Contributed by
Jan Bans, AT&T
Area Director External Affairs

AT&T and the AT&T Foundation have underwritten research, titled "On the Front Lines of Schools," as part of their signature education initiative -- AT&T Aspire -- a program announced last year to help strengthen student success and workforce readiness. So far in California, they have announced 35 grants totaling more than $3.5 million to school districts and nonprofit organizations focused on high school retention and better preparing students for college and/or the workforce. AT&T has partnered with Junior Achievement chapters across the state to bring hundreds of high school students to their offices for Job Shadowing. AT&T is also in the process of sponsoring and supporting
America's Promise dropout summits and activities in California.

The Next Frontier of Television is Coming. Are Your Ready?

It’s called the “digital transition”, a dramatic overhaul of the nation’s over-the-air TV broadcasting system. The nation’s over-the-air local television stations are moving from an old system known as “analog” broadcasting to a new system known as “digital” broadcasting. The U.S. government has set midnight, at the end of February 17, 2009, as the time for this change.

The Association of Certified Examiners (ACE) reports that U.S businesses lose about 5 percent of their revenue through employee fraud, and small businesses are particularly susceptible. Experts indicate that the best defense against fraud in a small firm is a set of internal controls, periodic audits, and a system of checks and balances among workers. Small firms have fewer people to complete tasks, but rather than having one worker with all the financial responsibilities, for instance, owners should break up the financial task to ensure fraud is caught early. Small firms lose about $190,000 on average to employee fraud, while the overall average is $159,000. ACE notes that small businesses are most often hit by check tampering frauds, particularly because one worker is responsible for writing checks, recording the payments, and reconciling the bank statements. Experts also warn that businesses should examine their insurance policies to ensure that employee thefts are covered, should they occur.

Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2006

Commends the President for Taking a Strong Stand on Immigration Reform that Provides for Secure Borders While Maintaining a Vibrant Economy that is Open to Trade and BusinessThe United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), the nation's largest and most influential advocate for the two million Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S., issued the following statement from its leadership in response to President Bush's address to the nation on immigration reform:"We commend the President for showing unparalleled commitment and leadership on the critical issue of immigration reform that impacts our nation's security and economic prosperity, as well as the lives of millions of undocumented workers forced to live under society's shadows for so long.

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