GRI Index
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| |
Description |
Response |
Relevance |
| 1.1 |
Statement from the most senior decisionmaker of the organization about the relevance of sustainability of the organization and its strategy. |
Message from Dan Hesse |
High |
| |
Description |
Response |
Relevance |
| 2.1 |
Name of the organization. |
Sprint Nextel Corporation |
High |
| 2.3 |
Operational structure of the organization, including main divisions, operating companies, subsidaries, and joint ventures. |
SEC 10-K Report: Part I
and Exhibit 21 |
High |
| 2.4 |
Location of organization's headquarters. |
Sprint world headquarters are located in Overland Park, KS, USA |
High |
| 2.5 |
Number of countries where the organization operates, and names of countries with either major operations or that are specifically relevant to the sustainability issues covered in the report. |
Sprint's major operations are limited to the U.S. Operations in other countries are minor and not relevant to the sustainability issues covered in Sprint's CR web site. |
|
| 2.6 |
Nature of ownership and legal form. |
Sprint Nextel Corporation (S) is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. |
High |
| 2.7 |
Markets served including geographic breakdowns, sectors served, and types of customers/beneficiaries. |
SEC 10-K - Part I, Business |
High |
| 2.9 |
Significant changes during the reporting period regarding size, structure, or ownership. |
There were no significant size, structure or ownership changes during 2010. |
High |
| 2.10 |
Awards received in the reporting period |
Awards |
High |
| |
Description |
Response |
Relevance |
| 3.1 |
Reporting period for information provided. (Fiscal/calendar year) |
Calendar year 2010 unless otherwise noted |
High |
| 3.2 |
Date of most recent previous report (if any). |
This is Sprint's first full GRI index. Sprint's last CR performance summary was completed in August 2011 for 2010. |
High |
| 3.3 |
Reporting cycle. (annual, biennial, etc.) |
Our summary is on an annual basis. Our Sprint CR web site is current and updated as achievements or progress is made. |
High |
| 3.4 |
Contact point for questions regarding the report or its contents. |
csr@sprint.com |
High |
| 3.6 |
Boundary of the report (e.g., countries, divisions, subsidiaries, leased facilities, joint ventures, suppliers). See GRI Boundary Protocol for further guidance. |
Sprint's 2010 CR disclosure includes data from all fully owned U.S. operations and leased sites where we have operational control. Sprint does not have any material joint ventures to report on. Supplier data is only included where specifically indicated. |
High |
| 3.7 |
State any specific limitations on the scope or boundary of the report. |
1) Data from foreign sites is not included, nor is it deemed material given the number and size of our operations and number of employees at these sites.
2) Clearwire, in which Sprint holds a 54% non-controlling interest, is not included.
3) Data from our leased retail sites (approximately 1000) is not included.
4) Data from outsource suppliers is not included. This includes some customer care sites, real estate operations and network operations. |
High |
| 3.8 |
Basis for reporting on joint ventures, subsidiaries, leased facilities, outsourced operations, and other entities that can significantly affect comparability from period to period and/or between organizations. |
1) No material Joint Ventures
2) Fully owned U.S. subsidiaries included
3) Leased facilities where Sprint maintains operational control are included. We are exploring opportunities to collect and report data from non-controlled leased facilities but do not expect full or accurate reporting for several years.
4) We are beginning discussions with our outsource partners to understand their environmental and social impacts. |
High |
| 3.9 |
Data measurement techniques and the bases of calculations, including assumptions and techniques underlying estimations applied to the compilation of the Indicators and other information in the report.
Explain any decisions not to apply, or to substantially diverge from, the GRI Indicator Protocols. |
Specific reporting approaches are disclosed with performance detail for each metric. GRI Indicator Protocols were used where data was available. |
High |
| 3.10 |
Explanation of the effect of any re-statements of information provided in earlier reports, and the reasons for such re-statement.
(e.g.,mergers/acquisitions, change of base years/periods, nature of business, measurement methods). |
The only information restated in the 2010 performance results is for our GHG emissions, as suggested from our GHG Assurance Report, to improve the accuracy of prior year reporting. The restatements are not material and were the result of using outdated conversion factors for our wind contract. We have chosen not to restate prior year performance despite the addition of Virgin Mobile USA and several former Nextel Affiliates over the past several years. Adjusting for these acquisitions would have increased our base numbers and improved our CR performance for the past several years. We believe the changes would have been insignificant. |
High |
| 3.11 |
Significant changes from previous reporting periods in the scope, boundary, or measurement methods applied in the report. |
No Significant Changes |
High |
| 3.12 |
Table identifying the location of the Standard Disclosures in the report. |
GRI Index |
High |
| 3.13 |
Policy and current practice with regard to seeking external assurance for the report. |
Sprint is working with Ceres on a stakeholder panel. We expect the panel to provide input to the report in 2012. We also expect to submit the report to GRI for formal assessment within the next two years. |
High |
| |
Description |
Response |
Relevance |
| 4.1 |
Governance structure of the organization, including committees under the highest governance body responsible for specific tasks, such as setting strategy or organizational oversight. |
Corporate Governance
Proxy Statement (p.17-24) |
High |
| 4.2 |
Indicate whether the Chair of the highest governance body is also an executive officer. |
No, we have an independent, non-executive Chairman of the Board. |
High |
| 4.3 |
For organizations that have a unitary board structure, state the number and gender of members of the highest governance body that are independent and/or non-executive members. |
9 out of the 10 members of the Board are independent (only the CEO is not independent) |
High |
| 4.5 |
Linkage between compensation for members of the highest governance body, senior managers, and executives (including departure arrangements), and the organization's performance (including social and environmental performance). |
Corporate Governance
Proxy Statement (beginning on p.26) |
High |
| 4.6 |
Processes in place for the highest governance body to ensure conflicts of interest are avoided. |
Proxy Statement (p.59) |
High |
| 4.7 |
Process for determining the composition, qualifications, and expertise of the members of the highest governance body and its committees, including any consideration of gender and other indicators of diversity. |
Proxy Statement (p.23) |
High |
| 4.9 |
Procedures of the highest governance body for overseeing the organization's identification and management of economic, environmental, and social performance, including relevant risks and opportunities, and adherence or compliance with internationally agreed standards, codes of conduct, and principles. |
There is no formal disclosure regarding the board's consideration of social or environmental risk in our proxy statement. |
High |
| 4.10 |
Processes for evaluating the highest governance body's own performance, particularly with respect to economic, environmental, and social performance. |
There is a regular self-assessment of board performance. Each director completes annual assessments of the full board, each committee on which he or she serves, and a self-assessment. |
High |
| 4.11 |
Explanation of whether and how the precautionary approach or principle is addressed by the organization. |
Corporate Governance |
|
| 4.13 |
Memberships in associations and/or national/international advocacy organizations. |
CTIA, GeSI (e-waste, supply chain sub-committees), EHS?, FOSI?, Ceres (as of May 2011), BSR, EPA Climate Leaders (need to spell out CTIA and GeSI, confirm EHS memberships and FOSI) |
High |
| 4.16 |
Approaches to stakeholder engagement, including frequency of engagement by type and by stakeholder group. |
Stakeholder Engagement |
High |
| 4.17 |
Key topics and concerns that have been raised through stakeholder engagement, and how the organization has responded to those key topics and concerns, including through its reporting. |
Stakeholder Engagement |
High |
| |
Description |
Response |
Relevance |
| |
Disclosure on Management Approach - Economic:
Provide a concise disclosure on the Management Approach items outlined below with reference to the following economic aspects; economic performance, market presence and indirect economic impacts. |
Sprint Nextel is a communications company operating in all 50 States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We contribute directly to the economies of the states and countries in which we operate through taxes, wages, operating costs, donations and other community investments and by purchasing products and services. We also have an indirect economic impact through the services we offer (enabling communication) as well as infrastructure investments and our support of innovation (through our M2M Collaboration Center and Open Application Development Platform).
Our Approach
Taxes, Wages and Operating Costs (10-K)
Our Communities
Helping our customers reduce their impact |
High |
| EC2 |
Financial implications and other risks and opportunities for the organization's activities due to climate change. (Core) |
Climate Change
CDP |
High |
| EC3 |
Coverage of the organization's defined benefit plan obligations. (Core) |
|
High |
| EC4 |
Significant financial assistance received from government. (Core) |
None |
High |
| EC5 |
Range of ratios of standard entry level wage by gender compared to local minimum wage at significant locations of operation. |
Sprint does not consider gender as a factor when considering salaries.
Our People |
High |
| EC6 |
Policy, practices, and proportion of spending on locally-based suppliers at significant locations of operation. (Core) |
Sprint is a US based company |
Med to Low |
| EC7 |
Procedures for local hiring and proportion of senior management hired from the local community at significant locations of operation. (Core) |
Sprint's operations are primarily in the United States, and we hire primarily from the US labor market. In our limited international operations, virtually all employees are hired from the local community.
Talent Management |
Med to Low |
| EC8 |
Development and impact of infrastructure investments and services provided primarily for public benefit through commercial, in-kind, or pro bono engagement. (Core) |
|
High |
| |
Description |
Response |
Relevance |
| |
Disclosure on Management Approach - Environmental:
Provide a concise disclosure on the management approach items outlined below with reference to the following environmental aspects: materials, energy, water, biodiversity, emissions, effluents and waste, products and services, compliance, transport and overall. |
Sprint is committed to reducing its environmental impacts to ecosystems, land, air and water. We have developed a set of aggressive goals, a strong environmental management system, a corporate-wide environmental policy, and employee-awareness programs to ensure we achieve our goals. Our key focus areas are reducing our impact on global climate change through energy efficiency and use of renewable energy, efficient use of natural resources and maximizing recycling and reuse, and developing more environmentally responsible products and services.
Our Approach
Our Operations
Environmental Management
Product Responsibility |
High |
| EN1 |
Materials used by weight or volume. (Core) |
Not material-Sprint is not a manufacturer |
High |
| EN2 |
Percentage of materials used that are recycled input materials. (Core) |
Paper |
High |
| EN3 |
Direct energy consumption by primary energy source. (Core) |
GHG
CDP |
High |
| EN4 |
Indirect energy consumption by primary source. (Core) |
GHG
CDP |
High |
| EN5 |
Energy saved due to conservation and efficiency improvements. (Additional) |
GHG
CDP |
High |
| EN7 |
Initiatives to reduce indirect energy consumption and reductions achieved. (Additional) |
GHG
CDP |
High |
| EN8 |
Total water withdrawal by source. (Core) |
Water |
High |
| EN9 |
Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water. |
Water |
High |
| EN10 |
Percentage and total volume of water recycled and reused. (Additional) |
Water |
High |
| EN11 |
Location and size of land owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas. (Core) |
Sprint owns 142 acres, of which 69% is used for operations and 31% is open space. In total, Sprint uses 585 acres with the leased acres totaling 443.
|
|
Medium |
| EN12 |
Description of significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity in protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas. (Core) |
Sprint has no locations that are known to be applicable. Sprint follows all applicable environmental laws and regulations to minimize any impacts. |
Low |
| EN14 |
Strategies, current actions, and future plans for managing impacts on biodiversity. |
Sprint does not have any known sites in environmentally protected areas or areas of high biodiversity. We have over 60,000 sites, the vast majority of which are network facilities, primarily cell sites. Before a site is selected for a Sprint facility (including for a cell site), an environmental impact assessment is completed. If a potential site is found to be "protected" or in an area of high biodiversity, the location in question will be deselected and an alternative site found. |
Low |
| EN15 |
Number of IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations, by level of extinction risk. (Additional) |
Not applicable. |
Low |
| EN16 |
Total direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight. (Core) |
|
High |
| EN17 |
Other relevant indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight. (Core) |
GHG |
High |
| EN18 |
Initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reductions achieved. (Additional) |
GHG
CDP |
High |
| EN19 |
Emissions of Ozone Depleting substances by weight. |
Sprint has 231 older network sites with 400,000 total pounds of Halon 1301 stored for fire suppression systems. Halon 1301 is on the list of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) recognized by the Montreal Protocol. Sprint currently uses Halon 1301, FM 200, and Ecaro 25 for fire suppression. Fires at Sprint sites are rare, but if they occur, fire suppression systems will be triggered and a release will occur. The table below shows pounds of Halon released by year for the past 3 years, the associated CO2-e and the number of sites with releases.
|
High |
| EN20 |
Nox, Sox, and other significant air emissions by type and weight. |
GHG
CDP |
High |
| EN21 |
Total water discharge by quality and destination. (Core) |
Water |
High |
| EN22 |
Total weight of waste by type and disposal method. (Core) |
Water
E-waste |
High |
| EN23 |
Total number and volume of significant spills. (Core) |
Sprint has not had a significant spill of chemicals, oils, or fuels in its recent history years, and may never have had a significant spill in its history. That is largely because Sprint is not a major consumer of chemicals, oils or fuels. There were no recorded spills in 2009 or 2010. For 2011 (through July) only 1 spill has been recorded, which involved 440 pounds of diesel fuel at a network site. |
High |
| EN24 |
Weight of transported, imported, exported, or treated waste deemed hazardous under the terms of the Basel Convention Annex I, II, III, and VIII, and percentage of transported waste shipped internationally. (Additional) |
Hazardous Waste
e-waste |
High |
| EN25 |
Identity, size, protected status, and biodiversity value of water bodies and related habitats significantly affected by the reporting organization's discharges of water and runoff. (Additional) |
No water bodies or related habitats are significantly affected by Sprint discharges of water and runoff. This area is less material for Sprint since it is not a manufacturer nor does it have sites in protected areas. |
Low |
| EN26 |
Initiatives to mitigate environmental impacts of products and services, and extent of impact mitigation. (Core) |
Product Responsibility |
High |
| EN27 |
Percentage of products sold and their packaging materials that are reclaimed by category. (Core) |
We encourage customers to send us their packaging through our device recycling programs, Sprint Buyback and Sprint Project Connect. They can send packaging back to us at no charge and we will ensure it is responsibly recycled. Unfortunately, very few customers take advantage of this option. They seem inclined to keep the original boxes. Our primary focus for packaging has been to reduce the overall volume - making boxes smaller, eliminating plastics, eliminating less desirable paints and adhesives, and reducing the range of acceptable materials. You can read about our efforts online here. In addition, we accept packaging at our retail stores, but until we're able to provide consistent recycling services at our stores throughout the country, can't assure the packaging isn't disposed of and ends up in a landfill. We are working with two national waste haulers to establish more consistent recycling capabilities at our over 1,000 Sprint owned retail stores. Once we do have that, we will more aggressively encourage customers to leave their unwanted packaging with us, but do not expect to be able to track the actual weight or percentage reclaimed. Customer device packaging will be added to store recycling materials as paperboard content. |
High |
| EN28 |
Monetary value of significant fines and total number of non-monetary sanctions for non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations. (Core) |
2010: With over 60,000 sites subject to local, state and federal regulation, Sprint continued to have strong performance in terms of environmental regulatory compliance. Of the 18 fines in 2010 with a monetary penalty, none were over $6,000 and the average penalty was just $25. All but 1 of the fines can be attributed to administrative related issues , not actual environmental impact.
Only one OSHA fine was received over the past 3 years. The monetary penalty was $500 and it was assessed for a training issue. |
High |
| EN29 |
Significant environmental impacts of transporting products and other goods and materials used for the organization's operations, and transporting members of the workforce. (Additional) |
Sprint expects to measure GHG emissions from its product transportation by mid-year 2012. Sprint already reports on GHG emissions associated with business travel, and expects to measure employee commute emissions by the end of 1Q11. Sprint offers a program called Smart Commute to its employees to help reduce their commute emissions.
Employee Engagement |
High |
| EN30 |
Total environmental protection expenditures and investments by type (Additional) |
None |
High |
| |
Description |
Response |
Relevance |
| |
Disclosure on Management Approach - Labor Practices and Decent Work:
Provide a concise disclosure on the management approach items outlined below with reference to the following labor aspects; employment, labor/management relations, occupational health and safety, training and education and diversity and equal opportunity. |
Sprint believes a high-caliber, diverse and engaged work force is essential to achieve long-term sustainability. This belief has shaped our labor practices: we are an equal opportunity employer, provide opportunities for training and development, engage employees in the business and ensure their health and safety. In addition, Sprint supports the right of employees to choose or not choose third-party representation.
Our Approach
Ethics
Talent Management
Compensation and Benefits
Health, Safety & Wellness
Inclusion and Diversity
Labor and Management Relations
|
High |
| LA1 |
Total workforce by employment type, employment contract, and region, broken down by gender. |
Employee Indicators |
High |
| LA2 |
Total number and rate of new employee hires and employee turnover by age group, gender, and region. |
Employee Indicators |
High |
| LA3 |
Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided to temporary or part-time employees, by major operations. |
Compensation/Benefits |
High |
| LA4 |
Percentage of employees covered by collective bargaining agreements. (Core) |
None |
Low |
| LA5 |
Minimum notice period(s) regarding significant operational changes, including whether it is specified in collective agreements. (Core) |
The length of the notice period is dependent on the type of change being made. Sprint is committed to providing appropriate notice and follows all relevant consultation and notice requirements. |
High |
| LA6 |
Percentage of total workforce represented in formal joint management-worker health and safety committees that help monitor and advise on occupational health and safety programs. (Additional) |
1% of Call Center employees participate in health and safety committees. |
High |
| LA7 |
Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, and absenteeism, and number of work-related fatalities by region and by gender. |
Employee Indicators |
High |
| LA8 |
Education, training, counseling, prevention, and risk-control programs in place to assist workforce members, their families, or community members regarding serious diseases. (Core) |
Wellness |
High |
| LA9 |
Health and safety topics covered in formal agreements with trade unions. (Additional) |
Not applicable. |
High |
| LA10 |
Average hours of training per year per employee by gender, and by employee category. |
Employee Development |
High |
| LA11 |
Programs for skills management and lifelong learning that support the continued employability of employees and assist them in managing career endings. (Additional) |
Employee Development |
High |
| LA12 |
Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews, by gender. |
Employee Development |
High |
| LA13 |
Composition of governance bodies and breakdown of employees per employee category according to gender, age group, minority group membership, and other indicators of diversity. |
Employee Indicators |
High |
| LA14 |
Ratio of basic salary and remuneration of women to men by employee category, by significant locations of operation. |
|
High |
| LA15 |
Return to work and retention rates after parental leave, by gender. |
|
High |
| |
Description |
Response |
Relevance |
| |
Disclosure on Management Approach - Human Rights:
Provide a concise disclosure on the implementation of the due diligence process on the management approach items outlined below with reference to the following human rights; investment and procurement practices, non-discrimination, freedom of association and collective bargaining, abolition of child labor, prevention of forced and compulsory labor, complaints and grievance practices, security practices, assessment, remediation and indigenous rights. |
As a leading global communications company, Sprint is committed to conducting business with integrity and complying responsibly with all applicable laws. We acknowledge and respect the broad principles aimed at promoting and protecting human rights as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We seek practical ways of applying these principles by focusing on our customers, enriching the workplace, engaging our suppliers, and strengthening the communities in which we do business. Our commitment is supported by our Code of Conduct, Code of Supplier Conduct and our Human Rights Statement.
Our Approach
Human Rights Statement
Sprint Code of Conduct
Code of Supplier Conduct |
High |
| HR1 |
Percentage and total number of significant investment agreements and contracts that include clauses incorporating human rights concerns, or that have undergone human rights screening. |
Sprint has implemented a Supplier Code of Conduct with labor standards that we are in the process of sharing with our suppliers. Sprint is also working on a strategy to address any outcomes from the California Transparency Act.
Supplier Code of Conduct |
High |
| HR2 |
Percentage of significant suppliers, contractors and other business partners that have undergone human rights screening, and actions taken. |
Supplier Code of Conduct |
High |
| HR3 |
Total hours of employee training on policies and procedures concerning aspects of human rights that are relevant to operations, including the percentage of employees trained. |
All employees are trained annually on Sprint's ethics policies and complete a web-based certification. The annual testing process varies each year to keep the content relevant and interesting, but always includes key components such as confidentiality, insider trading guidelines, discrimination and sexual harassment, contracting and sales issues, customer proprietary data procedures and Sprint's open door policy. Anti-corruption practices are outlined in Sprint's Code of Conduct. In addition, those employees with whose positions involve international transactions must take a specific course training them on the foreign corrupt business practices act. |
Medium |
| HR4 |
Total number of incidents of discrimination and corrective actions taken. |
Ethics |
High |
| HR5 |
Operations and significant suppliers identified in which the right to exercise freedom of association and collective bargaining may be violated or at significant risk, and actions taken to support these rights. |
None. Sprint follows US law and we expect our suppliers to follow all laws of the countries in which they operate. |
High |
| HR6 |
Operations and significant suppliers identified as having significant risk for incidents of child labor, and measures taken to contribute to the effective abolition of child labor. |
None. |
High |
| HR7 |
Operations and significant suppliers identified as having significant risk for incidents of forced or compulsory labor, and measures to contribute to the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor. |
None. Sprint follows US law and we expect our suppliers to follow all laws of the countries in which they operate. We will be asking all of our suppliers to follow the Sprint Supplier Code of Conduct.
Supplier Code of Conduct |
High |
| HR8 |
Percentage of security personnel trained in the organization's policies or procedures concerning aspects of human rights that are relevant to operations. |
100% |
High |
| HR9 |
Total number of incidents of violations involving rights of indigenous people and actions taken. |
|
Medium |
| HR10 |
Percentage and total number of operations that have been subject to human rights reviews and/or impact assessments. |
Sprint is a US company and we follow US law. |
|
| HR11 |
Number of grievances related to human rights filed, addressed and resolved through formal grievance mechanisms. |
Code of Conduct |
|
| |
Description |
Response |
Relevance |
| |
Disclosure on Management Approach - Society:
Provide a concise disclosure on the management approach items outlined below with reference to the following society aspects; community, corruption, public policy, anti-competitive behavior and compliance. |
Sprint seeks to be a positive force in the communities it serves and where its operations reside. We actively engage in local, state and national forums and institutions where we can make a positive impact. Our civic and charitable efforts are managed by our government affairs organization, community affairs team, and our local management teams. Our policies for the other aspects - corruption, anti-competitive behavior and compliance - are managed through our Ethics and Compliance team, including our Chief Ethics Officer, who is also General Counsel and reports directly to our CEO.
The Sprint Code of Conduct provides clear guidance on the standard we expect our employees to follow. We ask our employees to certify their understanding of these requirements annually through our iComply process. Guidance is provided to our suppliers through the Code of Supplier Conduct.
Our Approach
Ethics and the Sprint Code of Conduct
Code of Supplier Conduct
Our Communities
Stakeholder Engagement
10-K |
High |
| SO1 |
Percentage of operations with implemented local community engagement, impact assessments, and development programs. |
Sprint is a US based company and give to the communities where our customers and employees live and work.
Our Communities |
Low |
| SO2 |
Percentage and total number of business units analyzed for risks related to corruption. |
Code of Conduct |
High |
| SO3 |
Percentage of employees trained in organization's anti-corruption policies and procedures. (Core) |
All employees are trained annually on Sprint's ethics policies and complete a web-based certification. The annual testing process varies each year to keep the content relevant and interesting, but always includes key components such as confidentiality, insider trading guidelines, discrimination and sexual harassment, contracting and sales issues, customer proprietary data procedures and Sprint's open door policy. Anti-corruption practices are outlined in Sprint's Employee Code of Conduct. In addition, those employees with whose positions involve international transactions must take a specific course training them on the foreign corrupt business practices act.
Click here
PDF |
High |
| SO4 |
Actions taken in response to incidents of corruption. (Core) |
Code of Conduct |
High |
| SO5 |
Public policy positions and participation in public policy development and lobbying. (Core) |
Code of Conduct |
High |
| SO6 |
Total value of financial and in-kind contributions to political parties, politicians, and related institutions by country. (Additional) |
|
High |
| SO7 |
Total number of legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices and their outcomes. (Additional) |
Sprint has not had any legal findings for non-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices during either 2009 or 2010. There are currently a couple of cases pending alleging non-competitive practices, but Sprint believes they are without merit. We expect these cases to be dismissed or settled. |
|
High |
| SO8 |
Monetary value of significant fines and total number of non-monetary sanctions for non-compliance with laws and regulations. |
|
High |
| SO9 |
Operations with significant potential or actual negative impacts on local communities. |
Placement of Sprint sites are generally viewed as positive. |
|
| SO10 |
Prevention and mitigation measures implemented in operations with significant potential or actual negative impacts on local communities. |
Sprint engages with local communities when siting new transmission antennas. Based on information available from Sprint's internal database, maintained for business reasons, a zoning application was filed for approximately 98% of the sites that were activated in 2010. This data includes sites subject to zoning approval, including cases where zoning approval was granted without a formal proceeding, as well as cases where notice was given to the public or a public hearing was held.
Health Concerns |
|
| |
Description |
Response |
Relevance |
| |
Disclosure on Management Approach - Product Responsibility:
Provide a concise disclosure on the management approach items outlined below with reference to the following product responsibility; customer health and safety, product and service labeling, marketing communications, customer privacy and compliance. |
The health and safety of our customers, employees and communities is a priority for Sprint. In 2010, Sprint expanded its Focus on Driving efforts to improve customer awareness of the risks of distracted driving. In addition, we added new content to our website in 2011 to address questions about cell phone and network site safety issues. Sprint adheres to U.S. Federal Communications Commission guidelines for cell phones and towers. Sprint also prioritizes customer privacy rights. We have a Chief Privacy Officer who is responsible for overseeing Sprint's privacy efforts. The Ethics and Compliance department ensures Sprint complies with all relevant regulation.
Our Approach
Our Customers
Distracted Driving
Health Concerns
Customer Privacy
Ethics |
High |
| PR1 |
Life cycle stages in which health and safety impacts of products and services are assessed for improvement, and percentage of significant products and services categories subject to such procedures. (Core) |
Product Responsibility
E-Waste |
High |
| PR2 |
Total number of incidents of non-compliance with regulations and voluntary codes concerning health and safety impacts of products and services during their life cycle, by type of outcomes. (Additional) |
|
High |
| PR4 |
Total number of incidents of non-compliance with regulations and voluntary codes concerning product and service information and labeling, by type of outcomes. (Additional) |
|
High |
| PR5 |
Practices related to customer satisfaction, including results of surveys measuring customer satisfaction. |
Our Customers |
High |
| PR6 |
Programs for adherence to laws, standards, and voluntary codes related to marketing communications, including advertising, promotion, and sponsorship. |
Code of Conduct |
High |
| PR7 |
Total number of incidents of non-compliance with regulations and voluntary codes concerning marketing communications, including advertising, promotion, and sponsorship by type of outcomes. |
None |
High |
| PR8 |
Total number of substantiated complaints regarding breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer privacy and losses of customer data. |
Privacy |
High |
| PR9 |
Monetary value of significant fines for non-compliance with laws and regulations concerning the provision and use of products and services. |
None |
High |
| |
Description |
Response |
Relevance |
| IO2 |
Net costs for service providers under the Universal Service Obligation when extending service to geographic locations and low-income groups, which are not profitable. Describe relevant legislative and regulatory mechanisms |
Sprint contributes to and receives support from various universal service funds established by the FCC and many states. The federal USF program funds services provided in high-cost areas, reduced-rate services to low-income consumers, and discounted communications and Internet services for schools, libraries and rural health care facilities. The USF is funded from assessments on communications providers, including our Wireless and Wireline segments, based on FCC-prescribed contribution factors applicable to our interstate and international end-user revenues from telecommunications services and interconnected VoIP services. Similarly, many states have established their own universal service funds to which we contribute. |
High |
| IO3 |
Practices to ensure health and safety of field personnel involved in the installation, operation and maintenance of masts, base stations, laying cables and other outside plant. Related health and safety issues include working at heights, electric shock, exposure to EMF and radio frequency fields, and exposure to hazardous chemicals. |
Employee Safety |
High |
| IO4 |
Compliance with ICNIRP (International Commission on
Non-Ionizing Radiation
Protection) standards on exposure to radiofrequency (RF) emissions from handsets. |
Sprint Nextel expects its original equipment manufacturers to comply with the United States Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations governing exposure to RF emissions from handsets. |
High |
| IO5 |
Compliance with ICNIRP (International Commission on
Non-Ionizing Radiation
Protection) guidelines on exposure to radiofrequency (RF) emissions from base stations. |
Sprint Nextel and its vendors design, construct and operate wireless telecommunications facilities to comply with the United States Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations governing exposure to RF emissions from base stations. |
High |
| IO6 |
Policies and practices with respect to Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of handsets. |
Health Concerns |
High |
| IO7 |
Policies and practices on the sitting of masts and transmission sites including stakeholder consultation, site sharing, and initiatives to reduce visual impacts. Describe approach to evaluate consultations and quantify where possible. |
Sprint engages with local communities when siting new transmission antennas. Based on information available from Sprint's internal database, maintained for business reasons, a zoning application was filed for approximately 98% of the sites that were activated in 2010. This data includes sites subject to zoning approval, including cases where zoning approval was granted without a formal proceeding, as well as cases where notice was given to the public or a public hearing was held. |
High |
| IO8 |
Number and percentage of stand-alone sites, shared sites, and sites on existing structures. |
|
High |
| PA1 |
Policies and practices to enable the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure and access to telecommunications products and services in remote and low population density areas. Include an explanation of business models applied. |
Sprint's digital inclusion strategy has several components: 1) wireless offerings through Virgin Mobile that provide basic wireless service at a very low (or no) cost: Assurance Wireless and payLo. 2) Communications services specifically targeted at the disabled community. We are currently strong in the deaf/hard-of-hearing market, but not in services for the blind/visually impaired and elderly. 3) Remote areas -- serve through roaming agreements, build out direct capacity in targeted areas where it makes business sense, expand capacity more broadly when the economics become more favorable. 4) Continue charitable programs wtih 4G and used cell phones for underprivileged children in urban school settings. |
High |
| PA2 |
Policies and practices to overcome barriers for access and use of telecommunication products and services including: language, culture, illiteracy, income, disabilities, and age. Include an explanation of business models applied. |
Assurance Wireless
payLo
Accessibility |
High |
| PA3 |
Policies and practices to ensure availability and reliability of telecommunications products and services and quantify, where possible, for specified time periods and locations of down time. |
|
High |
| PA4 |
Quantify the level of availability of telecommunications products and services in areas where the organization operates. Examples include: customer numbers/market share, addressable market, percentage of population covered, percentage of land covered. |
SEC 10K - Part I, Business |
High |
| PA5 |
Number and types of telecommunication products and services provided to and used by low and no income sectors of the population. |
Assurance Wireless
payLo |
High |
| PA6 |
Programs to provide and maintain telecommunication products and services in emergency situations and for disaster relief. |
Disaster Relief Prep |
High |
| PA7 |
Polices and practices to manage human rights issues relating to access and use of telecommunications products and services. |
|
High |
| PA8 |
Policies and practices to publicly communicate on EMF related issues. |
|
High |
| PA9 |
Total amount invested in programs and activities in electromagnetic field research. |
|
High |
| PA10 |
Initiatives to ensure clarity of charges and tariffs. |
Rates and Terms |
High |
| TA2 |
Provide examples of telecommunication products, services and applications that have the potential to replace physical objects (e.g. a telephone book by a database on the web or travel by videoconferencing) |
Eco conscious
Family Locator |
High |
| TA3 |
Disclose any measures of transport and/or resource changes of customer use of the telecommunication products and services listed above. Provide some indication of scale, market size, or potential savings. |
According to Nielsen's May 2011 survey of mobile consumers in the United States, 38 percent now own smartphones. Of those consumers, 38 percent own an Android™-powered device. Further, 55 percent of those who purchased a new handset in the past three months reported buying a smartphone, up from 34 percent just a year ago.
Virgin Mobile
Eco conscious
Mobile Security
Students wireless/social habits
Sprint Biz App |
High |
| TA4 |
Disclose any estimates of the rebound effect (indirect consequences) of customer use of the products and services listed above, and lessons learned for future development. This may include social consequences as well as environmental. |
Our Customers
Sprint Re:cycle
Parental Controls
Internet Safety |
High |
| TA5 |
Description of practices relating to intellectual property rights and open source technologies |
|
High |
