  On January 16, 2015, we acquired Mexican wireless company GSF Telecom Holdings, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (GSF Telecom) for $2,500, including net debt of approximately $700. GSF Telecom offers service under both the Iusacell and Unefon brand names in Mexico.

The preliminary values of assets acquired were: $920 in licenses, $712 in property, plant and equipment, $311 in customer lists, $26 in trade names and $1,124 of goodwill.

AWS-3 Auction  In January 2015, we submitted winning bids for 251 Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) spectrum licenses in the AWS-3 Auction (FCC Auction 97) for $18,189. We provided the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) an initial down payment of $921 in October 2014 and paid the remaining $17,268 in the first quarter of 2015. The interest associated with this acquisition will be excluded from interest expense and capitalized until this spectrum is ready for its intended use.
 
24

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts

NOTE 8. GOODWILL
As part of our organizational realignment discussed in Note 4, the goodwill from the previous Wireless segment was allocated to the Business Solutions and Consumer Mobility segments and the goodwill from the previous Wireline segment was allocated to the Business Solutions and Entertainment and Internet Services segment. The allocation was based on the relative fair value of the portions of the previous Wireless and Wireline segments which were moved into the new Business Solutions, Entertainment and Internet Services and Consumer Mobility segments.

Changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill, by segment were as follows:

   
Wireless
   
Wireline
   
Business Solutions
   
Entertainment
and Internet
Services
   
Consumer Mobility
   
International
   
Total
 
Balance as of December 31, 2013
 
$
36,106
   
$
33,167
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
69,273
 
Goodwill Acquired
   
367
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
367
 
Other
   
(4
)
   
56
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
52
 
Balance as of December 31, 2014
   
36,469
     
33,223
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
69,692
 
Goodwill Acquired
   
6
     
-
     
-
     
31,653
     
-
     
5,228
     
36,887
 
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(610
)
   
(610
)
Allocation of Goodwill
   
(36,471
)
   
(33,226
)
   
44,763
     
8,422
     
16,512
     
-
     
-
 
Other
   
(4
)
   
3
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(2
)
   
(3
)
Balance as of September 30, 2015
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
44,763
   
$
40,075
   
$
16,512
   
$
4,616
   
$
105,966
 

The majority of our goodwill acquired during 2015 related to our acquisitions of DIRECTV, Nextel Mexico and GSF Telecom (see Note 7). The allocation of goodwill represents goodwill previously assigned to our Wireless and Wireline segments. Other changes to our goodwill in 2015 include foreign currency translation adjustments and the final valuation of Leap Wireless, Inc. (Leap). The majority of our goodwill acquired during 2014 related to our acquisition of Leap. Other changes to our goodwill during 2014 include adjustments related to closing the sale of our Connecticut wireline operations.
25

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
NOTE 9. SALES OF EQUIPMENT INSTALLMENT RECEIVABLES

We offer our customers the option to purchase certain wireless devices in installments over a period of up to 30 months, with the right to trade in the original equipment for a new device within a set period and have the remaining unpaid balance satisfied. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, gross equipment installment receivables of $4,428 and $4,265 were included on our consolidated balance sheets, of which $2,690 and $2,514 are notes receivable that are included in "Accounts receivable, net."

On June 27, 2014, we entered into the first of a series of uncommitted agreements pertaining to the sale of equipment installment receivables and related security with Citibank, N.A. and various other relationship banks as purchasers (collectively, the Purchasers). Under these agreements, we transferred the receivables to the Purchasers for cash and additional consideration upon settlement of the receivables. Under the terms of the arrangements, we continue to bill and collect on behalf of our customers for the receivables sold. To date, we have collected and remitted approximately $3,394 (net of fees), of which $421 was returned as deferred purchase price.

The following table sets forth a summary of equipment installment receivables sold during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
Gross receivables sold
 
$
1,601
   
$
1,028
   
$
5,964
   
$
2,665
 
Net receivables sold
   
1,431
     
885
     
5,367
     
2,276
 
Cash proceeds received
   
980
     
556
     
3,553
     
1,375
 
Deferred purchase price recorded
   
456
     
324
     
1,819
     
889
 
 Receivables net of allowance, imputed interest and trade-in right guarantees.
 

The deferred purchase price was initially recorded at estimated fair value, which was based on remaining installment payments expected to be collected, adjusted by the expected timing and value of device trade-ins, and is subsequently carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The estimated value of the device trade-ins considers prices offered to us by independent third parties that contemplate changes in value after the launch of a device model. The fair value measurements used are considered Level 3 under the Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure framework (see Note 6).
During the third quarter of 2015, we repurchased installment receivables previously sold to the Purchasers, with a fair value of $412. This transaction reduced our current deferred purchase price receivable by $314, resulting in a gain of $98 in the third quarter of 2015. This gain is included in "Selling, general and administrative" in the consolidated statements of income.
At September 30, 2015, our deferred purchase price receivable was $2,869, of which $1,676 is included in "Other current assets" on our consolidated balance sheets, with the remainder in "Other Assets." At December 31, 2014, our deferred purchase price receivable was $1,606, which is included in "Other Assets." Our maximum exposure to loss as a result of selling these equipment installment receivables is limited to the amount of our deferred purchase price at any point in time.
The sales of equipment installment receivables did not have a material impact in our consolidated statements of income or to "Total Assets" reported on our consolidated balance sheets. We reflect the cash flows related to the arrangement as operating activities in our consolidated statements of cash flows because the cash received from the Purchasers upon both the sale of the receivables and the collection of the deferred purchase price is not subject to significant interest rate risk.
26

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

For ease of reading, AT&T Inc. is referred to as "we," "AT&T" or the "Company" throughout this document, and the names of the particular subsidiaries and affiliates providing the services generally have been omitted. AT&T is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates operate in the communications and digital entertainment services industry. Our subsidiaries and affiliates provide services and equipment that deliver voice, video and broadband services both domestically and internationally. You should read this discussion in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, accompanying notes and management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. A reference to a "Note" in this section refers to the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. In the tables throughout this section, percentage increases and decreases that are not considered meaningful are denoted with a dash. We completed our acquisition of DIRECTV on July 24, 2015, and have included DIRECTV results for the 68-day period ended September 30, 2015. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), operating results from DIRECTV prior to the acquisition are excluded. Certain amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation.

Consolidated Results  Our financial results in the third quarter and for the first nine months of 2015 and 2014 are summarized as follows:

   
Third Quarter
   
Nine-Month Period
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
 
 
Operating Revenues
                       
   Service
 
$
35,625
   
$
29,790
     
19.6
%
 
$
94,128
   
$
89,122
     
5.6
%
   Equipment
   
3,466
     
3,167
     
9.4
     
10,554
     
8,886
     
18.8
 
Total Operating Revenues
   
39,091
     
32,957
     
18.6
     
104,682
     
98,008
     
6.8
 
                                                 
Operating expenses
                                               
   Cost of services and sales
                                               
      Equipment
   
4,501
     
4,432
     
1.6
     
13,400
     
12,503
     
7.2
 
      Broadcast, programming and
        operations
   
4,081
     
1,038
     
-
     
6,351
     
3,019
     
-
 
      Other cost of services (exclusive
        of depreciation and amortization
        shown separately below)
   
9,214
     
8,866
     
3.9
     
27,604
     
26,167
     
5.5
 
   Selling, general and administrative
   
9,107
     
8,475
     
7.5
     
24,535
     
24,932
     
(1.6
)
   Depreciation and amortization
   
6,265
     
4,539
     
38.0
     
15,539
     
13,706
     
13.4
 
Total Operating Expenses
   
33,168
     
27,350
     
21.3
     
87,429
     
80,327
     
8.8
 
Operating Income
   
5,923
     
5,607
     
5.6
     
17,253
     
17,681
     
(2.4
)
Income Before Income Taxes
   
4,735
     
4,631
     
2.2
     
14,385
     
16,568
     
(13.2
)
Net Income
   
3,078
     
3,187
     
(3.4
)
   
9,601
     
10,654
     
(9.9
)
Net Income Attributable to AT&T
 
$
2,994
   
$
3,130
     
(4.3
) %
 
$
9,339
   
$
10,441
     
(10.6
) %

Overview
Operating revenues increased $6,134, or 18.6%, in the third quarter and $6,674, or 6.8%, for the first nine months of 2015.

Service revenues increased $5,835, or 19.6%, in the third quarter and $5,006, or 5.6%, for the first nine months of 2015. The increases were primarily due to our acquisition of DIRECTV and our new wireless operations in Mexico. Also contributing to the revenue increases were gains in fixed strategic business services and IP broadband, offset by continued declines in our legacy voice and data products.
 
27

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
Equipment revenues increased $299, or 9.4%, in the third quarter and $1,668, or 18.8%, for the first nine months of 2015. This growth reflected the continuing trend by our postpaid wireless subscribers to choose devices on installment purchase rather than the device subsidy model, which resulted in higher equipment revenue recognized from device sales.

Operating expenses increased $5,818, or 21.3%, in the third quarter and $7,102, or 8.8%, for the first nine months of 2015.

Equipment expenses increased $69, or 1.6%, in the third quarter and $897, or 7.2%, for the first nine months of 2015. Expense increases in the third quarter are primarily due to customers choosing higher priced wireless devices. The increase for the first nine months is primarily due to the continuing trend of customers choosing higher-priced wireless devices.

Broadcast, programming and operations expenses increased $3,043 in the third quarter and $3,332 for the first nine months of 2015 due to our acquisition of DIRECTV. Also contributing to the increase were higher content costs for our AT&T U-verse® (U-verse) subscribers.

Other cost of services expenses increased $348, or 3.9%, in the third quarter and $1,437, or 5.5%, for the first nine months of 2015. Included in other costs of services were net expense deferrals of $428 in the third quarter and $590 for the first nine months of 2015, compared to $205 in the third quarter and $385 for the first nine months of 2014, resulting from our deferral and amortization of customer fulfillment costs. Expense increases include network rationalization charges related to Leap Wireless International, Inc. (Leap) totaling $250 in the three months and $614 for the first nine months. Also contributing to the expense increases were merger and integration charges, wireless handset insurance costs and the addition of DIRECTV. These increases were partially offset by lower Universal Service Fund and Connect America Fund fees and the fourth-quarter 2014 sale of our Connecticut wireline operations.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $632, or 7.5%, in the third quarter and decreased $397, or 1.6%, for the first nine months of 2015. The increase in the third quarter was primarily due to our acquisition of DIRECTV offset by lower employee, sales and wireless commission expenses. The decrease for the first nine months was due to lower employee, sales, wireless commission, advertising and marketing expenses and the fourth-quarter 2014 sale of our Connecticut wireline operations, partially offset by the acquisition of DIRECTV.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1,726, or 38.0%, in the third quarter and $1,833, or 13.4%, for the first nine months of 2015. Amortization expense increased $1,072 in the third quarter and $1,061 for the first nine months of 2015 due to the amortization of intangibles from recent acquisitions. Amortization expense is not allocated to the operating segments.

Depreciation expense increased $654, or 14.8%, in the third quarter and $772, or 5.8%, for the first nine months of 2015. The increase was primarily due to the acquisitions of DIRECTV and our wireless properties in Mexico, ongoing capital spending for network upgrades and extending the estimated useful life of software. The increases were partially offset by abandonment of certain wireline network assets, which occurred in 2014.

Operating income increased $316, or 5.6%, in the third quarter and decreased $428, or 2.4%, for the first nine months of 2015. Our operating income margin in the third quarter decreased from 17.0% in 2014 to 15.2% in 2015, and from 18.0% in 2014 to 16.5% in 2015 for the first nine months, and include the impact of higher acquisition-related charges in 2015.

Interest expense increased $130, or 12.8%, in the third quarter and $220, or 8.0%, for the first nine months of 2015. The increases were primarily due to higher average debt balances, including debt issued and debt acquired in connection with our acquisition of DIRECTV and spectrum acquired in the Advanced Wireless Service (AWS)-3 Auction. The increases were partially offset by lower average interest rates and an increase in capitalized interest resulting from spectrum acquired in the AWS-3 Auction (see Note 7).

Equity in net income of affiliates increased $17, in the third quarter and decreased $140, or 74.5%, for the first nine months of 2015. Results for the third quarter and first nine months include earnings from equity method investments acquired in the purchase of DIRECTV in the third quarter of 2015. The decrease for the first nine months primarily resulted from the sale of shares of América Móvil, S.A. de C.V. (América Móvil) in June 2014.
 
28

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
Other income (expense) – net We had other expense of $57 in the third quarter and other income of $61 for the first nine months of 2015, compared to other income of $42 in the third quarter and $1,456 for the first nine months of 2014. Results in the third quarter and for the first nine months of 2015 included foreign exchange losses of $73 and $68, net (losses) gains on the sale of investments of $(4) and $46 and interest and dividend income of $29 and $74, respectively.

Other income in the third quarter of 2014 included interest and dividend income of $15, foreign exchange gains of $10 and a net gain on the sale of various investments of $9. Results for the first nine months of 2014 included net gains on the sale of América Móvil shares and other investments of $1,376, interest and dividend income of $51 and foreign exchange gains of $9.

Income taxes increased $213, or 14.8%, in the third quarter and decreased $1,130, or 19.1%, for the first nine months of 2015. Our effective tax rate was 35.0% for the third quarter and 33.3% for the first nine months of 2015, as compared to 31.2% for the third quarter and 35.7% for the first nine months of 2014. The higher effective tax rate for the third quarter was primarily due to a favorable tax adjustment recorded in third quarter 2014. The lower effective tax rate for the first nine months were primarily due to the sale of América Móvil shares in 2014, and the recognition of tax benefits related to the restructuring of a portion of our enterprise business in 2015.

Selected Financial and Operating Data
               
   
September 30,
 
Subscribers and connections in (000s)
 
2015
   
2014
 
Domestic wireless subscribers
   
126,406
     
118,650
 
Mexican wireless subscribers
   
8,091
     
-
 
Total wireless subscribers
   
134,497
     
118,650
 
 
               
Domestic satellite video subscribers
   
19,570
     
-
 
U-verse video subscribers
   
5,880
     
6,067
 
Latin America satellite video subscribers
   
12,544
     
-
 
Total video subscribers
   
37,994
     
6,067
 
 
               
Total domestic broadband connections
   
15,832
     
16,486
 
 
               
Network access lines in service
   
17,352
     
21,464
 
U-Verse VoIP connections
   
5,443
     
4,756
 
 
               
Debt ratio
   
50.8
%
   
43.9
%
Net Debt Ratio
   
48.3
%
   
42.5
%
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
   
3.85
     
5.08
 
Number of AT&T employees
   
281,240
     
247,700
 
1 Reflects the October 2014 sale of our Connecticut wireline operations.
2 Excludes subscribers of our International segment equity investments in SKY Mexico.
3 Debt ratios are calculated by dividing total debt (debt maturing within one year plus long-term debt) by total capital (total debt plus total stockholders' equity) and do not consider cash available to pay down debt. See our "Liquidity and Capital Resources" section for discussion.
4 Net debt ratios are calculated by deriving total debt (debt maturing within one year plus long-term debt) less cash available by total capital (total debt plus total stockholders' equity).
5 See exhibit 12.
6 Reflects acquisition activity.
 
29

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
Segment Results

Our segments are strategic business units that offer different products and services over various technology platforms and/or in different geographies that are managed accordingly. Our operating segment results presented in Note 4 and discussed below for each segment follow our internal management reporting. We analyze our operating segments based on segment contribution, which consists of operating income, excluding acquisition-related costs and other significant items, and equity in net income of affiliate for investments managed within each operating segment. We have four reportable segments: (1) Business Solutions, (2) Entertainment and Internet Services, (3) Consumer Mobility and (4) International. We have revised our prior-period presentation to conform to our current reporting.

We also evaluate segment performance based on segment operating income before depreciation and amortization, which we refer to as EBITDA and/or EBITDA margin. We believe EBITDA to be a relevant and useful measurement to our investors as it is part of our internal management reporting and planning processes and it is an important metric that management uses to evaluate operating performance. EBITDA does not give effect to cash used for debt service requirements and thus does not reflect available funds for distributions, reinvestment or other discretionary uses. EBITDA margin is operating income before depreciation and amortization, divided by total revenues. (See Note 4)

The Business Solutions segment provides both wireless and wireline services to business customers and individual subscribers who purchase wireless services through employer-sponsored plans. We provide advanced IP-based services including Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Ethernet-related products and broadband (strategic business services) as well as traditional data and voice products. Services in this segment utilize our wireless and wired network and are marketed to provide a complete communications solution to our business customers.

The Entertainment and Internet Services segment provides video, Internet and voice communication services to residential customers located in the U.S. or in U.S. territories. Services utilize our copper and IP-based wired network and/or our satellite technology to provide video, high speed Internet and voice services.

The Consumer Mobility segment provides nationwide wireless service to consumers, wholesale and resale subscribers located in the U.S. or in U.S. territories. Services utilize our U.S. wireless network to provide voice and data services, including high- speed Internet, video entertainment and home monitoring services.

The International segment provides entertainment services in Latin America and wireless services in Mexico. Video entertainment services are provided primarily to residential customers using satellite technology. Wireless services utilize our regional and national networks in Mexico to provide consumer and business customers with wireless data and voice communication services. Our international subsidiaries transact in their local currency and operating results are converted to U.S. dollars using official exchange rates. The exchange rate used to report net monetary assets and operating results of our Venezuelan subsidiary is the Sistema Marginal de Divisas (SIMADI), which was 199.65 and 199.42 Venezuelan bolivars per U.S. dollar at July 24, 2015 and September 30, 2015, respectively. Our International segment is subject to foreign currency fluctuations.

Our operating assets are shared by multiple segments and consist of our wireless and wired networks as well as an international satellite fleet. We manage our assets on a total company basis, not by operating segment, and therefore asset information and capital expenditures by operating segment are not presented. Depreciation is allocated based on network usage or asset utilization by segment.

We discuss capital expenditures in "Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
30
AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
Business Solutions
                       
Segment Results
                                                  
   
Third Quarter
   
Nine-Month Period
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
 
 
Segment operating revenues
                       
     Wireless service
 
$
7,732
   
$
7,542
     
2.5
%
 
$
23,003
   
$
22,593
     
1.8
  %
     Fixed strategic services
   
2,763
     
2,454
     
12.6
     
8,083
     
7,103
     
13.8
 
     Legacy voice and data services
   
4,499
     
4,928
     
(8.7
)
   
13,743
     
15,055
     
(8.7
)
     Other services
   
885
     
977
     
(9.4
)
   
2,585
     
2,834
     
(8.8
)
     Wireless equipment
   
1,813
     
1,586
     
14.3
     
5,499
     
4,292
     
28.1
 
Total Segment Operating Revenues
   
17,692
     
17,487
     
1.2
     
52,913
     
51,877
     
2.0
 
                                                 
Segment operating expenses
                                               
     Operations and support
   
10,921
     
11,295
     
(3.3
)
   
32,966
     
32,836
     
0.4
 
     Depreciation and amortization
   
2,474
     
2,331
     
6.1
     
7,276
     
7,009
     
3.8
 
Total Segment Operating Expenses
   
13,395
     
13,626
     
(1.7
)
   
40,242
     
39,845
     
1.0
 
Segment Operating Income
   
4,297
     
3,861
     
11.3
     
12,671
     
12,032
     
5.3
 
Equity in Net Income of Affiliates
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Segment Contribution
 
$
4,297
   
$
3,861
     
11.3
%
 
$
12,671
   
$
12,032
     
5.3
  %

The following table highlights other key measures of performance for the Business Solutions segment:
 
                             
Third Quarter
   
Nine-Month Period
 
2015
 
2014
 
Percent
Change
   
2015
   
2014
 
Percent
Change
 
(in 000s)
Business Wireless Subscribers
               
    Postpaid
         
47,414
     
44,063
     
7.6
  %
    Reseller
         
83
     
6
     
-
 
    Connected devices 1
              
24,064
     
18,482
     
30.2
 
Total Business Wireless Subscribers
             
71,561
     
62,551
     
14.4
 
                             
Business Wireless Net Additions 2
                             
    Postpaid
   
265
     
545 
     
(51.4
) %
   
850
     
1,498
     
(43.3
)
    Reseller
   
8
     
(4)
 
   
-
     
14
     
4
     
-
 
    Connected devices 1
   
1,602
     
1,275 
     
25.6
     
4,104
     
2,144
     
91.4
 
Business Wireless Net Subscriber Additions
   
1,875
     
1,816  
     
3.2
     
4,968
     
3,646
     
36.3
 
                                               
Business Wireless Postpaid Churn 2, 3
   
1.05
%
   
0.84 %
 
21 BP
     
0.95
%
   
0.84 %
 
11 BP
 
                                               
Business IP Broadband Connections
                           
891
     
791
     
12.6
 
Business IP Broadband Net Additions
   
20
     
43 
     
(53.5
) %
   
70
     
159
     
(56.0
) %
1 Includes data-centric devices such as session-based tablets, monitoring devices and automobile systems. Excludes postpaid tablets.
 
2 Excludes migrations between AT&T segments and/or subscriber categories and acquisition-related additions during the period.
 
3 Calculated by dividing the aggregate number of wireless subscribers who canceled service during a period divided by the total number of wireless subscribers at the beginning of that period. The churn rate for the period is equal to the average of 
  the churn rate for each month of that period.
 
 
31

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
Operating Revenues increased $205, or 1.2%, in the third quarter and $1,036, or 2.0%, for the first nine months of 2015. Revenue growth was driven by mobility revenues and continued growth in fixed strategic business services, partially offset by continued declines in our legacy voice and data services and foreign exchange pressures.

Wireless service revenues increased $190, or 2.5%, in the third quarter and $410, or 1.8%, for the first nine months of 2015. The revenue increases reflect smartphone and tablet gains as well as customer migrations from our Consumer Mobility segment.

When compared to September 30, 2014, business wireless subscribers increased 14.4%, to 71.6 million subscribers at September 30, 2015. Postpaid subscribers increased 7.6% reflecting the addition of new customers as well as migrations from our Consumer Mobility segment, partially offset by continuing competitive pressures in the industry. Connected devices, which have lower average revenue per average subscriber (ARPU) and lower churn, increased 30.2% reflecting growth in business customers using tracking, monitoring and other sensor-embedded devices on their equipment.

The effective management of subscriber churn is critical to our ability to maximize revenue growth and to maintain and improve margins. In the third quarter, business wireless postpaid churn increased from 0.84% in 2014 to 1.05% in 2015 and for the first nine months increased from 0.84% to 0.95%, respectively.

Fixed strategic services revenues increased $309, or 12.6%, in the third quarter and $980, or 13.8%, for the first nine months of 2015. Our revenues, which were negatively impacted by foreign exchange rates, increased in the third quarter and for the first nine months due to: Ethernet increases of $103 and $318, U-verse services increases of $63 and $185, Ethernet access to Managed Internet Services increases of $48 and $140 and VPN increases of $12 and $109.

Legacy wired voice and data service revenues decreased $429, or 8.7%, in the third quarter and $1,312, or 8.7%, for the first nine months of 2015. Traditional data revenues decreased $252 and $766 and long-distance and local voice revenues decreased $178 and $549. The decreases were primarily due to lower demand as customers continue to shift to our more advanced IP-based offerings, or our competitors.

Other service revenues decreased $92, or 9.4%, in the third quarter and $249, or 8.8%, for the first nine months of 2015. Other service revenues include project-based revenue, which is nonrecurring in nature, as well as revenues from other managed services, outsourcing, government professional service and equipment. The declines in the third quarter and for the first nine months are primarily due to lower project-based and equipment revenues, as well as impacts from foreign exchange rates.

Wireless equipment revenues increased $227, or 14.3%, in the third quarter and $1,207, or 28.1%, for the first nine months of 2015. The increase was primarily due to the increase in handsets sold under our AT&T NextSM (AT&T Next) program and the increase in sales of higher-priced smartphones.

Operations and support expenses decreased $374, or 3.3%, in the third quarter and increased $130, or 0.4%, for the first nine months of 2015. Operations and support expenses consist of costs incurred to provide our products and services, including costs of operating and maintaining our networks and personnel costs, such as compensation and benefits.

Expense decreases in the third quarter were primarily due to:
·
Lower commission costs of $304 primarily due to lower average commission rates and fewer upgrade transactions.
·
Reductions of $58 in access costs, primarily due to lower interconnect, roaming and traffic compensations costs.
·
Lower customer service costs of $45 primarily due to our simplified offers and increased efforts to take care of customers on their first call.
·
Lower employee charges resulting from workforce reductions and other cost initiatives.

Partially offsetting the decreases in the third quarter were higher wireless handset insurance cost of $130 due to higher claim rates and costs per claim.
 
32

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
Expense increases for the first nine months were primarily due to:
·
Increased equipment expense of $765 due to the continuing trend of customers choosing higher-cost devices.
·
Higher wireless handset insurance cost of $304 resulting from higher claim rates and costs per claim.

Partially offsetting the increases for the first nine months were:
·
Lower commission costs of $437 primarily due to lower average commission rates and fewer upgrade transactions..
·
Lower customer service costs of $160 primarily due to our simplified offers and increased efforts to take care of customers on their first call.
·
Reductions of $159 in access costs, primarily due to lower interconnect, roaming and traffic compensations costs.
·
Lower employee charges resulting from workforce reductions and other cost initiatives.

Depreciation expense increased $143, or 6.1%, in the third quarter and $267, or 3.8%, for the first nine months of 2015. The increases in the third quarter and for first nine months were primarily due to the increase in ongoing capital spending for network upgrades and expansion partially offset by fully depreciated assets.

Operating income increased $436, or 11.3%, in the third quarter and $639, or 5.3%, for the first nine months of 2015. Our Business Solutions segment operating income margin in the third quarter was 24.3% in 2015 and 22.1% in 2014, and for the first nine months 23.9% in 2015 and 23.2% in 2014. Our Business Solutions EBITDA margin in the third quarter was 38.3% in 2015 and 35.4% in 2014, and for the first nine months 37.7% in 2015 and 36.7% in 2014.

Entertainment and Internet Services
 
Segment Results
                                                
   
Third Quarter
   
Nine-Month Period
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
 
 
Segment operating revenues
                       
     Video entertainment
 
$
7,162
   
$
1,719 
     
-
   
$
11,024
   
$
5,016 
     
-
 
     High-speed Internet
   
1,685
     
1,414 
     
19.2
     
4,861
     
4,040 
     
20.3
 
     Legacy voice and data
       services
   
1,419
     
1,834 
     
(22.6
)
   
4,547
     
5,897 
     
(22.9
)
     Equipment and other
   
592
     
586 
     
1.0
     
1,868
     
1,687 
     
10.7
 
Total Segment Operating Revenues
   
10,858
     
5,553 
     
95.5
     
22,300
     
16,640 
     
34.0
 
                                                 
Segment operating expenses
                                               
     Operations and support
   
8,450
     
4,781 
     
76.7
     
18,222
     
14,182 
     
28.5
 
     Depreciation and amortization
   
1,389
     
1,109 
     
25.2
     
3,519
     
3,396 
     
3.6
 
Total Segment Operating Expenses
   
9,839
     
5,890 
     
67.0
     
21,741
     
17,578 
     
23.7
 
Segment Operating Income
   
1,019
     
(337)
 
   
-
     
559
     
(938)
 
   
-
 
Equity in Net Income (Loss)
   of Affiliates
   
2
     
     
-
     
(16
)
   
     
-
 
Segment Contribution
 
$
1,021
   
$
(337)
 
   
-
   
$
543
   
$
(938)
 
   
-
 
 
33
AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
The following table highlights other key measures of performance for the Entertainment and Internet Services segment:
 
                                    
 
 
Third Quarter
   
Nine-Month Period
 
 
 
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
 
(in 000s)
Video Connections
                       
   Satellite
               
19,570
     
 - 
     
-
 
   U-verse
               
5,854
     
5,848 
     
0.1
 
Total Video Connections
                   
25,424
     
5,848 
     
-
 
 
                                   
Video Net Additions
                                   
   Satellite
   
26
     
     
-
     
26
     
     
-
 
   U-verse
   
(92
)
   
212 
     
-
     
(66
)
   
591 
     
-
 
Net Video Additions
   
(66
)
   
212 
     
-
     
(40
)
   
591 
     
-
 
 
                                               
Broadband Connections
                                               
   IP
                           
12,185
     
11,010 
     
10.7
 
   DSL
                           
2,137
     
3,455 
     
(38.1
)
Total Broadband Connections
                           
14,322
     
14,465 
     
(1.0
)
 
                                               
Broadband Net Additions
                                               
   IP
   
172
     
547 
     
(68.6
)
   
802
     
1,527 
     
(47.5
)
   DSL
   
(278
)
   
(479)
 
   
42.0
     
(922
)
   
(1,375)
 
   
32.9
 
Net Broadband Additions
   
(106
)
   
68 
     
-
     
(120
)
   
152 
     
-
 
 
                                               
Retail Consumer Switched Access Lines
                           
7,675
     
9,851 
     
(22.1
)
U-verse Consumer VoIP Connections
                           
5,216
     
4,530 
     
15.1
 
Total Retail Consumer Voice Connections
                           
12,891
     
14,381 
     
(10.4
) %
 Excludes acquisition-related additions during the period.
 

Operating revenues increased $5,305, or 95.5%, in the third quarter and $5,660, or 34.0%, for the first nine months of 2015. Our July 2015 acquisition of DIRECTV was largely responsible for higher revenues beginning in the third quarter of 2015. Also contributing to that gain was continued strong growth in U-verse video and consumer IP broadband, which more than offset lower revenues from legacy voice and data products.

Video entertainment revenues increased $5,443 in the third quarter and $6,008 for the first nine months of 2015, primarily related to our acquisition of DIRECTV. With our acquisition of DIRECTV, we are now focusing our sales efforts on satellite service as there are lower content costs for DIRECTV.

High-speed Internet revenues increased $271, or 19.2%, in the third quarter and $821, or 20.3%, for the first nine months of 2015. When compared to September 30, 2014, IP broadband subscribers increased 10.7%, to 12.2 million subscribers at September 30, 2015; however, third-quarter net additions were lower due to fewer U-verse sales promotions in the quarter and churn of video customers, some of which also purchased broadband service.

Legacy voice and data service revenues decreased $415, or 22.6%, in the third quarter and $1,350, or 22.9%, for the first nine months of 2015. The revenue decreases were due to a $264 and $886 decrease in long-distance and local voice revenues and a $150 and $464 decrease in traditional data revenues, which include circuit-based services.
34

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
Equipment and other revenues increased $6, or 1.0%, in the third quarter and $181, or 10.7%, for the first nine months of 2015.
 
Operations and support expenses increased $3,669, or 76.7%, in the third quarter and $4,040, or 28.5%, for the first nine months of 2015. Operations and support expenses consist of costs incurred to provide our products and services, including costs of operating and maintaining our networks, providing video content and personnel costs, such as compensation and benefits.

Increased operations and support expenses were primarily due to our acquisition of DIRECTV, which increased our Entertainment and Internet Services operations and support expenses $3,905. The increases were attributable to higher broadcast programming and content costs, which were primarily due to our addition of DIRECTV, but also included content cost pressures for our U-verse services. Partially offsetting increased expenses were lower employee charges resulting from workforce reductions, lower equipment costs and our focus on cost initiatives.

Depreciation expenses increased $280, or 25.2%, in the third quarter and $123, or 3.6%, for the first nine months of 2015, primarily due to our acquisition of DIRECTV and ongoing capital spending for network upgrades and expansion, partially offset by fully depreciated assets.

Operating income increased $1,356 in the third quarter and $1,497 for the first nine months of 2015. Our Entertainment and Internet Services segment operating income margin in the third quarter was 9.4% in 2015 and (6.1)% in 2014, and for the first nine months was 2.5% in 2015 and (5.6)% in 2014. Our Entertainment and Internet Services EBITDA margin in the third quarter was 22.2% in 2015 and 13.9% in 2014, and the first nine months was 18.3% in 2015 and 14.8% in 2014.

Consumer Mobility
                       
Segment Results
                                              
   
Third Quarter
   
Nine-Month Period
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent Change
 
 
Segment operating revenues
                       
     Postpaid wireless
 
$
5,527
   
$
6,071 
     
(9.0
) %
 
$
16,783
   
$
18,490 
     
(9.2
) %
     Prepaid wireless
   
1,198
     
1,163 
     
3.0
     
3,411
     
3,106 
     
9.8
 
     Other service revenue
   
638
     
646 
     
(1.2
)
   
1,825
     
1,768 
     
3.2
 
     Equipment
   
1,421
     
1,328 
     
7.0
     
4,298
     
3,883 
     
10.7
 
Total Segment Operating Revenues
   
8,784
     
9,208 
     
(4.6
)
   
26,317
     
27,247 
     
(3.4
)
                                                 
Segment operating expenses
                                               
     Operations and support
   
5,065
     
5,731 
     
(11.6
)
   
15,808
     
17,173 
     
(7.9
)
     Depreciation and amortization
   
976
     
950 
     
2.7
     
2,912
     
2,846 
     
2.3
 
Total Segment Operating Expenses
   
6,041
     
6,681 
     
(9.6
)
   
18,720
     
20,019 
     
(6.5
)
Segment Operating Income
   
2,743
     
2,527 
     
8.5
     
7,597
     
7,228 
     
5.1
 
Equity in Net Income (Loss)
   of Affiliates
   
-
     
(1)
 
   
-
     
-
     
(1)
 
   
-
 
Segment Contribution
 
$
2,743
   
$
2,526 
     
8.6
  %
 
$
7,597
   
$
7,227 
     
5.1
  %
 
35

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
The following table highlights other key measures of performance for the Consumer Mobility segment:
 
                                   
 
 
Third Quarter
   
Nine-Month Period
 
 
 
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
 
(in 000s)
Consumer Mobility Subscribers
                       
   Postpaid
               
29,257
     
31,043 
     
(5.8
) %
   Prepaid
               
10,988
     
10,026 
     
9.6
 
   Reseller
               
13,647
     
13,877 
     
(1.7
)
   Connected devices
               
953
     
1,153 
     
(17.3
)
Total Consumer Mobility Subscribers
                   
54,845
     
56,099 
     
(2.2
)
 
                                   
Consumer Mobility Net Additions
                                   
   Postpaid
   
23
     
240 
     
(90.4
) %
   
289
     
938 
     
(69.2
)
   Prepaid
   
466
     
(46)
 
   
-
     
895
     
(244)
 
   
-
 
   Reseller
   
149
     
91 
     
63.7
     
(218
)
   
(286)
 
   
23.8
 
   Connected devices
   
-
     
(94)
 
   
-
     
(109
)
   
(351)
 
   
68.9
 
Consumer Mobility Net Subscriber Additions
   
638
     
191 
     
-
     
857
     
57 
     
-
 
 
                                               
Consumer Mobility Postpaid Churn 2, 3 
   
1.33 %
 
   
1.20 %
 
 
13 BP
     
1.23 %
 
   
1.15 %
 
 
8 BP
 
Total Consumer Mobility Churn 2, 3 
   
1.90 %
 
   
2.03 %
 
 
(13) BP
     
1.93 %
 
   
2.00 %
 
 
(7) BP
 
1 Includes data-centric devices such as session-based tablets, monitoring devices and automobile systems. Excludes postpaid tablets.
 
2 Excludes migrations between AT&T segments and/or subscriber categories and acquisition-related additions during the period.
 
3 Calculated by dividing the aggregate number of wireless subscribers who canceled service during a period divided by the total number of wireless subscribers at the beginning of that period. The churn rate for the period is equal to the average of
  the churn rate for each month of that period.
 

Operating Revenues decreased $424, or 4.6%, in the third quarter and $930, or 3.4%, for the first nine months of 2015. Consumer Mobility revenues reflect declines in postpaid service revenues due to the success of Mobile Share Value plans and migrations of customers to our Business Solutions segment, offset by higher prepaid service revenues and an increase in equipment revenues. Our business wireless offerings allow for individual subscribers to purchase wireless services through employer-sponsored plans for a reduced price. The migration of these subscribers to the Business Solutions segment negatively impacted consumer postpaid subscriber and service revenues growth.

Postpaid wireless revenues decreased $544, or 9.0%, in the third quarter and $1,707, or 9.2%, for the first nine months of 2015. These decreases were largely due to customers continuing to shift to no-device-subsidy plans, which allow for discounted monthly service charges under our Mobile Share plans and the migration of subscribers to Business Solutions. Without the migration of customers to Business Solutions, postpaid wireless revenues would have decreased approximately 4% in the third quarter and for the first nine months.

Prepaid wireless revenues increased $35, or 3.0%, in the third quarter and $305, or 9.8%, for the first nine months of 2015. Our prepaid services, which include services sold under the Cricket brand, are monthly prepaid services. Prepaid wireless revenues increased primarily due to growth in the subscriber base and our March 2014 acquisition of Leap.

Other service revenue decreased $8, or 1.2%, in the third quarter and increased $57, or 3.2%, for the first nine months of 2015.

Equipment revenue increased $93, or 7.0%, in the third quarter and $415, or 10.7%, for the first nine months of 2015. These increases were primarily related to the increase in devices sold under our AT&T Next program and the increase in sales of higher-priced smartphones.
 
36

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
Operations and support expenses decreased $666, or 11.6%, in the third quarter and $1,365, or 7.9%, for the first nine months of 2015. Operations and support expenses consist of costs incurred to provide our products and services, including costs of operating and maintaining our networks and personnel costs, such as compensation and benefits.
 
Decreased operations and support expenses in the third quarter were primarily due to the following:
·
Selling and commission expenses decreased $202 primarily due to lower average commission rates, including those paid under the AT&T Next program, combined with fewer upgrade transactions.
·
Network costs decreased $135 primarily due to lower interconnect costs resulting from our ongoing network transition to more efficient Ethernet/IP-based technologies.
·
Customer service costs decreased $108 primarily due to lower call volumes, reductions in professional services and contract labor, and lower payroll costs.
·
Other cost of service decreased $90 primarily due to incollect roaming fee rate declines, which were partially offset by increased data volume.
 
Decreased operations and support expenses for the first nine months were primarily due to the following:
·
Selling and commission expenses decreased $403 primarily due to lower average commission rates, including those paid under the AT&T Next program, partially offset by an increase in rates associated with Cricket sales.
·
Network costs decreased $299 primarily due to lower interconnect costs resulting from our ongoing network transition to more efficient Ethernet/IP-based technologies.
·
Customer service costs decreased $187 primarily due to reduced salaries and benefits, lower outsourced vendor and professional services from reduced call volumes and integration activities.
·
Other cost of service decreased $168 primarily due to incollect roaming fee rate declines, which were partially offset by increased data volume.
Depreciation expense increased $26, or 2.7%, in the third quarter and $66, or 2.3%, for the first nine months of 2015 primarily due to ongoing capital spending for network upgrades and expansion partially offset by fully depreciated assets.

Operating income increased $216, or 8.5%, in the third quarter and $369, or 5.1%, for the first nine months of 2015. Our Consumer Mobility segment operating income margin in the third quarter was 31.2% in 2015 and 27.4% in 2014, and for the first nine months was 28.9% in 2015 and 26.5% in 2014. Our Consumer Mobility EBITDA margin in the third quarter was 42.3% in 2015 and 37.8% in 2014, and for the first nine months 39.9% in 2015 and 37.0% in 2014.
37

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
International
                       
Segment Results
                       
   
Third Quarter
   
Nine-Month Period
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
 
Segment operating revenues
                       
     Video entertainment
 
$
945
   
$
-
     
-
   
$
945
   
$
-
     
-
 
     Wireless
   
494
     
-
     
-
     
1,153
     
-
     
-
 
     Equipment
   
87
     
-
     
-
     
155
     
-
     
-
 
Total Segment Operating Revenues
 
$
1,526
   
$
-
     
-
   
$
2,253
   
$
-
     
-
 
                                                 
Segment operating expenses
                                               
     Operations and support
 
$
1,384
   
$
-
     
-
   
$
2,131
   
$
-
     
-
 
     Depreciation and amortization
   
225
     
-
     
-
     
346
     
-
     
-
 
Total Segment Operating Expenses
   
1,609
     
-
     
-
     
2,477
     
-
     
-
 
Segment Operating Income (Loss)
   
(83
)
   
-
     
-
     
(224
)
   
-
     
-
 
Equity in Net Income (Loss)
     of Affiliates
   
(4
)
   
-
     
-
     
(4
)
   
153
     
-
 
Segment Contribution
 
$
(87
)
 
$
-
     
-
   
$
(228
)
 
$
153
     
-
 

Operating Results
Our International segment consists of the Latin American operations acquired in our July 2015 acquisition of DIRECTV as well as the Mexican wireless operations acquired earlier in 2015 (see Note 7). Our International segment operating income margin was (5.4)% in the third quarter and (9.9)% for the first nine months of 2015. Our International EBITDA margin was 9.3% in the third quarter and 5.4% for the first nine months of 2015.

Operating revenues consist of wireless service and equipment revenues from subscribers in Mexico as well as video entertainment revenues from DIRECTV subscribers in Latin America. Our operating revenues were $1,526 in the third quarter of 2015, with $945 attributable to video services in Latin America and $581 of wireless revenues in Mexico. For the first nine months of 2015 operating revenues were $2,253, with $1,308 attributable to wireless revenues in Mexico and $945 in video services in Latin America.

Operations and support expenses consist of costs incurred to provide our products and services, including costs of operating and maintaining our networks and personnel costs, such as compensation and benefits. Operating expenses in the third quarter were $1,609 and operating loss was $83. For the first nine months of 2015, our operating expenses were $2,477 and operating loss was $224.

Connections Summary
At September 30, 2015, we had approximately 8.1 million wireless subscribers in Mexico and 12.5 million video connections in Latin America, including 5.5 million in Brazil. During the third quarter of 2015, our Mexico wireless business had a net loss of 231,000 subscribers, mainly prepaid customers, and our Latin America operations had a net loss of 113,000 video connections. Since acquisition, our Mexico wireless business had a net loss of 689,000 subscribers.
 
38

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
Supplemental Operating Information
As a supplemental discussion of our operating results, for comparison purposes, we are providing a view of our combined AT&T Mobility operations.
                         
AT&T Mobility Results
                                            
   
Third Quarter
   
Nine-Month Period
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
 
 
 Operating revenues
                       
   Service
 
$
15,095
   
$
15,423
     
(2.1
) %
 
$
45,022
   
$
45,958
     
(2.0
) %
   Equipment
   
3,234
     
2,914
     
11.0
     
9,797
     
8,175
     
19.8
 
Total Operating Revenues
   
18,329
     
18,337
     
-
     
54,819
     
54,133
     
1.3
 
                                                 
 Operating expenses
                                               
   Operations and support
   
10,865
     
11,683
     
(7.0
)
   
33,310
     
34,021
     
(2.1
)
EBITDA
   
7,464
     
6,654
     
12.2
     
21,509
     
20,112
     
6.9
 
   Depreciation and amortization
   
2,046
     
1,909
     
7.2
     
6,082
     
5,785
     
5.1
 
Total Operating Expenses
   
12,911
     
13,592
     
(5.0
)
   
39,392
     
39,806
     
(1.0
)
Operating Income
 
$
5,418
   
$
4,745
     
14.2
  %
 
$
15,427
   
$
14,327
     
7.7
  %
 
39

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
The following table highlights other key measures of performance for AT&T Mobility:
 
                                    
 
 
Third Quarter
   
Nine-Month Period
 
 
 
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
   
2015
   
2014
   
Percent
Change
 
(in 000s)
Wireless Subscribers
                       
   Postpaid smartphones
               
57,733
     
55,791 
     
3.5
%
   Postpaid feature phones and data-centric devices
                      
18,938
     
19,314 
     
(1.9
)
Postpaid
               
76,671
     
75,105 
     
2.1
 
Prepaid
               
10,988
     
10,026 
     
9.6
 
Reseller
               
13,729
     
13,884 
     
(1.1
)
Connected devices
               
25,018
     
19,635 
     
27.4
 
Total Wireless Subscribers
                   
126,406
     
118,650 
     
6.5
 
 
                                   
Net Additions
                                   
   Postpaid
   
289
     
785 
     
(63.2
) %
   
1,140
     
2,436 
     
(53.2
)
   Prepaid
   
466
     
(46)
 
   
-
     
895
     
(244)
 
   
-
 
   Reseller
   
156
     
87 
     
79.3
     
(205
)
   
(281)
 
   
27.0
 
   Connected devices
   
1,602
     
1,181 
     
35.6
     
3,995
     
1,792 
     
-
 
Net Subscriber Additions
   
2,513
     
2,007 
     
25.2
     
5,825
     
3,703 
     
57.3
 
 
                                               
Mobile Share connections
                           
59,592
     
46,909 
     
27.0
 
Smartphones under our installment program at
   end of period
                           
23,487
     
10,133 
     
-
 
Smartphones sold under our installment program
   during period
   
4,074
     
3,401 
     
19.8
  %
   
11,998
     
9,411 
     
27.5
%
 
                                               
Total Churn
   
1.33 %
 
   
1.36 %
 
 
(3) BP
     
1.35 %
 
   
1.41 %
 
 
(6) BP
 
Postpaid Churn
   
1.16 %
 
   
0.99 %
 
 
17 BP
     
1.06 %
 
   
0.97 %
 
 
9 BP
 
1 Represents 100% of AT&T Mobility wireless subscribers.
 
2 Includes data-centric devices such as session-based tablets, monitoring devices and automobile systems. Excludes postpaid tablets.
 
3 Excludes acquisition-related additions during the period.
 
4 Calculated by dividing the aggregate number of wireless subscribers who canceled service during a period divided by the total number of wireless subscribers at the beginning of that period. The churn rate for the period is equal to the average of the churn rate for each month of that period.
 

Operating income increased $673, or 14.2%, in the third quarter and $1,100, or 7.7%, for the first nine months of 2015. The operating income margin of AT&T Mobility was 29.6% in the third quarter of 2015 compared to 25.9% in 2014 and 28.1% for the first nine months of 2015 compared to 26.5%. AT&T Mobility's EBITDA margin in the third quarter was 40.7% in 2015 and 36.3% in 2014, and for the first nine months 39.2% in 2015 and 37.2% in 2014. AT&T Mobility's EBITDA service margin in the third quarter was 49.4% in 2015 and 43.1% in 2014, and for the first nine months 47.8% in 2015 and 43.8% in 2014. (EBITDA service margin is operating income before depreciation and amortization, divided by total service revenues.) AT&T Mobility's operating results reflect strong adoption of AT&T Next, BYOD (bring your own devices) customers, lower smartphone gross adds and strong operational efficiencies.

Subscriber Relationships
As the wireless industry continues to mature, we believe that future wireless growth will increasingly depend on our ability to offer innovative services, plans and devices and a wireless network that has sufficient spectrum and capacity to support these innovations on as broad a geographic basis as possible. To attract and retain subscribers in a maturing market, we have launched a wide variety of plans, including Mobile Share and Mobile Share Value (collectively referred to as Mobile Share) and AT&T Next.
 
40

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
ARPU
Postpaid phone-only ARPU (average revenue per average wireless subscriber) decreased 2.6% compared to the third quarter of 2014 and 4.7% compared to the first nine months of 2014 reflecting subscribers' continued adoption of AT&T Next and Mobile Share Value plans. Postpaid phone-only ARPU plus Next subscriber installment billings (postpaid phone-only ARPU plus AT&T Next) increased 4.9% and 3.0% compared to the same periods last year, as expected due to the continuing growth of the AT&T Next program. Compared to the second quarter of 2015, postpaid phone-only ARPU decreased 0.7% and postpaid phone-only ARPU plus AT&T Next increased 0.8%.

Churn
The effective management of subscriber churn is critical to our ability to maximize revenue growth and to maintain and improve margins. Total churn was lower for the third quarter and first nine months of 2015. Postpaid churn was higher for both the third quarter and the first nine months reflecting continuing competitive pressures in the industry.

Postpaid
Postpaid subscribers increased 0.2% during the third quarter when compared to June 30, 2015 and 2.1% when compared to September 30, 2014. At September 30, 2015, 86% of our postpaid phone subscriber base used smartphones, compared to 81% at September 30, 2014. About 98% of our postpaid smartphone subscribers are on plans that provide for service on multiple devices at reduced rates, and such subscribers tend to have higher retention and lower churn rates. A growing percentage of our postpaid smartphone subscribers are on usage-based data plans, with approximately 50.4 million subscribers on these plans as compared to 46.1 million subscribers in the prior year. About half of our Mobile Share accounts have chosen data plans with 10 gigabytes or higher. Device connections on our Mobile Share plans now represent over 77% of our postpaid customer base. Such offerings are intended to encourage existing subscribers to upgrade their current services and/or add connected devices, attract subscribers from other providers and minimize subscriber churn.

Historically, our postpaid customers had signed two-year service contracts when they purchased subsidized handsets. However, through our Mobile Share plans, we offer postpaid services at lower prices for those customers who either bring their own devices (BYOD) or participate in our AT&T Next program. Approximately 71% of all postpaid smartphone gross adds and upgrades during the third quarter of 2015 chose AT&T Next. While BYOD customers do not generate equipment revenue or incur additional expenses for device subsidy, the service revenue helps improve our margins.

Our AT&T Next program allows for postpaid subscribers to purchase certain devices in installments over a period of up to 30 months. Additionally, after a specified period of time, they also have the right to trade in the original device for a new device and have the remaining unpaid balance satisfied. For customers that elect these trade-in programs, we recognize equipment revenue at the time of the sale for the amount of the customer receivable, net of the fair value of the trade-in right guarantee and imputed interest. A significant percentage of our customers on the AT&T Next program pay a lower monthly service charge, which results in lower service revenue recorded for these subscribers.

Prepaid
In the first quarter of 2015, we updated our definition of prepaid subscribers to exclude session-based tablets, which are now included with connected devices. Prepaid subscribers now consist primarily of phone users. Prepaid subscribers increased 5.3% during the third quarter when compared to June 30, 2015 and 9.6% when compared to September 30, 2014.

Connected Devices
Connected Devices includes data-centric devices such as session-based tablets, monitoring devices and automobile systems. Connected device subscribers increased 6.8% when compared to June 30, 2015 and 27.4% when compared to September 30, 2014. During the third-quarter 2015, we added approximately 1.0 million "connected" cars through agreements with various carmakers. We believe that these connected car agreements give us the opportunity to create future retail relationships with the car owners.

41

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
OTHER BUSINESS MATTERS

DIRECTV  In July 2015, we completed our acquisition of DIRECTV, a leading provider of digital television entertainment services in both the United States and Latin America. The acquisition gives us a unique and complementary set of assets and the opportunity to achieve substantial cost synergies over time, as well as increasing revenue from pay television in Latin America. Our distribution scale will enable us to offer consumers attractive combinations of video, high-speed broadband and mobile services, using all the sales channels of both companies. We believe the combined company will be a content distribution leader across mobile, video and broadband platforms.

Under the merger agreement, each share of DIRECTV stock was exchanged for $28.50 cash plus 1.892 shares of our common stock. After adjustment for shares issued to trusts consolidated by AT&T, stock based payment arrangements and fractional shares, which were settled in cash, AT&T issued 954,407,524 shares to DIRECTV shareholders, giving them an approximate 16% stake in the combined company, based on common shares outstanding. Based on our $34.29 per share closing stock price on July 24, 2015, the aggregate value of consideration paid to DIRECTV shareholders was $47,404, including $32,727 of AT&T stock and $14,378 in cash and $299 for shared based payment arrangements.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the transaction subject to the following conditions:
·
Fiber to the Premises Deployment – Within four years, we will offer our all-fiber Internet access service to at least 12.5 million customer locations such as residences, home offices and very small businesses. Combined with our existing high-speed broadband network, at least 25.7 million customer locations will have access to broadband speeds of 45Mbps or higher by the end of the four-year build. While the addition of medium and large businesses do not count towards the commitments, we will have the opportunity to provide services to those customers as part of this expansion. In addition, we will offer 1 Gbps fiber Internet access service pursuant to applicable E-rate rules to any eligible school or library requesting that service within or contiguous to our all-fiber footprint.
·
Discounted Broadband Services Program – Within our 21-state area, we will offer a discounted fixed broadband service to low-income households that qualify for the government's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In locations where it is available, service with speeds of at least 10Mbps will be offered for ten dollars per month. Elsewhere, 5Mbps service will be offered for ten dollars per month or, in some locations, 3Mbps service will be offered for five dollars per month.
·
Non-Discriminatory Usage-Based Practices – We are required to refrain from using usage-based allowances or other retail terms and conditions on our fixed broadband Internet access service, as defined in the order, to discriminate in favor of our own online video services. We can and will continue to offer discounts on integrated bundles of our video and fixed broadband services.
·
Internet Interconnection Disclosure Requirements – We will submit to the FCC new interconnection agreements we enter into with peering networks and with "on-net" customers that purchase Managed Internet Service to exchange Internet traffic with other AT&T customers. We will develop, together with an independent expert, a methodology for measuring the performance of our Internet traffic exchange and regularly report these metrics to the FCC.
·
Compliance Program and Reporting – We will appoint a Company Compliance Officer to develop and implement a plan to ensure compliance with these merger conditions. We will engage an independent, third-party compliance officer to evaluate the plan and our implementation. Both AT&T and the independent compliance officer will submit periodic reports to the FCC.
The conditions will remain in effect for four years from July 24, 2015. A condition may be extended once for two years if the FCC makes a formal finding that we have violated the condition in whole or in part.

Litigation Challenging DIRECTV's NFL Sunday Ticket  More than a dozen putative class actions have been filed in the U.S. District Courts for the Central District of California and the Southern District of New York against DIRECTV and the National Football League (NFL) alleging that the NFL and DIRECTV violated federal antitrust law in connection with the NFL Sunday Ticket package. Among other things, the complaints allege that plaintiffs have been overcharged for the televised presentation of out-of-market NFL games due to DIRECTV's exclusive agreement with the NFL to broadcast out-of-market games through the Sunday Ticket package. The complaints seek unspecified treble damages and attorneys' fees along with injunctive relief. The first complaint, Abrahamian v. National Football League, Inc., et al., was served in June 2015. We vigorously dispute these allegations.
42
AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
Federal Trade Commission Litigation Involving DIRECTV In March 2015, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a civil suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against DIRECTV seeking injunctive relief and unspecified money damages under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act and Section 4 of the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act. The FTC's allegations concern DIRECTV's advertising, marketing and sale of programming packages. The FTC alleges that DIRECTV did not adequately disclose all relevant terms. We are disputing these allegations vigorously.

Unlimited Data Plan Claims  In October 2014, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a civil suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against AT&T Mobility, LLC seeking injunctive relief and unspecified money damages under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. The FTC's allegations concern AT&T's Maximum Bit Rate (MBR) program, which temporarily reduces the download speeds of a small portion of our legacy Unlimited Data Plan customers each month. MBR is an industry-standard practice that is designed to affect only the most data-intensive applications (such as video streaming). Texts, emails, tweets, social media posts, Internet browsing, and many other applications are typically unaffected. Contrary to the FTC's allegations, which we vigorously dispute, our MBR program is permitted by our customer contracts, was fully disclosed in advance to our Unlimited Data Plan customers, and was implemented to protect the network for the benefit of all customers. In March 2015, our motion to dismiss the litigation on the grounds that the FTC lacked jurisdiction to file suit was denied. In May 2015, the Court granted our motion to certify its decision for immediate appeal. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit subsequently granted our petition to accept the appeal, and the appeal is now pending before that Court while limited discovery proceeds in the District Court.

On June 17, 2015, the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability and Order (NAL) to AT&T Mobility, LLC concerning our MBR policy that applies to Unlimited Data Plan customers. The NAL alleges that we violated the FCC's Open Internet Transparency Rule by using the term "unlimited" in connection with the offerings subject to the MBR policy and by failing adequately to disclose the speed reductions that apply once a customer reaches a specified data threshold. The NAL proposes a forfeiture penalty of $100, and further proposes to order us to correct any misleading and inaccurate statements about our unlimited plans, inform customers of the alleged violation, revise our disclosures to address the alleged violation and inform these customers that they may cancel their plans without penalty after reviewing the revised disclosures. On July 17, 2015, we filed our response to the NAL. We believe that the NAL is unlawful and should be withdrawn, because we have fully complied with the Open Internet Transparency Rule and the FCC has no authority to impose the proposed remedies. The matter is currently pending before the FCC.

Labor Contracts  New three-year agreements covering approximately 17,000 traditional wireline employees, which expired in April, have been ratified. On October 20, 2015, we reached tentative four-year agreements on three southeast regional contracts covering 24,000 traditional wireline employees. These southeast contracts remain subject to ratification by the union membership.

COMPETITIVE AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

Overview  AT&T subsidiaries operating within the United States are subject to federal and state regulatory authorities. AT&T subsidiaries operating outside the United States are subject to the jurisdiction of national and supranational regulatory authorities in the markets where service is provided.

In the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Telecom Act), Congress established a national policy framework intended to bring the benefits of competition and investment in advanced telecommunications facilities and services to all Americans by opening all telecommunications markets to competition and reducing or eliminating regulatory burdens that harm consumer welfare. However, since the Telecom Act was passed, the FCC and some state regulatory commissions have maintained or expanded certain regulatory requirements that were imposed decades ago on our traditional wireline subsidiaries when they operated as legal monopolies. We are pursuing, at both the state and federal levels, additional legislative and regulatory measures to reduce regulatory burdens that are no longer appropriate in a competitive telecommunications market and that inhibit our ability to compete more effectively and offer services wanted and needed by our customers, including initiatives to transition services from traditional networks to all IP-based networks. At the same time, we also seek to ensure that legacy regulations are not extended to broadband or wireless services, which are subject to vigorous competition.
43

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
We provide satellite video service through our subsidiary DIRECTV, whose satellites are licensed by the FCC. The Communications Act of 1934 and other related acts give the FCC broad authority to regulate the U.S. operations of DIRECTV. In addition, states representing a majority of our local service access lines have adopted legislation that enables us to provide U-verse video service through a single statewide or state-approved franchise (as opposed to the need to acquire hundreds or even thousands of municipal-approved franchises) to offer competitive video services. We also are supporting efforts to update and improve regulatory treatment for retail services. Regulatory reform and passage of legislation is uncertain and depends on many factors.
 
We provide wireless services in robustly competitive markets, but those services are subject to substantial and increasing governmental regulation. Wireless communications providers must obtain licenses from the FCC to provide communications services at specified spectrum frequencies within specified geographic areas and must comply with the FCC rules and policies governing the use of the spectrum. While wireless communications providers' prices and service offerings are generally not subject to state regulation, states sometimes attempt to regulate or legislate various aspects of wireless services, such as in the area of consumer protection.
 
The FCC has recognized that the explosive growth of bandwidth-intensive wireless data services requires the U.S. Government to make more spectrum available. In February 2012, Congress set forth specific spectrum blocks to be auctioned and licensed by February 2015 (the "AWS-3 Auction"), and also authorized the FCC to conduct an "incentive auction," to make available for wireless broadband use certain spectrum that is currently used by broadcast television licensees (the "600 MHz Auction"). We participated in the AWS-3 Auction. The FCC announced that the 600 MHz Auction (Auction 1000) is scheduled to begin on March 29, 2016.
 
In May 2014, in a separate proceeding, the FCC issued an order revising its policies governing mobile spectrum holdings. The FCC rejected the imposition of caps on the amount of spectrum any carrier could acquire, retaining its case-by-case review policy. Moreover, it increased the amount of spectrum that could be acquired before exceeding an aggregation "screen" that would automatically trigger closer scrutiny of a proposed transaction. On the other hand, it indicated that it will separately consider an acquisition of "low band" spectrum that exceeds one-third of the available low band spectrum as presumptively harmful to competition. In addition, the FCC imposed limits on certain bidders in the 600 MHz Auction, including AT&T, restricting them from bidding on up to 40 percent of the available spectrum in the incentive auction in markets that cover as much as 70-80 percent of the U.S. population. On balance, the order and the new spectrum screen should allow AT&T to obtain additional spectrum to meet our customers' needs, but because AT&T uses more "low band" spectrum in its network than some other national carriers, the separate consideration of low band spectrum acquisitions might affect AT&T's ability to expand capacity in these bands ("low band" spectrum has better propagation characteristics than "high band" spectrum). We seek to ensure that we have the opportunity, through the auction process and otherwise, to obtain the spectrum we need to provide our customers with high-quality service in the future.
 
As the wireless industry continues to mature, we believe that future wireless growth will increasingly depend on our ability to offer innovative data services and a wireless network that has sufficient spectrum and capacity to support these innovations. We are facing significant spectrum and capacity constraints on our wireless network in certain markets. We expect such constraints to increase and expand to additional markets in the coming years. While we are continuing to invest significant capital in expanding our network capacity, our capacity constraints could affect the quality of existing voice and data services and our ability to launch new, advanced wireless broadband services, unless we are able to obtain more spectrum. Any long-term spectrum solution will require that the FCC make additional spectrum available to the wireless industry to meet the expanding needs of our subscribers. We will continue to attempt to address spectrum and capacity constraints on a market-by-market basis.
 
Net Neutrality  In February 2015, the FCC released an order in response to the D.C. Circuit's January 2014 decision adopting new rules, and reclassifying both fixed and mobile consumer broadband Internet access services as telecommunications services, subject to comprehensive regulation under the Act. The FCC's decision significantly expands the FCC's existing authority to regulate the provision of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access services. The FCC also asserted jurisdiction over Internet interconnection arrangements, which until now have been unregulated. These actions could have an adverse impact on our fixed and mobile broadband services and operating results. AT&T and several other parties, including US Telecom and CTIA trade groups, have appealed the FCC's order. The case is scheduled for oral argument in December 2015. 
44
AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

We had $6,202 in cash and cash equivalents available at September 30, 2015. Cash and cash equivalents included cash of $2,699 and money market funds and other cash equivalents of $3,503. Approximately $828 of our cash and cash equivalents resided in foreign jurisdictions, some of which are subject to restrictions on repatriation. Cash and cash equivalents decreased $2,401 since December 31, 2014. We also had $400 in short-term investments, which we included in "Other current assets" on our consolidated balance sheets. In the first nine months of 2015, cash inflows were primarily provided by long-term debt issuances and cash receipts from operations, including cash from our sale and transfer of certain equipment installment receivables to third parties. These inflows were offset by cash used to meet the needs of the business, including, but not limited to, payment of operating expenses; acquisitions of wireless spectrum, DIRECTV, GSF Telecom Holdings, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (GSF Telecom) and Nextel Mexico; funding capital expenditures; debt repayments; dividends to stockholders; and collateral posting (see Note 6). We discuss many of these factors in detail below.

Cash Provided by or Used in Operating Activities
During the first nine months of 2015, cash provided by operating activities was $26,695, compared to $25,593 for the first nine months of 2014. Higher operating cash flows in 2015 were primarily due to increased operating results resulting from our acquisition of DIRECTV. Higher proceeds from the sale of equipment installment receivables in 2015, offset by timing of other working capital payments, also impacted operating cash flows.

Cash Used in or Provided by Investing Activities
For the first nine months of 2015, cash used in investing activities totaled $43,047 and consisted primarily of:
·
$17,703 for acquisitions of spectrum licenses, largely due to the remaining payment for AWS spectrum licenses in the AWS-3 Auction.
·
$13,356 for capital expenditures, excluding interest during construction.
·
$12,991 for the acquisitions of DIRECTV, GSF Telecom, Nextel Mexico and other operations.

During the first nine months, we also received $1,890 upon the maturity of certain short-term investments and paid $400 for additional short-term investments.

Virtually all of our capital expenditures are spent on our wireless and wireline networks, our video services and support systems for our communications and video services. Capital expenditures, excluding interest during construction, decreased $3,473 in the first nine months, reflecting the completion of our LTE build and other Project VIP initiatives in 2014. Capital expenditures also include spending for DIRECTV, GSF Telecom and Nextel Mexico after the acquisition dates. As part of our organization realignment, we no longer allocate capital expenditures to our segments.

We expect our 2015 capital expenditures to be in the $21,000 range, and we expect our capital expenditures to be in the 15 percent range of service revenues or lower from 2016 through 2018. The amount of capital investment is influenced by demand for services and products, capacity needs and network enhancements. We are also focused on ensuring merger commitments are met.
45

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
Cash Provided by or Used in Financing Activities
For the first nine months of 2015, cash provided by financing activities totaled $13,951 and included net proceeds of $33,967 from the following long-term debt issuances:
·
February 2015 issuance of $2,619 of 4.600% global notes due 2045.
·
March 2015 borrowings under a variable rate term loan facility due 2018, variable rate term loan facility due 2020 and variable rate 18-month credit agreement due 2016, together totaling $11,155.
·
March 2015 issuance of €1,250 of 1.300% global notes due 2023 and €1,250 of 2.450% global notes due 2035 (together, equivalent to $2,844, when issued).
·
May 2015 issuance of $3,000 of 2.450% global notes due 2020; $2,750 of 3.000% global notes due 2022; $5,000 of 3.400% global notes due 2025; $2,500 of 4.500% global notes due 2035; $3,500 of 4.750% global notes due 2046; and $750 floating rate global notes due 2020. The floating rate for the note is based upon the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), reset quarterly, plus 93 basis points.

During the first nine months of 2015, we redeemed $9,962 of debt, primarily consisting of the following:
·
Redemption of $899 of various senior notes in connection with the January 2015 GSF Telecom acquisition and April 2015 Nextel Mexico acquisition.
·
April 2015 redemption of €1,250 (approximately $1,975 at maturity) of AT&T 6.125% notes due 2015.
·
August 2015 redemption of $1,500 of AT&T 2.500% notes due August 2015.
·
September 2015 redemption of $1,000 of 0.800% notes due December 2015; $1,000 of 0.900% AT&T notes due February 2016; $750 of 3.125% DIRECTV Holdings LLC and DIRECTV Financing Co., Inc. notes due February 2016; and $1,500 of 3.500% of DIRECTV senior notes due March 2016.
·
September 2015 prepayment of $1,000 of the outstanding advances under the $2,000 18-month credit agreement (the "18-Month Credit Agreement") by and between AT&T and Mizuho. (See the "Credit Facilities" discussion below.)
Our weighted average interest rate of our entire long-term debt portfolio, including the impact of derivatives, was approximately 4.0% as of September 30, 2015, compared to 3.8% as of June 30, 2015, and 4.2% as of December 31, 2014. We had $126,042 of total notes and debentures outstanding at September 30, 2015, which included Euro, British pound sterling, Swiss Franc, Canadian dollar and Brazilian real denominated debt of approximately $27,073.

As of September 30, 2015, we had approximately 415 million shares remaining from 2013 and 2014 authorizations from our Board of Directors to repurchase shares of our common stock. With the completion of the DIRECTV acquisition, our priority will be to use free cash flow (operating cash flows less construction and capital expenditures) after dividends to pay down debt.

We paid dividends of $7,311 during the first nine months of 2015, compared with $7,170 for the first nine months of 2014, primarily reflecting the increase in the quarterly dividend approved by our Board of Directors in December 2014, partially offset by the impact of the decline in shares outstanding (prior to our completion of the DIRECTV merger), due to repurchases in 2014. Dividends declared by our Board of Directors totaled $0.47 per share in the third quarter and $1.41 per share for the first nine months of 2015 and $0.46 per share in the third quarter and $1.38 per share for the first nine months of 2014. With significantly higher outstanding shares of AT&T common stock due to the DIRECTV merger, our total dividend payments for 2015 will be higher when compared to 2014. Our dividend policy considers the expectations and requirements of stockholders, capital funding requirements of AT&T and long-term growth opportunities. It is our intent to provide the financial flexibility to allow our Board of Directors to consider dividend growth and to recommend an increase in dividends to be paid in future periods. All dividends remain subject to declaration by our Board of Directors.

At September 30, 2015, we had $7,535 of debt maturing within one year, $7,380 of which was related to long-term debt issuances. Debt maturing within one year includes the following notes that may be put back to us by the holders:
·
$1,000 of annual put reset securities issued by BellSouth that may be put back to us each April until maturity in 2021.
·
An accreting zero-coupon note that may be redeemed each May until maturity in 2022. If the zero-coupon note (issued for principal of $500 in 2007) is held to maturity, the redemption amount will be $1,030.
 
46

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
Credit Facilities
We have a $5,000 revolving credit agreement with a syndicate of banks that expires in December 2018 (the "December 2018 Facility") and a $3,000 revolving credit agreement with a syndicate of banks that expires in December 2017 (the "December 2017 Facility"). There were no advances outstanding under the December 2018 Facility or the December 2017 Facility at September 30, 2015.

On January 21, 2015, we entered into a $9,155 credit agreement (the "Syndicated Credit Agreement") containing (i) a $6,286 term loan facility (the "Tranche A Facility") and (ii) a $2,869 term loan facility (the "Tranche B Facility"), with certain investment and commercial banks and Mizuho Bank, Ltd. ("Mizuho"), as administrative agent. On that date, we also entered into the 18-Month Credit Agreement with Mizuho as initial lender and agent.

On March 2, 2015, we borrowed $9,155 under the Syndicated Credit Agreement and $2,000 under the 18-Month Credit Agreement at floating interest rates. We used these advances for general corporate purposes, including acquisition related payments. Amounts borrowed under the Tranche A Facility will be due and payable on March 2, 2018. The Tranche A Facility interest rate equals three-month LIBOR, reset quarterly, plus the Applicable Margin (or 100 basis points when issued). Amounts borrowed under the Tranche B Facility will be subject to amortization from March 2, 2018, with twenty-five percent of the aggregate principal amount thereof being payable prior to March 2, 2020, and all remaining principal amount due and payable on March 2, 2020. The Tranche B Facility interest rate equals three-month LIBOR, reset quarterly, plus the Applicable Margin (or 112.5 basis points when issued). Outstanding amounts borrowed under the 18-Month Credit Agreement will be due and payable on September 2, 2016. The 18-Month Credit Agreement interest rate equals three-month LIBOR, reset quarterly, plus the Applicable Margin (or 80 basis points when issued).

At September 30, 2015, we had advances outstanding of $9,155 under the Syndicated Credit Agreement and were in compliance with all covenants. At September 30, 2015, we had advances outstanding of $1,000 under the 18-Month Credit Agreement and were in compliance with all covenants. Additional details regarding the Syndicated Credit Agreement and 18-Month Credit Agreement are available in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Collateral Arrangements
During the first nine months of 2015, we posted $1,496 of additional cash collateral, on a net basis, to banks and other participants in our derivative arrangements. Cash postings under these arrangements vary with changes in credit ratings and netting agreements. (See Note 6)

Other
Our total capital consists of debt (long-term debt and debt maturing within one year) and stockholders' equity. Our capital structure does not include debt issued by our equity method investments. At September 30, 2015, our debt ratio, which includes the debt raised in anticipation of our recently closed DIRECTV acquisition, was 50.8%, compared to 55.6% at June 30, 2015, and 47.6% at December 31, 2014. Our net debt ratio was 48.2% at September 30, 2015, compared to 45.3% at June 30, 2015, and 41.5% at December 31, 2014. The debt ratio is affected by the same factors that affect total capital, and reflects our debt issuances during the first half of 2015, inclusion of DIRECTV debt and additional outstanding shares of AT&T common stock in our balance sheet as of the acquisition date, and debt redemptions for the first nine months of 2015.

During 2015, we received $3,642 from the monetization of various assets, primarily the sale of certain equipment installment receivables. We plan to continue to explore similar opportunities during the remainder of 2015.

In 2013, we made a voluntary contribution of a preferred equity interest in AT&T Mobility II LLC (Mobility), the holding company for our U.S. wireless operations, to the trust used to pay pension benefits under our qualified pension plans. The preferred equity interest had a value of $8,838 as of September 30, 2015, and $9,021 as of December 31, 2014, does not have any voting rights and has a liquidation value of $8,000. The trust is entitled to receive cumulative cash distributions of $560 per annum, which are distributed quarterly in equal amounts. We distributed $420 to the trust during the first nine months of 2015. So long as we make the distributions, the terms of the preferred equity interest will not impose any limitations on our ability to declare a dividend or repurchase shares. At the time of the contribution of the preferred equity interest, we agreed to annual cash contributions to the trust of $175 no later than the due date for our federal income tax return for each of 2014, 2015 and 2016. The 2014 contribution of $175 was made to the trust during the second quarter of 2015.
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AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
At September 30, 2015, we had interest rate swaps with a notional value of $7,050 and a fair value of $217.

We have fixed-to-fixed and floating-to-fixed cross-currency swaps on foreign-currency-denominated debt instruments with a U.S. dollar notional value of $29,642 to hedge our exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These derivatives have been designated at inception and qualify as cash flow hedges with a net fair value of $(2,406) at September 30, 2015.

We also have foreign exchange contracts with a notional value of $23 and a fair value of $0.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The registrant maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the registrant 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 in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. The chief executive officer and chief financial officer have performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2015. Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2015.

Internal control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 that occurred during the registrant's third quarter of 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. Due to the timing of our acquisitions of GSF Telecom, Nextel Mexico and DIRECTV, we will exclude the operations of these recently acquired companies as we continue to evaluate the internal controls over financial reporting of each entity. This exclusion is in accordance with the general guidance issued by the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission that an assessment of a recent business combination may be omitted from management's report on internal control over financial reporting in the first year of consolidation.
 
48

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
Information set forth in this report contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially. Many of these factors are discussed in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section. We claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
 
The following factors could cause our future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements:
·
Adverse economic and/or capital access changes in the markets served by us or in countries in which we have significant investments, including the impact on customer demand and our ability and our suppliers' ability to access financial markets at favorable rates and terms.
·
Changes in available technology and the effects of such changes, including product substitutions and deployment costs.
·
Increases in our benefit plans' costs, including increases due to adverse changes in the United States and foreign securities markets, resulting in worse-than-assumed investment returns and discount rates; adverse changes in mortality assumptions; adverse medical cost trends, and unfavorable or delayed implementation of healthcare legislation, regulations or related court decisions.
·
The final outcome of FCC and other federal or state agency proceedings (including judicial review, if any, of such proceedings) involving issues that are important to our business, including, without limit, intercarrier compensation, interconnection obligations, pending Notices of Apparent Liability, the transition from legacy technologies to IP-based infrastructure including the withdrawal of legacy TDM-based services, universal service, broadband deployment, E911 services, competition policy, net neutrality, including the FCC's order reclassifying broadband as Title II services subject to much more fulsome regulation, unbundled network elements and other wholesale obligations, availability of new spectrum from the FCC on fair and balanced terms, and wireless and satellite license awards and renewals.
·
The final outcome of state and federal legislative efforts involving issues that are important to our business, including deregulation of IP-based services, relief from Carrier of Last Resort obligations, and elimination of state commission review of the withdrawal of services.
·
Enactment of additional state, federal and/or foreign regulatory and tax laws and regulations pertaining to our subsidiaries and foreign investments, including laws and regulations that reduce our incentive to invest in our networks, resulting in lower revenue growth and/or higher operating costs.
·
Our ability to absorb revenue losses caused by increasing competition, including offerings that use alternative technologies or delivery methods (e.g., cable, wireless, VoIP and Over The Top Video service) and our ability to maintain capital expenditures.
·
The extent of competition and the resulting pressure on customer and access line totals and segment operating margins.
·
Our ability to develop attractive and profitable product/service offerings to offset increasing competition.
·
The ability of our competitors to offer product/service offerings at lower prices due to lower cost structures and regulatory and legislative actions adverse to us, including state regulatory proceedings relating to unbundled network elements and nonregulation of comparable alternative technologies (e.g., VoIP).
·
The continued development and delivery of attractive and profitable video offerings through satellite and U-verse; the extent to which regulatory and build-out requirements apply to our offerings; and the availability, cost and/or reliability of the various technologies and/or content required to provide such offerings.
·
Our continued ability to attract and offer a diverse portfolio of wireless service and devices, device financing plans, and maintain margins.
·
The availability and cost of additional wireless spectrum and regulations and conditions relating to spectrum use, licensing, obtaining additional spectrum, technical standards and deployment and usage, including network management rules.
·
Our ability to manage growth in wireless data services, including network quality and acquisition of adequate spectrum at reasonable costs and terms.
·
The outcome of pending, threatened or potential litigation, including patent and product safety claims by or against third parties.
·
The impact on our networks, including satellites operated by DIRECTV, and business from major equipment failures; security breaches related to the network or customer information; our inability to obtain handsets, equipment/software or have handsets, equipment/software serviced, and in the case of satellites launched, in a timely and cost-effective manner from suppliers; or severe weather conditions, natural disasters, pandemics, energy shortages, wars or terrorist attacks.
·
The issuance by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other accounting oversight bodies of new accounting standards or changes to existing standards.
·
The issuance by the Internal Revenue Service and/or state or foreign tax authorities of new tax regulations or changes to existing standards and actions by federal, state, local or foreign tax agencies and judicial authorities with respect to applying applicable tax laws and regulations and the resolution of disputes with any taxing jurisdictions.
·
Our ability to integrate our acquisition of DIRECTV.
·
Our ability to adequately fund our wireless operations, including payment for additional spectrum, network upgrades and technological advancements.
·
Our increased exposure to video competition and foreign economies due to our recent acquisitions of DIRECTV and Mexican wireless properties, including foreign exchange fluctuations, as well as regulatory and political uncertainty in Latin America.
·
Changes in our corporate strategies, such as changing network requirements or acquisitions and dispositions, which may require significant amounts of cash or stock, to respond to competition and regulatory, legislative and technological developments.
·
The uncertainty surrounding further congressional action to address spending reductions, which may result in a significant reduction in government spending and reluctance of businesses and consumers to spend in general and on our products and services specifically, due to this fiscal uncertainty.

Readers are cautioned that other factors discussed in this report, although not enumerated here, also could materially affect our future earnings.
49

AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors
We discuss in our Annual Report on Form 10-K various risks that may materially affect our business. We use this section to update this discussion to reflect material developments since our Form 10-K was filed.

Our ability to successfully integrate our July 2015 acquisition of DIRECTV, including the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the acquisition may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; our costs in financing the acquisition and potential adverse effects on our share price and dividend amount due to the issuance of additional shares; the addition of DIRECTV's existing debt to our balance sheet; disruption from the acquisition making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; and competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third party relationships and revenues.

We completed our acquisition of DIRECTV in July 2015. We believe that the acquisition will give us the scale, resources and ability to deploy video services to more customers than otherwise possible and to provide an integrated bundle of broadband, video and wireless services enabling us to compete more effectively against cable operators as well as other technology, media and communications companies. In addition, we believe the acquisition will result in cost savings, especially in the area of video content costs, and other potential synergies, enabling us to expand and enhance our broadband deployment and provide more video options across multiple fixed and mobile devices. We must comply with various regulatory conditions and integrate a large number of video network and other operational systems and administrative systems. The integration process may also result in significant expenses and charges against earnings, both cash and noncash. While we have successfully merged large companies into our operations in the past, delays in the process could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, expenses, operating results and financial condition. This acquisition has increased the amount of debt on our balance sheet (both from DIRECTV's debt and the indebtedness needed to pay a portion of the purchase price) leading to additional interest expense and, due to additional shares being issued, will result in additional cash being required for any dividends declared. Both of these factors could put pressure on our financial flexibility to continue capital investments, develop new services and declare future dividends. In addition, events outside of our control, including changes in regulation and laws as well as economic trends, could adversely affect our ability to realize the expected benefits from this acquisition.
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AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION - Continued
Dollars in millions except per share amounts
 
Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
   
                   
(c) A summary of our repurchases of common stock during the third quarter of 2015 is as follows:
 
                 
Period
(a)
 
 
 
 
Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased1, 2
 
(b)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Price Paid
Per Share (or Unit)
 
(c)
 
 
Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
 
(d)
 
Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares (or
Units) That May Yet Be
Purchased Under The
Plans or Programs
 
                 
July 1, 2015 -
July 31, 2015
 28,296 
 
$
 -   
 
 -   
 
 414,550,000 
August 1, 2015 -
August 31, 2015
 7,006 
   
 -   
 
 -   
 
 414,550,000 
September 1, 2015 -
September 30, 2015
 425 
   
 -   
 
 -   
 
 414,550,000 
Total
 35,727 
 
$
 -   
 
 -   
   
 In March 2014, our Board of Directors approved a fourth authorization to repurchase up to 300 million shares of our common stock. In March 2013, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 300 million shares of our common stock. The authorizations
   have no expiration date.
 All shares were acquired through the withholding of taxes on the vesting of restricted stock or through the payment in stock of taxes on the exercise price of options.
 
51
AT&T INC.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are incorporated by reference as exhibits hereto. Unless otherwise indicated, all exhibits so incorporated are from File No. 1-8610.
   
10-a
2011 Incentive Plan, amended September 24, 2015
10-b
Cash Deferral Plan, amended September 24, 2015
10-c
Administrative Plan, amended September 24, 2015
10-d
Stock Purchase and Deferral Plan, amended September 24, 2015
10-e
Supplemental Life Insurance Plan, amended September 24, 2015
10-f
DIRECTV Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors
12
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
18
Letter regarding change in Accounting Principles
31
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications
31.1    Certification of Principal Executive Officer
31.2    Certification of Principal Financial Officer
32
Section 1350 Certifications
99.1
The unaudited consolidated balance sheets of DIRECTV as of June 30, 2015 and the consolidated statements of income, consolidated statements of cash flows and consolidated statements of stockholders' equity and comprehensive income of DIRECTV for the period ended June 30, 2015, and the notes related thereto (incorporated by reference to Item 1 of DIRECTV's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A filed October 20, 2015 (SEC File No. 001-34554)).
101
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
52

 
SIGNATURE



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 

 
 
 
 
November 5, 2015  
 
 
AT&T Inc.
 
 
 
/s/ John J. Stephens
John J. Stephens
Senior Executive Vice President
    and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
53