Telecommuting Is Alive and Well at AT

Sometimes a spokesman--like me--should just stick to his knitting.

Your recent article about working at home [“Companies Turning Cool to Telecommuting Trend,” Dec. 28] was insightful.

Nevertheless, while I did indeed say that the much-hyped telecommuting phenomenon is barely off the launching pad--and many bosses resist work-at-home arrangements--such observations were based largely on the experience of corporate America in general, not AT&T;, my company, in particular.

Here, the rate of white-collar telecommuting increased dramatically in the last decade. One of four managers now work at home at least once a week. More than half do it once a month.

Although the participation rates have leveled--and our unions, so far, have not viewed telecommuting as a benefit worth bargaining for--the AT&T; work-at-home program has been a success, in my view.

BURKE STINSON

AT&T; Public Relations

Basking Ridge, N.J.