SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA INC
DEF 14A, 1998-09-28
RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
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<PAGE>
 
=============================================================================== 

                                UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                           SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

          Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                    Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.  )
        
Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_] 

Check the appropriate box:

[_]  Preliminary Proxy Statement         [_]  CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE
                                              COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY
                                              RULE 14A-6(E)(2))

[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement 

[_]  Definitive Additional Materials 

[_]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12

                           SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

                                NOT APPLICABLE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

   
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]  No fee required

[_]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

   
     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

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     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

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     (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
         the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      

     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------


     (5) Total fee paid:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------

[_]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
     
[_]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
     Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
     was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
     number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
     
     (1) Amount Previously Paid:
 
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     (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

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     (3) Filing Party:
      
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     (4) Date Filed:

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Notes:

<PAGE>
 
[LOGO OF SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA APPEARS HERE]

                   NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
 
  The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (the
"Corporation") will be held on Wednesday, November 11, 1998, at 9:00 a.m.,
local time, at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta In Buckhead, 3300 Peachtree Road,
Atlanta, Georgia 30305, for the purpose of considering and voting upon the
following matters, all of which are described in the attached Proxy Statement:
 
1. The election of two directors;
 
2. A proposal to approve the amended Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan;
 
3. A proposal to ratify the selection of Arthur Andersen LLP as independent
        auditors of the Corporation for the current fiscal year; and
 
4. Such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and at any
   adjournments thereof.
 
  Only shareholders of record at the close of business on September 23, 1998,
shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournments
thereof.
 
  A proxy solicited by the Board of Directors, together with a Proxy Statement
and a copy of the Corporation's 1998 Annual Report, are enclosed herewith.
Please sign, date, and return the proxy promptly in the enclosed business
reply envelope. If you attend the meeting and wish to vote in person, you may
do so by withdrawing your proxy prior to the meeting.
 
 
                                       By order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          /s/ William E. Eason, Jr.
                                       ----------------------------------
                                                   Secretary
 
September 28, 1998
 
PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY PROMPTLY SO THAT YOUR VOTE MAY
BE RECORDED AT THE MEETING IF YOU DO NOT ATTEND PERSONALLY.
 
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., One Technology Parkway, South, Norcross, Georgia 30092
<PAGE>
 
                           SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA, INC.
                         ONE TECHNOLOGY PARKWAY, SOUTH
                            NORCROSS, GEORGIA 30092
 
                               ----------------
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
 
  This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (the
"Corporation"), for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the
Corporation to be held on November 11, 1998, and at any adjournments thereof
(the "Annual Meeting"). Shareholders of record as of the close of business on
September 23, 1998 (the "Record Date") are entitled to notice of and to vote
at the meeting. On the Record Date, the Corporation had 79,177,924 shares of
Common Stock, par value $0.50 per share (the "Common Stock"), outstanding and
entitled to vote at the meeting, with each share entitled to one vote.
 
  Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to brokerage houses and
other fiduciaries for forwarding to beneficial owners of shares of the
Corporation's Common Stock. The Corporation has engaged Morrow & Co., Inc. to
assist in the solicitation of proxies from brokers, banks and their nominees
which are shareholders of record, at a cost of approximately $7,000. The costs
of this solicitation, including the cost of preparing and mailing this Proxy
Statement, will be paid by the Corporation. In addition to solicitations by
mail, directors and regular employees of the Corporation may solicit proxies
in person or by telephone or telegraph without receiving any compensation in
addition to their regular compensation as directors or employees.
 
  Proxies are first being mailed to shareholders on September 28, 1998. Any
proxy which is returned by a shareholder properly completed and which is not
revoked will be voted at the meeting in the manner specified therein. Unless
contrary instructions are given, the persons designated as proxy holders in
the accompanying proxy card (or their substitutes) will vote FOR the election
of the Board of Directors' nominees, FOR Proposals 2 and 3 and in the proxy
holders' discretion with regard to all other matters incidental to the conduct
of the meeting or which may otherwise properly come before the meeting. Any
proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked prior to the meeting
at any time by delivering an instrument revoking it, or a duly executed proxy
bearing a later date, to the Secretary of the Corporation. Any proxy given
pursuant to this solicitation may also be revoked by any shareholder who
attends the meeting and gives notice of his election to vote in person,
without compliance with any other formalities.
 
  The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the
shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date will constitute a quorum
at the meeting. Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting will be
counted by the persons appointed by the Corporation to act as the inspectors
of election for the meeting. Inspectors of election will treat shares
represented by proxies that reflect abstentions or include "broker non-votes"
as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining
the presence of a quorum. With the exception of Proposal No. 2 regarding
approval of the amended Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan for which
abstentions will be included in the calculations for the purpose of
determining whether the matters have been approved and will be treated as "no"
votes, abstentions or "broker non-votes" do not constitute a vote "for" or
"against" any matter and thus will be disregarded in any calculation of "votes
cast."
<PAGE>
 
                         CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
 
  The following table sets forth information as to shares of the Corporation's
Common Stock held by persons known to the Corporation to be the beneficial
owners of more than five percent of the Corporation's Common Stock based upon
information publicly filed by such persons:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   AMOUNT AND NATURE
                                                     OF BENEFICIAL   PERCENT OF
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                   OWNERSHIP      CLASS (1)
- ------------------------------------               ----------------- ----------
<S>                                                <C>               <C>
FMR Corp..........................................     4,821,520(2)     6.10%
 82 Devonshire Street
 Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Vanguard/Windsor Funds, Inc.......................     7,351,400(3)     9.32%
 Post Office Box 2600
 Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 19482-2600
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The percent of class was computed by the beneficial owner as of a date
    immediately preceding the filing of its Schedule 13G with the Securities
    and Exchange Commission.
(2) Based on a Schedule 13G, dated March 10, 1998, filed with the Securities
    and Exchange Commission by FMR Corp. and related entities. Of such shares,
    FMR Corp. has sole voting power over 497,020 shares and sole dispositive
    power over 4,821,520 shares. Includes shares held as trustee for certain
    of the Corporation's employee benefit plans.
(3) Based on a Schedule 13G, dated February 9, 1998, filed by Vanguard/Windsor
    Funds, Inc. ("Vanguard"). Vanguard has sole voting power and sole
    dispositive power over all 7,351,400 shares. Additionally, Wellington
    Management Company, LLP, 75 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109,
    filed a Schedule 13G because it holds shares of the Corporation's Common
    Stock in its capacity as an investment advisor to Vanguard. WMC does not
    have sole voting power or sole dispositive power over any of the shares.
    All of the shares held by WMC are owned by Vanguard.
 
  The following table sets forth, as of June 26, 1998, unless otherwise
indicated, information regarding ownership of the Corporation's Common Stock
and Common Stock equivalents by each director of the Corporation, by each
executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table and by all directors
and executive officers as a group:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                 (E)
                               (A)             (B)              (C)               (D)
                                          NO. OF SHARES    NO. OF SHARES                       DEFERRED
                          NO. OF SHARES SUBJECT TO OPTIONS OF RESTRICTED                     COMMON STOCK
                              OWNED     EXERCISABLE PRIOR    STOCK NOT          DEFERRED     EQUIVALENTS
          NAME             DIRECTLY(1)  TO AUGUST 26, 1998    VESTED        COMMON STOCK (2)     (3)
          ----            ------------- ------------------ -------------    ---------------- ------------
<S>                       <C>           <C>                <C>              <C>              <C>
Marion H. Antonini......       9,000           61,875           1,500(4)         31,181          9,936
David W. Dorman.........          --               --              --                --             --
William E. Kassling.....      13,500           61,875           1,500(4)          5,250             --
Wilbur Branch King......      28,200            9,375              --            30,828             --
Mylle Bell Mangum.......       7,798           39,375              --             4,500             --
Alonzo L. McDonald......       9,500(6)        69,375           1,500(4)         29,786             --
James F. McDonald.......     115,377          812,500          67,706(5)             --             --
David J. McLaughlin.....      17,549           26,250              --            23,946             --
James V. Napier.........      18,018          176,251              --            18,507         20,333
Sam Nunn................       3,500            5,000              --             1,500          2,500
H. Allen Ecker..........      10,273           48,500          18,686(5)             --             --
Larry L. Enterline......       2,676           77,500          30,944(5)             --             --
Raymond D. Lucas........      14,368          174,250          18,054(5)             --             --
Conrad J. Wredberg......       1,145           87,500          42,552(5)             --             --
All Directors and
 Executive Officers as a
 Group..................     360,315        1,702,050         291,980(4)(5)     145,498         32,769
</TABLE>
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
- --------
  The total shares beneficially owned by each individual director and
executive officer (columns A, B and C) constituted less than 1% of the
outstanding Common Stock at June 26, 1998, except that the shares beneficially
owned by James F. McDonald (columns A, B and C) constituted approximately 1.3%
of the outstanding Common Stock. The aggregate shares beneficially owned by
all directors and executive officers as a group (columns A, B and C)
represented approximately 3% of the outstanding Common Stock at June 26, 1998.
 
(1) Each person has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the
    shares shown. With respect to executive officers, the number of shares
    directly owned includes shares held in the Corporation's Voluntary
    Employee Retirement and Investment Plan (401(k) plan), with respect to
    which such officers have voting and dispositive power. On August 20, 1998,
    some of the performance-based restricted shares previously granted under
    the Corporation's Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "LTIP") vested as a result
    of the Corporation's financial performance in fiscal years 1994-1998.
    Although not included in the numbers of shares set forth in this column,
    such vesting of restricted shares on August 20, 1998, resulted in Messrs.
    McDonald, Ecker, Enterline, Lucas and Wredberg receiving, respectively,
    13,750 shares, 4,001 shares, 960 shares, 3,828 shares, and 2,833 shares,
    net of shares withheld for taxes.
(2) In connection with the discontinuance of the Corporation's Retirement Plan
    for Non-Employee Directors, all non-employee directors who were in office
    prior to January 1, 1997, received a lump sum distribution of shares of
    Common Stock, which these directors were obligated to defer, pursuant to
    the Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Deferral
    Plan"), until the respective non-employee director's retirement date or
    later. Additionally, all non-employee directors receive 1,500 shares, as a
    Retirement Award, on the date of each annual shareholders meeting, which
    shares must, at each non-employee director's election, either be (i)
    deferred under the Deferral Plan for at least two years, or (ii) received
    as restricted stock which vests two years after the date of grant.
    Deferred lump sum distributions and deferred Retirement Awards are set
    forth in this column. Such deferred lump sum distributions and deferred
    Retirement Awards earn hypothetical dividends which are placed in a
    deferred interest sub-account. Directors with rights to such deferred
    shares of Common Stock disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares
    because they do not have either the right to vote the deferred shares or
    the right to receive dividends on the deferred shares.
(3) This column sets forth the number of shares of the Corporation's Common
    Stock used in determining the value of the Phantom Stock Sub-Account for a
    particular director under the Deferral Plan. Under the terms of the
    Deferral Plan, no shares are ever issued from the Phantom Stock Sub-
    Account to directors. Non-employee directors who have hypothetical shares
    in the Phantom Stock Sub-Account do not have voting or dispositive power
    with respect to such shares.
(4) As described in Note (2) above, each non-employee director receives an
    annual Retirement Award of 1,500 shares, which must either be (i) deferred
    for at least two years, or (ii) received as restricted stock which vests
    two years after the date of grant. The specified shares are the 1,500
    shares of restricted stock received by the designated directors as a
    Retirement Award. Directors holding such restricted stock have the right
    to vote the shares and the right to receive dividends on the shares.
(5) This is the number of performance-based and time-based restricted shares
    of Common Stock which were granted during or prior to fiscal year 1998
    under the LTIP or under a separate arrangement and which had not vested as
    of August 20, 1998, the date on which some of the performance-based
    restricted shares vested as a result of the Corporation's financial
    performance in fiscal 1998. See Note (1) above for more details. Executive
    officers holding such restricted stock have the right to vote the shares
    and the right to receive dividends on the shares.
(6) Of the 9,500 shares reported as directly owned by Mr. Alonzo L. McDonald,
    9,000 of such shares are held by the Alonzo McDonald Jr. Trust, for which
    Mr. McDonald serves as the sole trustee, with his wife being the sole
    beneficiary.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                PROPOSAL NO. 1
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
  The Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation provide for the division of
the Board of Directors into three classes, with the directors in each class
serving for a term of three years. At the Annual Meeting, two nominees for
director are to be elected to serve until the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
in 2001. All of the nominees for election as directors at this meeting, and
all directors whose term of office will continue after the Annual Meeting, are
currently directors of the Corporation.
 
  Directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual
Meeting in person or by proxy by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the
election. The Board of Directors is informed that all of the nominees are
willing to serve as directors, but if any of them should decline or be unable
to act as a director, the persons designated as proxy holders in the
accompanying proxy card(s) (or their substitutes) will vote for such
substitute nominee or nominee(s) as may be designated by the Board of
Directors unless the Board reduces the number of directors accordingly.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      NOMINEES FOR TERMS EXPIRING IN 2001
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
[PHOTO OF         DAVID W. DORMAN                   DIRECTOR SINCE 1998
DAVID W. DORMAN                                     AGE 44
APPEARS HERE]
                  Mr. Dorman has held the position of Chairman, President and
                  Chief Executive Officer of PointCast, Inc. since November
                  1997. Prior to joining PointCast, Inc., Mr. Dorman served as
                  Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific
                  Bell from July 1994 to November 1997 and served as President
                  of Business Services for Sprint Corporation from 1993 to
                  1994. Mr. Dorman is a director of 3Com Corporation, Science
                  Applications International Corporation, E-Tek Dynamics, and
                  PointCast, Inc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
[PHOTO OF         JAMES F. MCDONALD                 DIRECTOR SINCE 1993
JAMES F.                                            AGE 58
MCDONALD
APPEARS HERE]
                  Mr. McDonald was elected President and Chief Executive
                  Officer of the Corporation, effective July 15, 1993. Mr.
                  McDonald was a general partner of J. H. Whitney & Company, a
                  private investment firm, from 1991 until his employment by
                  the Corporation. From 1989 to 1991, he was President and
                  Chief Executive Officer of Prime Computer, Inc., a supplier
                  of CAD/CAM software and computer systems. Prior to that
                  time, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Gould,
                  Inc., a computer and electronics company (1984 to 1989), and
                  held a variety of positions with IBM Corporation (1963 to
                  1984). Mr. McDonald is a director of Burlington Resources,
                  Inc. and American Business Products, Inc.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS WILL EXPIRE IN 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

[PHOTO OF         MARION H. ANTONINI                DIRECTOR SINCE 1990
MARION H.                                           AGE 68
ANTONINI
APPEARS HERE]     Mr. Antonini has been a Principal in Kohlberg & Company, a
                  private merchant banking firm, since March 1, 1998. Prior to
                  joining Kohlberg & Company, Mr. Antonini was Chairman of the
                  Board of Welbilt Corporation from July 1990 to March 1998
                  and Chief Executive Officer of that company from September
                  1990 to March 1998. From 1986 to 1990, Mr. Antonini served
                  as Chairman of KD Equities, a merchant banking firm. Prior
                  to that, he served as Group Vice President of Xerox
                  Corporation's Worldwide Operations from 1982 to 1986 and in
                  other executive positions with that company. Mr. Antonini is
                  a director of Vulcan Materials Company, Northwestern Steel &
                  Wire Co., Turbochef Technologies, Inc., and Engelhard
                  Corporation.

 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO OF         WILLIAM E. KASSLING               DIRECTOR SINCE 1990
WILLIAM E.                                          AGE 54
KASSLING 
APPEARS HERE]     Mr. Kassling was a Group Vice President of American
                  Standard, Inc. for more than five years before becoming
                  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
                  Westinghouse Air Brake Company in March 1990. Mr. Kassling
                  is a director of Dravo Corporation and Commercial Intertech.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO OF         MYLLE BELL MANGUM                 DIRECTOR SINCE 1993
MYLLE BELL                                          AGE 49
MANGUM   
APPEARS HERE]     Ms. Mangum has been Senior Vice President, Expense
                  Management and Strategic Planning of Carlson Wagonlit
                  Travel, a travel and hospitality company, since March 1997.
                  From August 1992 to March 1997, Ms. Mangum was Executive
                  Vice President--Strategic Management of Holiday Inn
                  Worldwide ("Holiday Inn"). She was also a member of the
                  Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Holiday Inn
                  during her tenure there. From 1985 until August 1992, Ms.
                  Mangum was Director, Corporate Planning and Development with
                  BellSouth Corporation. Ms. Mangum is a director of Reynolds
                  Metals and Payless Shoe Source.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS WILL EXPIRE IN 2000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO OF         DAVID J. MCLAUGHLIN               DIRECTOR SINCE 1987
DAVID J.                                            AGE 62
MCLAUGHLIN
APPEARS HERE]     Mr. McLaughlin has been President and Chief Executive
                  Officer of Troy Biosciences Incorporated, a biotechnology
                  company, since July 1, 1996. From January 1, 1985 to June
                  30, 1996, he served as President of McLaughlin and Company,
                  Inc., a general management consulting firm. From 1987 until
                  1990 he also served as Managing Principal of Sibson &
                  Company, Inc., consultants in the field of human resources.
                  He is a director of Smart & Final, Inc., Troy Biosciences
                  Incorporated, and Evolve Software, Inc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[PHOTO OF         JAMES V. NAPIER                   DIRECTOR SINCE 1978
JAMES V.                                            AGE 61
NAPIER   
APPEARS HERE]     Mr. Napier has been Chairman of the Board of the Corporation
                  since November 1992. Mr. Napier served as interim Chief
                  Executive Officer of the Corporation from December 1992
                  until July 1993. From 1988 to 1992, he was Chairman and
                  President of Commercial Telephone Group, Inc., a designer of
                  telecommunications products. From 1986 to 1988, he was an
                  independent business consultant. From March 1985 until March
                  1986, he served as President of HBO & Company, which
                  provides information processing materials and services to
                  health care facilities. Previously, he was Chief Executive
                  Officer of Contel Corporation, a telecommunications company.
                  Mr. Napier is a director of Engelhard Corporation, Vulcan
                  Materials Company, HBO & Company, Intelligent Systems, Inc.,
                  Personnel Group of America, and Westinghouse Air Brake
                  Company.
    
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  SAM NUNN                          DIRECTOR SINCE 1997
                                                    AGE 60
 
                  Mr. Nunn has been a Partner at the law firm of King &
                  Spalding since January 3, 1997. King & Spalding represents
                  the Corporation in certain legal matters and is expected to
                  represent the Corporation on a variety of legal matters
                  during the current fiscal year. Prior to joining King &
                  Spalding, Mr. Nunn served as a United States Senator from
                  1972 to 1997. Mr. Nunn serves as a director for The Coca-
                  Cola Company, General Electric Company, National Service
                  Industries, Inc., Texaco, Inc., and Total System Services,
                  Inc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              RETIRING DIRECTORS
 
  Mr. Wilbur Branch King and Mr. Alonzo L. McDonald are retiring from the
Corporation's Board of Directors after 27 years of service and 13 years of
service, respectively. Their terms of office will expire at the 1998 Annual
Meeting.
 
               MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
  The Board of Directors met five times during the 1998 fiscal year to
consider matters related to the Corporation's business. The Board of Directors
has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Human Resources and
Compensation Committee, a Governance and Nominations Committee and a Pension
Investment Committee. Each director attended more than 75% of the aggregate of
the total number of meetings of the Board and the committees of which he or
she is a member during the period of the 1998 fiscal year that he or she
served as a director or committee member.
 
  The Executive Committee acts for the Board of Directors between meetings,
subject to certain limitations. Members of the Executive Committee, which met
once during the 1998 fiscal year, are directors Antonini, Kassling, King,
James F. McDonald and Napier. Mr. Napier is Chairman.
 
  The Audit Committee makes recommendations as to the selection of independent
auditors, evaluates the audit services and the Corporation's financial,
accounting and internal audit policies, functions and systems, and approves
the engagement of independent auditors to provide non-audit services. The
Audit Committee met three times during the 1998 fiscal year. The Audit
Committee consists of directors Antonini, Alonzo L. McDonald, Napier and Nunn.
Mr. Antonini is Chairman.
 
  The Human Resources and Compensation Committee makes determinations as to
the compensation and benefits to be paid to the Corporation's officers and key
employees. The Human Resources and Compensation Committee met four times
during the 1998 fiscal year. The members of the Committee are directors
Antonini, Dorman, Kassling, Mangum and McLaughlin. Mr. Kassling is Chairman.
 
  The Governance and Nominations Committee considers nominations for directors
(and will consider nominees by shareholders) and provides oversight of the
governance of the Board of Directors, including issues concerning size,
committee structure, membership and compensation of the Board. Nominations
should be in writing, addressed to Chairman, Governance and Nominations
Committee, c/o the Office of the General Counsel, Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.,
One Technology Parkway, South, Norcross, Georgia 30092. The Governance and
Nominations Committee met three times during the 1998 fiscal year. The members
of the Committee are directors Kassling, King, Alonzo L. McDonald, Napier and
Nunn. Mr. Nunn is Chairman.
 
  The Pension Investment Committee reviews the performance of firms which
provide investment advice and services to the Corporation on pension
investment matters. Members of this Committee are directors Dorman, King,
Mangum, Alonzo L. McDonald, and McLaughlin. Ms. Mangum is Chairman. The
Committee met twice during the 1998 fiscal year.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                    COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
CASH COMPENSATION
 
  The following table sets forth in the prescribed format the compensation
paid to the Chief Executive Officer and the other four most highly compensated
executive officers of the Corporation for services rendered in all capacities
during the Corporation's last three fiscal years:
 
                          SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
                                                            -----------------------------------
                                   ANNUAL COMPENSATION             AWARDS              PAYOUTS
                                --------------------------  ------------------------   --------
                                                            RESTRICTED                              ALL
                                                    OTHER     STOCK       SECURITIES     LTIP      OTHER
        NAME AND         FISCAL                    ANNUAL    AWARD(S)     UNDERLYING   PAYOUTS    COMPEN-
   PRINCIPAL POSITION     YEAR  SALARY($) BONUS($) COMP.(1)   ($)(2)      OPTIONS(#)    ($)(3)  SATION($)(4)
   ------------------    ------ --------- -------- -------  ----------    ----------   -------- ------------
<S>                      <C>    <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>           <C>          <C>      <C>
James F. McDonald.......  1998  $666,346  $564,600 $  --     $    --       125,000     $505,827   $ 90,617
 President and            1997   624,231   547,400    --          --       350,000          --      85,872
 Chief Executive Officer  1996   590,385   300,000    --          --       125,000          --     153,768
H.Allen Ecker...........  1998   280,461   170,000  3,822         --        25,000      147,155     49,865
 Senior Vice President;   1997   262,692   145,100  3,190         --        12,000          --      47,739
 President, Subscriber
  Networks;               1996   250,115    81,000  2,654         --        15,000          --      47,672
 Chief Technical Officer
Larry L. Enterline......  1998   320,192   187,800    --          --        30,000       35,293     27,949
 Senior Vice President,   1997   126,923   100,000    --      396,875(6)   125,000          --      28,358(7)
 Worldwide Sales &
  Services(5)             1996   154,000       --     --          --           -- (8)       --      78,526(9)
Raymond D. Lucas........  1998   276,461   161,000    --          --        25,000      140,790     43,112
 Senior Vice President;   1997   259,077   142,900    --          --        12,000          --      41,718
 President, Satellite     1996   249,077    80,400    --          --        15,000          --      42,062
 Communication Systems
Conrad J. Wredberg......  1998   345,192   227,500    --          --        30,000      104,215     50,587
 Senior Vice President
  and                     1997   304,808   230,800    --          --        20,000          --      33,205
 Chairman of Corporate    1996   259,231    59,700    --      478,125(10)   60,000          --      41,900
 Operating Committee
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The amounts disclosed in this column represent preferential earnings on
    deferred compensation.
(2) The value of restricted stock grants which vest based upon criteria other
    than performance-based criteria are set forth in this column. Restricted
    shares granted to executive officers pursuant to the Corporation's LTIP,
    which shares vest based upon the performance of the Corporation, are not
    reflected in this column, but are included in the "Long-Term Incentive
    Plan--Awards in 1998 Fiscal Year" chart below. On August 20, 1998, after
    giving effect to the LTIP Payouts described in Note 3 below, the number
    and value of all outstanding grants of performance-based restricted stock
    held by the named executive officers were as follows: Mr. McDonald, 67,706
    shares/$1,608,018; Dr. Ecker, 18,686 shares/$443,793; Mr. Enterline, 5,944
    shares/$141,170; Mr. Lucas, 18,054 shares/$428,783; and Mr. Wredberg,
    17,552 shares/$416,860. Dividends are paid by the Corporation on
    restricted stock held by such executive officers.
(3) This column does not include any amounts for fiscal 1996 and 1997 because
    no previously granted performance-based restricted stock awards vested as
    a result of the Corporation's performance during such fiscal years. The
    amounts shown for fiscal 1998 represent the fair market value, as of
    August 20, 1998, of the performance-based restricted stock awards that
    vested as a result of the Corporation's performance during fiscal years
    1994-1998.
(4) For the 1998 fiscal year, this column includes $83,183, $42,118, $18,629,
    $35,365, and $36,858 of life insurance premiums paid by the Corporation on
    behalf of Messrs. McDonald, Ecker, Enterline, Lucas and Wredberg,
    respectively. All other amounts in fiscal year 1998 represent
    contributions to the Corporation's 401(k) Plan.
(5) Mr. Enterline re-joined the Corporation in fiscal 1997.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
(6)  In fiscal 1997, Mr. Enterline was granted 25,000 shares of restricted
     stock. These shares will vest on January 15, 2000, provided that Mr.
     Enterline is employed by the Corporation on that date. The amount shown
     represents the value of the restricted stock award, calculated by
     multiplying the closing market price of the Corporation's Common Stock on
     the effective date of grant by the number of shares awarded. Dividends are
     paid on this restricted stock, and Mr. Enterline has the right to vote
     these shares of restricted stock.
(7)  In fiscal 1997, Mr. Enterline was paid $11,000 in consulting fees (and
     reimbursed for $1,980 in expenses) related to consulting services he
     provided to the Corporation prior to his re-employment with the
     Corporation. The Corporation also paid $10,186 in life insurance premiums
     on behalf of Mr. Enterline in fiscal 1997. The remaining amount of $5,192
     represents contributions made to the Corporation's 401(k) Plan in fiscal
     1997 on behalf of Mr. Enterline.
(8)  Any options granted to Mr. Enterline in fiscal 1996 were forfeited when he
     left the employment of the Corporation during fiscal 1996.
(9)  In fiscal 1996, Mr. Enterline was paid $63,550 in consulting fees (and
     reimbursed for $2,640 in expenses) related to consulting services he
     provided to the Corporation prior to his re-employment with the
     Corporation. The Corporation also paid $7,144 in life insurance premiums on
     behalf of Mr. Enterline in fiscal 1996. The remaining amount of $5,192
     represents contributions made to the Corporation's 401(k) Plan in fiscal
     1996 on behalf of Mr. Enterline.
(10) In fiscal 1996, Mr. Wredberg was granted 25,000 shares of restricted
     stock. These shares will vest on May 14, 1999, provided that Mr. Wredberg
     is employed by the Corporation on that date. The amount shown represents
     the value of the restricted stock award, calculated by multiplying the
     closing market price of the Corporation's Common Stock on the date of
     grant by the number of shares awarded. Dividends are paid on this
     restricted stock, and Mr. Wredberg has the right to vote these shares of
     restricted stock.
 
STOCK OPTIONS
 
  The following tables set forth certain information in the prescribed formats
with respect to options granted and exercised under the Corporation's various
stock option plans and under stock option agreements during the 1998 fiscal
year:
 
                       OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
                                                                     VALUE AT ASSUMED
                                                                   ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
                                                                    PRICE APPRECIATION
                        INDIVIDUAL GRANTS                           FOR OPTION TERM(1)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------
                                    % OF TOTAL
                         NUMBER OF   OPTIONS
                         SECURITIES GRANTED TO EXERCISE
                         UNDERLYING EMPLOYEES  OR BASE
                          OPTIONS   IN FISCAL   PRICE   EXPIRATION
          NAME           GRANTED(#)    YEAR     ($/SH)   DATE(2)     5%($)      10%($)
          ----           ---------- ---------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S>                      <C>        <C>        <C>      <C>        <C>        <C>
James F. McDonald.......  125,000      6.6%    $23.3750  08/20/07  $1,837,551 $4,656,716
H. Allen Ecker..........   17,000      0.9%     23.3750  08/20/07     249,907    633,313
                            8,000      0.4%     20.9375  10/06/07     105,340    266,952
Larry L. Enterline......   30,000      1.6%     23.3750  08/20/07     441,012  1,117,612
Raymond D. Lucas........   17,000      0.9%     23.3750  08/20/07     249,907    633,313
                            8,000      0.4%     20.9375  10/06/07     105,340    266,952
Conrad J. Wredberg......   30,000      1.6%     23.3750  08/20/07     441,012  1,117,612
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The dollar amounts in these columns were determined using assumed rates of
    appreciation set by the Securities and Exchange Commission and are not
    intended to forecast future appreciation, if any, in the market value of
    the Corporation's Common Stock. Such amounts are based on the assumption
    that the named persons hold the options for their full ten-year term. The
    actual value of the options will vary in accordance with the market price
    of the Corporation's Common Stock.
(2) All of these stock options were awarded under either the Corporation's
    1992 Employee Stock Option Plan (the "1992 Plan") or the Corporation's
    Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "LTIP"). All of these options become
    exercisable at the rate of 25% per year commencing on the date of grant,
    except that if a change of control occurs (as defined in the 1992 Plan and
    the LTIP), all options become exercisable immediately.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
   Options under the 1992 Plan and the LTIP may be exercised within a period
   of two years following a termination by reason of retirement, within one
   year following a termination by reason of death or disability, and within
   thirty days following a termination for other reasons, except for cause, in
   which case such options expire immediately upon the giving of the notice of
   such termination.
 
                AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                       AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  NUMBER OF SECURITIES
                           SHARES                UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED       VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                         ACQUIRED ON   VALUE           OPTIONS AT             IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
                          EXERCISE    REALIZED     FISCAL YEAR-END (#)       AT FISCAL YEAR-END ($)
      NAME                   (#)        ($)     EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE (1)
      ----               ----------- ---------- ------------------------- -----------------------------
<S>                      <C>         <C>        <C>                       <C>
James F. McDonald.......        --   $       --      725,000/425,000          $4,828,125/$2,503,125
H. Allen Ecker..........   123,700    1,681,899       37,500/ 28,500             107,218/   117,656
Larry L. Enterline......        --           --       70,000/ 85,000             569,375/   590,938
Raymond D. Lucas........        --           --      163,250/ 28,500           2,318,171/   117,656
Conrad J. Wredberg......    10,000      101,250       68,750/ 56,250             240,391/   258,672
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The amounts in this column are calculated using the difference between the
    closing market price of the Corporation's Common Stock at the end of the
    Corporation's 1998 fiscal year and the option exercise prices.
 
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE AWARDS
 
  The following table sets forth in the prescribed formats certain information
with respect to restricted stock awards granted under the Corporation's LTIP
during fiscal 1998.
 
             LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN--AWARDS IN 1998 FISCAL YEAR
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           ESTIMATED FUTURE PAYOUTS
                                    PERFORMANCE OR              UNDER NON-STOCK
                         NUMBER OF   OTHER PERIOD              PRICE-BASED PLANS
                          SHARES   UNTIL MATURATION ---------------------------------------
      NAME                  (#)     OR PAYOUT (1)   THRESHOLD (#) TARGET (#)(2) MAXIMUM (#)
      ----               --------- ---------------- ------------- ------------- -----------
<S>                      <C>       <C>              <C>           <C>           <C>
James F. McDonald.......  23,130       10 years         2,313           --        23,130
H. Allen Ecker..........   5,540       10 years           554           --         5,540
Larry L. Enterline......   7,430       10 years           743           --         7,430
Raymond D. Lucas........   5,460       10 years           546           --         5,460
Conrad J. Wredberg......  10,000       10 years         1,000           --        10,000
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Vesting of these shares is based on achieving specified improvements in
    the Corporation's weighted five-year average return on equity. Results are
    reviewed annually, and shares vest based on the degree of improvement
    achieved. Any shares which have not vested at the end of the ten-year term
    are forfeited.
(2) Vesting of the right to receive the performance-based restricted stock
    awards is based on the degree of improvement in the Corporation's weighted
    five-year average return on equity. Upon achieving the minimum level of
    improvement, ten percent of the rights become vested, as shown in the
    "Threshold" column. Upon achievement of a specified maximum five-year
    average return on equity, all such awards will be vested. No "target," as
    such, has been established, but improvements in the Corporation's return
    on equity between the "threshold" and the "maximum" levels will result in
    the vesting of a proportionate number of awards.
 
RETIREMENT PLANS AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS
 
  Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. The Corporation presently has in effect a
non-contributory retirement plan (the "Retirement Plan") for the benefit of
its employees which provides for the payment of fixed benefits upon normal
retirement at age 65 on the basis of years of service and all cash
compensation of each employee. Examples of annual retirement benefits payable
under the Retirement Plan are set forth in the table below. These
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
examples are based on the following: (i) retirement is at the normal
retirement age of 65, (ii) "average compensation" is the average compensation
in the highest consecutive five of the last ten calendar years of service that
immediately precede retirement, and (iii) the benefits are straight life
annuities. Benefits under the Retirement Plan are not reduced by Social
Security benefits. The years of service, as of June 26, 1998, credited for
retirement benefits for the persons named in the Summary Compensation Table
are James F. McDonald, 4 11/12 years; H. Allen Ecker, 21 2/3 years; Larry L.
Enterline, 1 5/12 years; Raymond D. Lucas, 8 11/12 years; and Conrad J.
Wredberg, 3 1/6 years.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  YEARS OF SERVICE (1)
AVERAGE ANNUAL                           ---------------------------------------
COMPENSATION                               15      20      25      30      35
- --------------                           ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S>                                      <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
$125,000................................ $22,017 $27,809 $36,499 $37,658 $38,485
 150,000................................  26,421  34,009  44,637  46,054  47,066
 175,000................................  27,126  34,009  44,637  46,054  47,066
 200,000................................  27,126  34,009  44,637  46,054  47,066
 225,000................................  27,126  34,009  44,637  46,054  47,066
 250,000................................  27,126  34,009  44,637  46,054  47,066
 500,000................................  27,126  34,009  44,637  46,054  47,066
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The Corporation also maintains a supplemental executive retirement plan
    for its executive officers, including Messrs. McDonald, Ecker, Enterline,
    Lucas and Wredberg. Provisions of the plan include a ten-year vesting
    requirement and a normal retirement age of 65. Benefits are based upon up
    to fifty percent of final average pay with offsets for the Retirement
    Plan, Social Security benefits and any retirement benefits payable from
    former employers.
 
    The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 ("OBRA") changed the Internal
    Revenue Code by placing an annual maximum limit of $150,000 on the
    compensation which may be considered in determining a participant's
    benefits. Previous to this change in the statute, the Internal Revenue Code
    allowed a maximum limit of $235,840 (i.e., $200,000, indexed for a cost of
    living adjustment). Effective July 1, 1994, the Corporation adopted a non-
    qualified Restoration Retirement Plan ("Restoration Plan") to replace the
    benefits to certain participants that had been eliminated by the changes
    made to the Internal Revenue Code by OBRA. Thus, effective July 1, 1994,
    participants' compensation, as defined in the Restoration Plan, in excess of
    the newly prescribed limit and up to what the limit would have been had OBRA
    not been enacted will be considered under the Restoration Plan. Participants
    under the Corporation's Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") will
    continue to have all compensation, as defined in the SERP, in excess of the
    maximum limit prescribed by the Internal Revenue Code considered in
    determining their pension benefits. The above table does not include any
    benefits under the Restoration Plan.
 
  Agreements with Certain Persons. The Corporation has letter agreements with
Messrs. Ecker, Enterline, Lucas and Wredberg which provide for the
continuation of salary and certain benefits for a twelve-month period in the
event of termination of employment without cause. The Corporation also has
agreements with Messrs. McDonald, Ecker, Enterline, Lucas and Wredberg which
provide for the payment of two times the executive's compensation plus the
continuation of the executive's benefits for two years in the event the
executive's employment with the Corporation is terminated within two years
from the time of a change of control (as defined in the agreement) of the
Corporation, unless such termination is for cause.
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
  Annual Fees. Each director who is not an employee receives a $25,000 annual
cash retainer, paid quarterly, and $1,250 for each meeting of the Board and
each meeting of a committee he or she attends. The Chairman of the Board and
each Committee chair receives an additional annual retainer of $60,000 and
$5,000, respectively, paid quarterly. Non-employee directors may elect to
defer all or a portion of their retainer and meeting fees under the
Corporation's Deferral Plan. At the election of the participant, deferred
amounts are deposited into (a) an interest sub-account, which earns interest
at a rate set annually by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee; (b)
a phantom stock sub-account, which is deemed to represent the number of shares
of the Corporation's Common Stock which the amount deferred could purchase at
the average closing
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
price of such stock for a 20-day period occurring during the month in which
the amount is deferred; or (c) a split-dollar insurance sub-account, from
which the premium is paid for life insurance insuring the life of the
deferring director, or, at the election of such director, the lives of the
deferring director and his or her spouse on a joint and survivor basis.
 
  Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan.  Under this option plan, an initial
option to purchase 20,000 shares of the Corporation's Common Stock is granted
to each non-employee director upon joining the Board. An option to purchase an
additional 5,000 shares is granted to each such director on the date of each
annual meeting of shareholders. The exercise price for each option is the
closing sale price of the Corporation's Common Stock on the New York Stock
Exchange on the grant date. Each option is exercisable as to 25% of the shares
covered thereby after the expiration of one year following the date of grant
and for an additional 25% of the shares after the expiration of each
succeeding year. The options granted under this option plan are exercisable
only by a non-employee director, except in certain limited circumstances. See
"Proposal to Approve the Amended Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan"
below.
 
  Non-Employee Director Stock Plan.  This stock plan provides for the grant of
a stock award of 500 shares of the Corporation's Common Stock (a "Stock
Award") and the grant of a retirement award of 1,500 shares of the
Corporation's Common Stock (a "Retirement Award") to each non-employee
director on the date of each annual meeting of the Corporation's shareholders.
In addition, under this stock plan each non-employee director may elect to
receive up to 100% of his or her quarterly compensation from the Corporation
in the form of shares of the Corporation's Common Stock (an "Elective Grant").
Receipt of shares awarded as a Stock Award, Retirement Award or as an Elective
Grant may be deferred under the Deferral Plan. Pursuant to the terms of this
stock plan, each year non-employee directors must elect, as to his or her
annual Retirement Award, either (a) to receive the 1,500 shares as restricted
stock which cannot be sold or otherwise transferred for two years, or (b) to
defer the 1,500 shares for at least two years under the Deferral Plan.
 
                                 REPORT OF THE
                  HUMAN RESOURCES AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
 
ROLE OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD
 
  The Human Resources and Compensation Committee sets compensation policies
for the Corporation's senior management within guidelines approved by the
Board of Directors. The Committee evaluates individual and corporate
performance from a short-term and long-term perspective, establishes base
salaries and approves annual and long-term incentives for all officers, and
administers the Corporation's option and incentive plans. The Committee's
recommendations regarding the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer are
subject to the approval of the full Board.
 
COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY
 
  The Corporation's executive compensation program is designed to attract,
motivate and retain highly qualified executives and to encourage the
achievement of superior performance. The program is designed to:
 
  .  Foster a performance oriented environment with a high level of variable
     compensation based on the short-term and long-term performance of the
     individual, team, business unit and Corporation against demanding goals
     and objectives.
 
  .  Provide total compensation opportunities which exceed industry medians
     for superior financial results and outstanding personal performance.
 
  .  Align the interests of the Corporation's executives and shareholders
     through the use of stock-based compensation plans.
 
BASE SALARIES
 
  The Corporation positions its base salaries to be fully competitive with the
range of compensation levels of comparably-sized, high-technology companies
and with the Corporation's direct business competitors which
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
have similar market characteristics. National surveys such as Hewitt
Associates' Total Compensation Database and Radford Associates' Management
Total Compensation Report, and, periodically, independent compensation
consultants are utilized by the Committee when determining such salaries.
 
 
  In determining whether the base salaries of executives, including the Chief
Executive Officer, should be increased, the Committee takes into account
individual performance, performance of the operations directed by that
executive, and the positioning of compensation within established salary
ranges.
 
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
 
  Under the Corporation's compensation philosophy, the majority of
compensation is intended to be payable under incentive plans. Payments and
awards under these incentive plans are based on the achievement of annual and
long-term goals and, accordingly, are "at risk." Executives of the Corporation
are eligible to participate in the following incentive plans as determined by
the Committee:
 
  Senior Officer Annual Incentive Plan.  This plan has been designed to
qualify as "performance-based" compensation under Internal Revenue Code (the
"Code") Section 162(m) ("Code Section 162(m)"). It is being used currently
only for the Corporation's Chief Executive Officer. Payments under the plan
are based upon the achievement of annual goals. The award determination for
Mr. McDonald under the Senior Officer Annual Incentive Plan is discussed in
the next section of this report.
 
  Annual Incentive Plan.  Under the Annual Incentive Plan (the "AIP"), awards
are made based on company, business unit and/or region results and assessments
of individual performance. Quantitative and qualitative objectives are
weighted 60% and 40%, respectively, in setting "target" awards for corporate
staff participants and 75% and 25%, respectively, for business unit
participants.
 
  Quantitative objectives, consistent with annual business plans approved by
the Board, are used in determining the amount of the award governed by the
company, group and/or business unit performance. Awards under the quantitative
portion of the AIP are not made if the minimum thresholds are not met. The
Committee may also take into account non-recurring extraordinary circumstances
unrelated to the Corporation's financial performance.
 
  The award for Mr. McDonald under the AIP is discussed in the next section of
this report. AIP awards for Messrs. Wredberg, Enterline, Ecker and Lucas were
based on the quantitative performance of the Corporation, as measured by
profit before tax, gross margin, revenue and working capital, and an
assessment of their individual performance against personal qualitative
objectives.
 
  Senior Officer and AIP awards for the Chief Executive Officer and the four
other most highly compensated executives of the Corporation are included in
the "Bonus" column of the Summary Compensation Table.
 
  Long-Term Incentive Plan.  This plan permits the Committee to use one or
more long-term incentives to motivate excellent long-term performance. In
fiscal year 1998, performance-based restricted stock awards were granted to 21
key executives, including Messrs. McDonald, Wredberg, Enterline, Ecker, and
Lucas. These awards will vest over a term of up to ten years, based on
improvement in the Corporation's weighted average return on equity over the
previous five-year period. The number of shares granted are shown in the Long-
Term Incentive Plan--Awards in 1998 Fiscal Year Table. The dollar value of
shares that vested based on the Corporation's fiscal years 1994-1998
performance are shown in the Summary Compensation Table.
 
  Stock Option Plan.  A larger group of executives, including the executives
named in the Summary Compensation Table, receive grants of stock options under
the provisions of the Long-Term Incentive Plan and the 1996 Employee Stock
Option Plan (with only non-officers participating in this plan). The objective
of the grants is to align the interests of the executives with the interests
of the Corporation's shareholders by affording the executives the opportunity
of a potentially significant financial benefit if their efforts result in
stock price appreciation. The Committee takes into account the performance of
the individual recipient, the number of options previously awarded to any
individual participant and the Corporation's grant levels compared to
competitive practices, targeting near a median grant posture. Grants made in
fiscal 1998 to Mr. McDonald and the other named executives are shown in the
Summary Compensation Table and in the Option Grants Table. During fiscal 1998,
options for a total of 1,895,525 shares were granted to optionees.
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
POLICY RELATIVE TO CODE SECTION 162(M)
 
  The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA) limited deductible
senior officer annual compensation to $1,000,000, unless the compensation
qualifies as "performance-based" compensation under Code Section 162(m). In
general, the Corporation will seek to maximize the use of the "performance-
based" exemption provided under Code Section 162(m). The Committee also
believes that inclusion of qualitative (non-quantitative) objectives play an
important role in incentive plans. The Committee will continue to base a
portion of incentive payments on such qualitative assessments, even though
they may not meet the Code Section 162(m) requirements to qualify as
"performance-based" compensation.
 
STOCK OWNERSHIP
 
  The Committee believes that significant ownership of Common Stock by
officers and directors more closely aligns the upside and downside returns for
these individuals with the Corporation's other shareholders. As a result, the
Corporation's officers and directors agreed during fiscal year 1994 to
increase their ownership over time to a level of one times the annual salary
for officers (three times in the case of the Chief Executive Officer) and
three times the annual retainer for outside directors. As of the end of fiscal
year 1998, officers' holdings averaged 3.8 times base salaries, and outside
director holdings averaged 24.6 times annual retainers (based on the closing
price of the Common Stock at the 1998 fiscal year end). These holdings include
restricted stock, whether performance-based or time-based, which has not yet
vested or been "earned out."
 
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
 
  At the beginning of fiscal year 1998, Mr. McDonald's base salary was
increased to maintain a fully competitive position among Chief Executive
Officers of similarly-situated high technology companies. This increase of
seven percent was based also on Mr. McDonald's excellent performance during
the previous year.
 
  During fiscal year 1998, Mr. McDonald was granted a stock option of 125,000
shares. In combination with the grants of performance-based stock, discussed
later in this section, the option grant was designed to be fully competitive
with grants of long-term incentives to Chief Executive Officers by other
comparable high technology companies.
 
  Under the Senior Officer Annual Incentive Plan, Mr. McDonald had an
opportunity to earn a maximum of $486,000 if the Corporation achieved 125% or
more of its targeted performance as measured by profits before tax, gross
margin, return on net assets and sales (revenue). The results for fiscal year
1998 approached targeted levels, but did not reach the maximum. The Committee,
therefore, approved a payment of $240,600 according to the provisions of the
Plan.
 
  Mr. McDonald also had an opportunity to earn additional incentive pay under
the Annual Incentive Plan, based on his performance against qualitative
objectives. The Committee approved payment of $324,000, based on excellent
performance in spite of the Asian economic difficulties during fiscal year
1998. In reaching its decision, the Committee noted the Company's industry-
leading position in digital network technology, the enthusiastic acceptance of
the Explorer System by many major U.S. cable companies, the substantial
improvements in overall quality, the development of the organization and the
Company's key managers and the strengthening of already excellent relations
with major customers and the financial community.
 
  Mr. McDonald received a grant of 23,130 performance-based shares of
restricted stock under the Long-Term Incentive Plan. Based upon the
Corporation's fiscal years 1994-1998 Return on Equity performance, the right
to receive 21,298 shares under prior awards vested.
 
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
OTHER COMPENSATION PLANS
 
  The Corporation also has various broad-based employee benefit plans.
Executives participate in many of these plans on the same terms as eligible,
non-executive employees, subject to any legal limits on the amounts that may
be contributed or paid to executives under the plans. The Corporation offers
an Employee Stock Purchase Plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 423 of
the Code under which employees may purchase Common Stock. The Voluntary
Employee Retirement and Investment Plan pursuant to the provisions of Section
401(k) of the Code, permits employees to invest in a variety of funds on a
pre-tax basis. Matching contributions under the plan are made in Common Stock
of the Corporation.
 
  The Corporation also maintains pension, insurance and other benefit plans
for its employees.
 
  Submitted by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee:
 
    William E. Kassling, Chairman
    Marion H. Antonini
    David J. McLaughlin
    Mylle Bell Mangum
 
                               PERFORMANCE GRAPH
 
  The following graph shows a comparison of total return to shareholders for
the Corporation, the Standard & Poor's High Technology Index and the Standard
& Poor's 500 for the Corporation's last five fiscal years. The graph assumes
that the value of investment in the Corporation's Common Stock and in each
index was $100 on June 30, 1993, and all dividends were reinvested.
 
                             [GRAPH APPEARS HERE]

                                1993    1994    1995    1996    1997    1998
                                ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.        $100    $106    $137    $ 97    $139    $156
S&P 500                         $100    $103    $128    $159    $211    $270
S&P Technology Sector           $100    $110    $173    $203    $318    $415
 
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
                                PROPOSAL NO. 2
 
                            PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE
               AMENDED NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
  At the Annual Meeting, there will be presented to the shareholders a
proposal to approve the Corporation's Non-Employee Directors Stock Option
Plan, as amended by the Board of Directors (the "Board") on September 16,
1998, subject to the shareholders' approval (the "Amended Plan"; this plan, as
it existed prior to the proposed amended version, is referred to as the "Prior
Plan"). The Board unanimously approved the Amended Plan and recommends that
the Corporation's shareholders approve the Amended Plan. Except as indicated
below under "Terms of Options; Effect of Retirement or Death", the terms of
the Amended Plan are identical to those of the Prior Plan. When describing
provisions that are identical in the Prior Plan and the Amended Plan, the term
"Plan" will be used.
 
  The primary purposes of the Plan are to aid the Corporation in attracting
and retaining highly qualified non-employee directors, to provide additional
compensation as an incentive for non-employee directors to contribute their
best efforts to the Corporation's success, and to emphasize and enhance the
Corporation's policy of seeking to have non-employee directors maintain a
significant investment in the stock of the Corporation and thus a strong
commonality of interest with the shareholders.
 
  Amending the Prior Plan will not result in the Corporation registering any
additional Common Stock under the Securities Act.
 
ADMINISTRATION
 
  The Plan is administered by the Board. The Board has the power to (i)
interpret the Plan, (ii) promulgate rules and regulations relating to the
Plan, and (iii) make all other determinations necessary or desirable for the
Plan's administration.
 
ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION
 
  All members of the Board who are not employees of the Corporation are
eligible to participate in the Plan.
 
OPTION GRANTS
 
  Under the Plan, each non-employee director receives an Option to purchase
20,000 shares of Common Stock upon his or her initial appointment or election
to the Board. Additionally, an Option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock
is granted to each non-employee director at each annual meeting of the Board
held on the date of the annual meeting of the Corporation's shareholders,
provided that the particular non-employee director continues in office after
such Board meeting.
 
TERMS OF OPTIONS; EFFECT OF RETIREMENT OR DEATH
 
  The term of each Option granted under the Plan commences on the date of
grant of the Option, with the grants made on the date of each annual
shareholders meeting ("Date of Grant"), and will terminate and expires on the
tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant, to the extent not previously
exercised and not earlier terminated.
 
  The exercise price for each Option is the fair market value of a share of
the Corporation's Common Stock on the Date of Grant for such Option. "Fair
market value" means the closing selling price of a share of common stock as
traded on the New York Stock Exchange on the Date of Grant, or, if there is no
trade on such Exchange on the Date of Grant, then the next preceding date on
which there was a trade of the Common Stock on such Exchange. Unless
terminated earlier, a non-employee director holding an Option will have the
right to exercise
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
the Option in the following percentages during the following periods:
 
  (a) twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of shares covered by the
      Option after expiration of one (1) year following the Date of Grant;
 
  (b)  fifty percent (50%) of the total number of shares covered by the
       Option after expiration of two (2) years following the Date of Grant;
 
  (c)  seventy-five percent (75%) of the total number of shares covered by
       the Option after expiration of three (3) years following the Date of
       Grant; and
 
  (d)  one hundred percent (100%) of the total number of shares covered by
       the Option after expiration of four (4) years following the Date of
       Grant.
 
  Under the Plan, a non-employee director's Options terminate if his service
on the Board is terminated for "Cause," with "Cause" meaning any act or
omission for which indemnification of such non-employee director is prohibited
by the Georgia Business Corporation Code. Under the Prior Plan, a non-employee
director, upon his Retirement from the Board or his death, received
accelerated vesting of the Options that would have vested in the first year
following his Retirement or death if he or she had remained on the Board, and
such non-employee director (or his estate, as applicable) had one year
following his Retirement or death to exercise such vested Options, with any
unexercised Options expiring at the end of such one year period. "Retirement"
under the Prior Plan meant that a non-employee director either (a) voluntarily
resigned from the Board or (b) was ineligible to stand for re-election to the
Board due to the terms of the Board's retirement policy, provided that in
either the case of (a) or (b), the event occurred after at least thirty-six
(36) consecutive months of service on the Board. Under the Amended Plan, on
the other hand, upon a non-employee director's Mandatory Retirement or death,
all unexpired Options, whether exercisable or not exercisable, become
exercisable on his last day of Board membership and expire three (3) years
after such date. Under the Amended Plan, "Mandatory Retirement" occurs when a
non-employee director, after thirty-six (36) consecutive months of service on
the Board, ceases service on the Board due to his ineligibility to seek re-
election to the Board under the terms of the retirement policy adopted by the
Board (and as in effect at the time of such non-employee director ceasing
service on the Board). However, under the Amended Plan, a non-employee
director who decides to take Early Retirement will receive accelerated vesting
of the Options that would have vested in the first year following his Early
Retirement if he or she had remained on the Board, and such non-employee
director has one year following his Early Retirement to exercise such vested
Options, with any unexercised Options expiring at the end of such one year
period. "Early Retirement" means that a non-employee director voluntarily
resigns from the Board after at least thirty-six (36) consecutive months of
service on the Board. Additionally, under the Prior Plan, if a non-employee
director ceased to serve on the Board for any reason other than Cause,
Retirement or death, such non-employee director could exercise any unexpired
and vested Options for two hundred ten (210) days following the last day of
such non-employee director's Board membership. Under the Amended Plan, this
period for exercising the unexpired and vested Options has been extended from
two hundred ten (210) days to one (1) year following such non-employee
director's last day of Board membership and applies when a non-employee
director ceases service on the Board for any reason other than Cause,
Mandatory Retirement, Early Retirement or death.
 
  The Board's primary reasons for approving and recommending for shareholder
approval the above-described changes, as reflected in the Amended Plan, are
(i) to provide the non-employee directors who are ceasing service on the Board
because of Mandatory Retirement with a longer period during which to make
decisions that may have significant economic effects and more flexibility in
timing any gains for tax-planning purposes, and (ii) to prevent such non-
employee directors from losing the economic benefit of Options granted to them
during their final years of service on the Board, which were years during
which such non-employee directors took actions that are likely to have results
in the years following their departure from the Board.
 
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY
 
  Non-employee directors receiving an Option under the Plan may not assign or
otherwise transfer such Option, except that the beneficiaries or heirs of a
non-employee director may inherit such Option. Additionally, in the event of a
non-employee director's mental incompetence, his duly appointed guardian may
exercise his rights under an Option.
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
 
  The Board has the power to terminate or amend the Plan and the power to
amend any outstanding Options for the purpose of satisfying any legal
requirements or for any purpose permitted by law, but no amendment of the Plan
or of an outstanding Option can be made without the approval of the
Corporation's shareholders if such amendment would (i) result in any
outstanding Option containing terms inconsistent with the Plan's provisions at
the time such Option was granted, as determined by the Board; (ii) increase
the number of shares of Common Stock for which each Option may be granted
under the Plan; (iii) increase the frequency of Option grants; (iv) reduce the
price at which Options may be granted or exercised below the price provided
for in the Plan; (v) extend the period during which any outstanding Option may
be exercised; (vi) expand eligibility beyond the "eligible directors", or
(viii) disqualify an eligible director from being a "disinterested"
administrator, within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule) of the
Securities and Exchange Commission of any stock option plan or other stock-
based plan of the Company.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE
 
  The Amended Plan will be effective as of November 11, 1998, provided that
the Amended Plan is approved by the shareholders. If not so approved by the
shareholders, the Amended Plan shall be of no force and effect, but the Prior
Plan, as adopted by the shareholders on November 15, 1989, and as previously
amended by the Board in accordance with its amendment powers, shall continue
in effect.
 
CHANGE IN CAPITALIZATION
 
  In the event of a change in the outstanding shares of the Corporation's
Common Stock by reason of stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations,
mergers, consolidations, reorganizations, or any other changes in corporate
structure, the number and/or the type of shares to be awarded under the Plan
shall be automatically adjusted as appropriate to prevent an unfavorable
effect upon the value of the Options granted or to be granted under the Plan.
 
PLAN BENEFITS
 
  The following tabular information is required:
 
                   NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    DOLLAR   NUMBER OF SHARES
      POSITION                                     VALUE($) SUBJECT TO OPTION(1)
      --------                                     -------  -------------------
<S>                                                <C>      <C>
Each Non-Employee Director........................  --(2)          5,000
Non-Employee Director Group.......................  --(2)         35,000(3)
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) As previously described, each non-employee director receives an Option for
    20,00 shares of Common Stock upon his or her initial appointment or
    election to the Board and an Option for 5,000 shares of Common Stock on
    the date of each annual meeting of the shareholders. Only the annual
    Option grants are shown in this column.
(2) The dollar value of each Option granted under the Plan is dependent on the
    fair market value of the Corporation's Common Stock at any given time
    during the term of the Option and cannot be accurately estimated for
    purposes of this chart.
(3) This number was computed based upon the number of non-employee directors
    entitled to receive Options on the date of the Annual Meeting.
 
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
AVAILABILITY OF AMENDED PLAN
 
  Copies of the Amended Plan are available upon request directed to William E.
Eason, Jr., Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel,
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., One Technology Parkway, South, Norcross, Georgia
30092.
 
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
 
  There are no tax consequences to a non-employee director resulting from the
grant of an Option. Upon exercise of an Option, the exercising non-employee
director will recognize taxable income in the amount by which the then fair
market value of the shares of the Corporation's Common Stock acquired upon
exercise exceeds the exercise price, with the Corporation being entitled to a
deduction in an equal amount. The amount of such taxable income will be
characterized as compensation income to such non-employee director. Upon the
subsequent disposition of the shares acquired upon exercise, such non-employee
director will recognize gain or loss, which will be characterized as capital
gain or loss, in an amount equal to the difference between the proceeds
received upon disposition and the basis for the shares (the basis being equal
to the sum of the price paid for stock and the amount of income realized upon
the exercise of the Option), provided the shares are held as a capital asset.
Any capital gain or loss will be characterized as long-term or short-term,
depending on whether the holding period for tax purposes exceeds one year.
 
  The preceding paragraph is intended to be merely a summary of the most
important federal income tax consequences concerning the grant of the Option
and the disposition of the shares of Common Stock issued upon an exercise of
the Option under the tax laws and regulations in effect as of the date of this
Proxy Statement.
 
VOTE REQUIRED
 
  Approval of the Amended Plan requires the affirmative vote of a majority of
the shares of Common Stock present or represented and entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting.
 
  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 2.
PROXIES SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL BE VOTED FOR THIS PROPOSAL
UNLESS A VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSAL OR AN ABSTENTION IS SPECIFICALLY INDICATED.
 
                                PROPOSAL NO. 3
 
                  SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
  The Board of Directors has selected Arthur Andersen LLP to be the
independent auditors of the Corporation for the fiscal year ending July 2,
1999, and proposes that the shareholders ratify this selection at the Annual
Meeting. Arthur Andersen LLP also acted as independent auditors of the
Corporation for the 1998 fiscal year.
 
  Representatives of Arthur Andersen LLP are expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they
desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
 
  Ratification of the selection of Arthur Andersen LLP requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares voting on such proposal (i.e.,
shares voting for or against the proposal).
 
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THIS
PROPOSAL NO. 4. PROXIES SOLICITED BY THE BOARD DIRECTORS WILL BE VOTED FOR
THIS PROPOSAL UNLESS A VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSAL OR AN ABSTENTION IS
SPECIFICALLY INDICATED.
 
                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
  The Board of Directors of the Corporation knows of no other matters which
are to be brought before the meeting. However, if any such other matters
should be presented for consideration and voting, it is the intention of the
persons named in the enclosed form of proxy to vote the proxy in accordance
with their best judgment.
 
            SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
 
  Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Corporation's officers,
directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of
the Corporation's equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes
in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
Officers, directors and greater than ten-percent shareholders are required by
SEC regulations to furnish the Corporation with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file. Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms
furnished to the Corporation and written representations submitted by the
reporting persons, the Corporation believes that during the last fiscal year,
all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors
and greater than ten-percent beneficial owners were complied with, except that
Brian C. Koenig and John H. Levergood inadvertently filed late their
respective Statements of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 4 for the
month of August 1997.
 
                            FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
 
  A copy of the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K, including financial
statements and schedules, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
for the fiscal year ended June 26, 1998, is included in the Annual Report to
Shareholders which accompanies these proxy materials. Copies of any exhibit(s)
to the Form 10-K will be furnished on request and upon the payment of the
Corporation's expenses in furnishing such exhibit(s). Any request for exhibits
should be in writing addressed to William E. Eason, Jr., Senior Vice President
and Secretary, Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., One Technology Parkway, South,
Norcross, Georgia 30092.
 
                 SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1999 ANNUAL MEETING
 
  Proposals by shareholders for presentation at the 1999 Annual Meeting must
be received by the Corporation not later than June 1, 1999, in order to be
included in the Corporation's Proxy Statement and form of proxy relating to
that meeting. Such proposals should be in writing and addressed to William E.
Eason, Jr., Senior Vice President and Secretary, Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., One
Technology Parkway, South, Norcross, Georgia 30092.
 
                                       By order of the Board of Directors
 
                                       /s/ William E. Eason, Jr.
                                       ----------------------------
                                                   Secretary
 
September 28, 1998
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
 
                            SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA, INC.

                                   P R O X Y

               THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                           FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
                  SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 11, 1998


The undersigned hereby appoints James V. Napier, James F. McDonald and William
E. Eason, Jr., and each of them, with full power of substitution, attorneys and
proxies of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned and to vote the Common
Stock as specified below at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Scientific-
Atlanta, Inc. to be held on November 11, 1998 at 9:00 a.m., local time, at the
Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, 3300 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30305,
and at any adjournment thereof, upon the following matters and in accordance
with their best judgment with respect to any other matters which may properly
come before the meeting, all as more fully described in the Proxy Statement for
said Annual Meeting (receipt of which is hereby acknowledged).

THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED.  IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, THIS PROXY
WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1 AND FOR
PROPOSALS 2 AND 3, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BEST JUDGMENT OF THE DESIGNATED
INDIVIDUALS WITH RESPECT TO MATTERS INCIDENTAL TO THE CONDUCT OF THE MEETING OR
WHICH MAY OTHERWISE PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.  IF ANY OF THE NOMINEES
FOR DIRECTOR ARE UNABLE TO SERVE OR FOR GOOD CAUSE WILL NOT SERVE, THE
PROXYHOLDER WILL VOTE FOR SUCH OTHER PERSON OR PERSONS AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAY RECOMMEND.

(Continued and to be signed and dated on the reverse side.)
                                                        SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA, INC.
                                                        P.O. BOX 11135
                                                        NEW YORK, NY 10203-0135

________________________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FAVORS AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR
LISTED BELOW AND FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3.

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS  FOR all nominees   WITHHOLD AUTHORITY  *EXCEPTIONS [ ]
                          listed below [ ]   to vote for [ ]     
                                             all nominees listed 
                                             below


NOMINEES:    DAVID W. DORMAN AND JAMES F. MCDONALD
(INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark
the "Exceptions" box above and write that nominee's name on the line provided
below.)


*EXCEPTIONS ____________________________________________________________________



                                                     Change of Address or
2. Approval of the Amended                           Comments Mark Here [ ]
   Non-Employee Directors Stock Option
   Plan.                                  NOTE: Please date and sign this Proxy
                                          exactly as name appears.  When
   FOR [ ]   AGAINST [ ]   ABSTAIN [ ]    signing as attorney, trustee,
                                          administrator, executor or guardian,
3. Ratification of selection of           please give your title as such.  In
   Arthur Andersen LLP as independent     the case of joint tenants, each joint
   auditors of the Corporation.           owner should sign.
 
   FOR [ ]   AGAINST [ ]   ABSTAIN [ ]    Dated:__________________________, 1998
 
 
                                          _____________________________________ 
                                          Signature
 
                                          _____________________________________ 
                                          Signature (if held jointly)
                                                
                                          VOTES MUST BE INDICATED (X) IN BLACK
                                          OR BLUE INK.




SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
<PAGE>
 
                                                     Appendix to Proxy Statement
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                                                
                    NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN


1.   PURPOSE.   The purposes of the plan ("Plan") are to advance the interests
     of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. ("Company") and its shareholders by (i)
     encouraging increased share ownership by members of the Board of Directors
     ("Board") of the Company who are not employees of the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries, (ii) enhancing the Company's ability to attract and retain
     the services of experienced, able and knowledgeable persons to serve as
     directors, and (iii) providing additional incentive for directors to
     contribute their best efforts to the Company's success.

2.   ADMINISTRATION.   The Plan shall be administered by the Board.  The Board
     shall have full authority, consistent with the Plan, to interpret the Plan,
     to promulgate such rules and regulations with respect to the Plan as it
     deems desirable and to make all other determinations necessary or desirable
     for the administration of the Plan.  All decisions, determinations and
     interpretations of the Board shall be binding upon all persons.

3.   SHARES TO BE ISSUED.   Shares of the Company's common stock ("Common
     Stock") delivered on the exercise of stock options ("Options") granted
     under the Plan may be authorized, but previously unissued, shares or
     previously issued shares reacquired by the Company.

4.   GRANTING OF OPTIONS.

     (a)  Eligible Directors.  "Eligible Directors" are all members of the Board
          ------------------                                                    
          who are not employees of the Company.


     (b)  Initial Grant.  Each Non-Employee Director will receive an initial
          -------------                                                     
          grant of 20,000 shares upon approval by the Board of this Plan or upon
          his or her initial appointment or election to the Board.


     (c)  Automatic Grants.  An Option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock
          ----------------                                                     
          shall be granted at the annual meeting of the Board held on the date
          of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders beginning in 1995 and at each
          succeeding Board meeting held on that date, provided the Non-Employee
          Director continues in office after the Board meeting date on which the
          Option is granted.

     (d)  Option Agreement.  Each Option shall be evidenced by a written
          ----------------                                              
          instrument which shall state the terms and conditions of the grant,
          not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board in its sole discretion
          shall determine and approve.

     (e)  Option Price.  The purchase price for each share of Common Stock
          ------------                                                    
          subject to an Option shall be the fair market value of the Common
          Stock on the date the Option is granted.  For this purpose, as well as
          other purposes under the Plan, fair market value shall be deemed to be
          the closing selling price of a share of Common Stock as traded on the
          New York Stock Exchange on the date on which the Option is granted or,
          if there is no trade on such Exchange on that date, then on the next
          preceding date on which there was a trade of Common Stock on such
          Exchange.  (In the event the Company's Common Stock is not listed on
          the New York Stock Exchange on the date of an Option grant, the fair
          market value shall be determined as stated above but with reference to
          trades on the largest stock exchange on which the Common Stock is then
          traded.)

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
     (f)  Nontransferability.  An Option shall be nonassignable and
          ------------------                                       
          nontransferable other than by will or the laws of descent and
          distribution.  An Option shall be exercisable during the Eligible
          Director's lifetime only by him or, in the event of his incompetence,
          by a duly appointed guardian.

5.   OPTION EXERCISES.

     (a)  Exercise Timing.  Except as provided in Sections 5(c) and 6 below,
          ---------------                                                   
          each Option shall become exercisable for twenty-five percent (25%) of
          the shares of Common Stock covered by the Option after the expiration
          of one (1) year following the date of grant and for an additional
          twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares after the expiration of each
          of the succeeding three (3) years following the date of grant.

     (b)  Method of Exercise.  Options may be exercised by delivery of written
          ------------------                                                  
          notice of exercise to the Secretary of the Company, accompanied by the
          full purchase price of the shares being purchased.  The price shall be
          paid at the time of exercise (i) in cash, (ii) by the transfer to the
          Company of shares of the Company's Common Stock acquired by the option
          holder prior to the exercise of the Option, or (iii) by any
          combination of cash or such shares of the Company's Common Stock.
          Each such share so transferred in full or part payment of the option
          price shall be deemed to have a value equal to the closing price of a
          share of the Common Stock of the Company, as traded on the New York
          Stock Exchange (or the largest stock exchange on which it is then
          traded), on the date of transfer to the Company, or if there is no
          trade on such Exchange on that date, on the nearest date preceding the
          date of transfer on which a trade on such Exchange was made, and each
          such share at the time of such transfer shall be free and clear of any
          and all claims, pledges, liens and encumbrances, or any restrictions
          which would in any manner restrict the transfer of such shares to the
          Company in full or part payment of the Option price.

     (c)  Effect of Change of Control.  In the event of "Change of Control" of
          ---------------------------                                         
          the Company, all Options held by Eligible Directors on the date of
          Change of Control shall be immediately exercisable in full,
          irrespective of the amount of time that has elapsed from the date of
          grant.  "Change  of Control" means a change of twenty-five percent
          (25%) or more of the membership of the Board (excluding membership
          changes resulting from normal retirement of directors) within a
          twenty-four (24) month period following the acquisition of beneficial
          ownership by any person or entity, or group of persons or entities and
          their affiliates acting in concert, of twenty percent (20%) or more of
          the voting securities of the Company.  "Affiliates" and "beneficial
          ownership" shall be defined in accordance with Rules 12b-2 and 13d-3
          of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same may from time
          to time be amended.

6.   EXPIRATION OF OPTIONS.   Except as hereinafter provided, all Options shall
     expire on the earlier of (i) the last day of the tenth (10th) year after
     the date of grant or (ii) the date that an Eligible Director ceases to be a
     member of the Board; provided, however, that to the extent any unexpired
     Options are otherwise exercisable on the date that an Eligible Director
     ceases to be a member of the Board for any reason other than Cause (as
     defined below), death, Early Retirement (as defined below) or Mandatory
     Retirement (as defined below), such Options shall remain exercisable for
     one (1) year following the last day of the Eligible Director's Board
     membership and shall expire if not exercised within said one (1) year

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     period.  If Board membership ceases on account of death or Mandatory
     Retirement, all unexpired Options held by the Eligible Director on the last
     day of Board membership, whether exercisable or not exercisable, shall be
     immediately exercisable and remain exercisable for three (3) years
     following the last day of the Eligible Director's Board membership and
     shall expire at the end of such three (3) year period if not exercised
     within said three (3) year period. If Board membership ceases on account of
     Early Retirement, all unexpired Options held by the Eligible Director on
     the last day of Board membership, which are then exercisable or would have
     become exercisable had the Director continued as a member of the Board for
     one (1) additional year, whether exercisable or not exercisable, shall be
     immediately exercisable and remain exercisable for one (1) year following
     the last day of the Eligible Director's Board membership and shall expire
     if not exercised within said one (1) year period.  To the extent any
     otherwise unexpired Options are not exercisable in accordance with the
     immediately preceding sentence, they shall expire as of the effective date
     of such Eligible Director's Early Retirement.  All Options held by an
     Eligible Director whose membership on the Board ends after the occurrence
     of Cause shall expire immediately on his or her last day of Board
     membership.  "Cause," for the purposes of this Section 6, means any act or
     omission for which indemnification of the Director is prohibited by the
     Georgia Business Corporation Code (Sections 14-2-171 of the Code until July
     1, 1989 and Section 14-2-856, as amended, on and after July 1, 1989).
     "Mandatory Retirement," for the purposes of this Section 6, means an
     Eligible Director's ineligibility to be re-elected to the Board due to the
     terms of the retirement policy adopted by the Board (as amended from time
     to time), provided such ineligibility occurs after at least thirty-six (36)
     consecutive months of service on the Board.  "Early Retirement," for the
     purposes of this Section 6, means an Eligible Director's voluntary
     resignation from the Board after at least thirty-six (36) consecutive
     months of service on the Board.

7.   ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. If a reorganization,
     recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares,
     merger, consolidation, rights offering, or any other change in the
     corporate structure or shares of Common Stock of the Company occurs, the
     number and kind of shares authorized by this Plan, and the number, Option
     price and kind of shares covered by the Options granted hereunder, shall be
     automatically adjusted as required in order to prevent an unfavorable
     effect upon the value of the shares covered by then outstanding Options and
     shares covered by Options subsequently granted.

8.   TAX WITHHOLDING.    Any exercise of an Option pursuant to the Plan shall be
     subject to withholding of state and federal income taxes, FICA tax or other
     taxes to the extent required by applicable law.

9.   LAWS AND REGULATIONS.   The Plan, the grant and exercise of Options, and
     the obligation of the Company to sell or deliver shares of Common Stock
     under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, regulations and
     rules.  In the event that the shares of Common Stock to be issued under
     this Plan are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and any
     applicable state securities laws prior to the delivery of such shares, the
     Company may require, as a condition to the issuance thereof, that the
     persons to whom such shares are to be issued represent and warrant in
     writing to the Company that the shares are being acquired by him or her for
     investment for his or her own account and not with a view to, for resale in
     connection with, or with an intent of participating directly or indirectly
     in, any distribution of such shares within the meaning of that Act, and  a
     legend to that effect may be placed on the certificates representing such
     shares.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
10.  TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.   The Board may at any time
     terminate the Plan or may at any time or times amend the Plan or amend any
     outstanding Options for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of any
     changes in applicable laws or regulations or for any other purpose which at
     the time may be permitted by law, provided that:

     (i)  no amendment of any outstanding Option shall contain terms or
          conditions inconsistent with the provisions contained in the Plan at
          the time the respective Option was granted, as determined by the
          Board; and

     (ii) except as provided in Section 7, no such amendment shall, without the
          approval of the shareholders of the Company:  (a) increase the number
          of shares of Common Stock for which each Option may be granted under
          the Plan; (b) increase the frequency of Option grants; (c) reduce the
          price at which Options may be granted or exercised below the price
          provided for in Section 4(e); (d) extend the period during which any
          outstanding Option may be exercised; (e) materially increase in any
          other way the benefits accruing to Eligible Directors; (f) expand Plan
          eligibility beyond Eligible Directors as defined herein, or (g)
          disqualify an Eligible Director from being a "disinterested"
          administrator, within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 (or any successor
          rule) of the Securities and Exchange Commission, of any stock option
          plan or other stock-based plan of the Company.

11.  EFFECTIVE DATE.   The Plan shall become effective on the date of approval
     by the Board; provided, however, that the Plan shall be submitted to the
     shareholders of the Company for approval, and if not approved by the
     shareholders within one (1) year from the date of approval by the Board,
     the Plan shall be of no force and effect.  Options granted under the Plan
     before approval of the Plan by the shareholders shall be granted subject to
     such approval and shall not be exercisable before such approval.

To record the adoption of this Plan (as amended and restated) by the Board and
the shareholders, effective as of November 11, 1998, the Company has caused its
authorized officers to execute this Plan in the space below.


                                    SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA, INC.


                                    By:  /s/ Brian C. Koenig
                                       ------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Brian C. Koenig
                                    Title: Senior Vice President - 
                                           Human Resources



                                    By:  /s/ William E. Eason, Jr.
                                       -----------------------------------
                                    Name:  William E. Eason, Jr.
                                    Title: Corporate Secretary


[ Corporate Seal]

                                       4


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