231 Pinetuck Lane    Winston-Salem, NC 27104   336-765-9765

11/15/2004

Ms. Patricia Russo, Chairman & CEO
Lucent Technologies
600 – 700 Mountain Avenue
Murray Hill, NJ 07974-0636 

Dear Pat,

The Lucent Retiree Organization [LRO] was pleased to read news reports this week that Lucent Technologies has received approval from the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation for your tentative agreement with the IRS for a tax refund of approximately $816 million, plus $45 million in interest.

The LRO is requesting that Lucent apply a sizable portion of this refund as a contribution to health care trusts for management and represented retirees to help offset the negative impacts on retirees over the past two years. 

A decision by Lucent to use much of the tax refund to assist retirees would do a great deal to help restore the confidence of the thousands of its retirees.  It would also significantly improve the confidence of all the shareholders as well as the industry in general because it would prove that Lucent is indeed concerned for the well being of people who have given it so much time, effort and dedication over the many years.  Further, it would prove to the industry in general that Lucent’s leadership does, indeed, have integrity and will stand by its commitments wherever and whenever possible.

We look forward to learning your response to this request.

Thank you,
 
Ken

Copy to:
Lucent Board of Directors
Members of Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation