Ratings on Dallas-based AT&T Inc. (AT&T) reflect an overall solid investment-grade business position and modest financial risk profile. AT&T's strong overall business risk profile results from its status--along with Verizon Communications Inc.--as one of the two dominant U.S. telecommunications providers. Both companies benefit from the diversity and scale of their extensive voice and data wireline operations, as well as their large national wireless businesses, and each has a developing pay-TV business. On March 31, 2010, AT&T's U-verse video service was marketed to over 74% of the 23.8 million homes that had access to the service and had almost 2.3 million customers. Still, compared to its core wireline and wireless segments, U-verse is still a relatively recent venture, and ascertaining U-verse's
