AT&T has donated 15,000 prepaid phone cards, each with 20 minutes of calling time, to troops in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. In addition, the company announced it would assist active duty military stateside with free telephone installation.

Of the phone cards, 5,000 will be distributed through the USO’s Operation Phone Home program, and another 10,000 will be distributed to individual troops in care packages and through the Freedom Calls Foundation.

The AT&T Foundation provided the 10,000 cards, and a $20,000 grant, to the Freedom Calls Foundation, which provides free videoconferencing facilities to troops in theater to connect with family back in the U.S. Soldiers have used the videoconferencing system to remotely attend children’s births and graduations. One couple was even married over a Freedom Calls videoconference.

In addition, military personnel who have relocated and are setting up new telephone service in an AT&T (formerly SBC) service area can have the usual connection fees waived, for all installations through November 30, 2006. Ask the customer service representative when ordering new service for further information.