-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 h/chp8J1QAP3t6LI1ANoew==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001244490-03-000065.txt : 20030908
<SEC-HEADER>0001244490-03-000065.hdr.sgml : 20030908
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030908160228
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001244490-03-000065
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20021227
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030908

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CASH JAMES I JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193129

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05517
		FILM NUMBER:		03886138

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MICROSOFT WAY
		CITY:			REDMOND
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98052-6399

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000087777
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				580612397
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5030 SUGARLOAF PARKWAY
		CITY:			LAWRENCEVILLE
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30044
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7709035000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5030 SUGARLOAF PARKWAY
		CITY:			LAWRENCEVILLE
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30044

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19671024
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4a.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2002-12-27</periodOfReport>
    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2002-12-27</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000087777</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193129</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CASH JAMES I JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MICROSOFT WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REDMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98052-6399</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-03-31</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>L</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>180</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>13.82</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>7430</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-06-30</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>424</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>23.57</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>7854</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>7500</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>By Keogh Plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">We are amending this transaction to reflect the correct transaction date of March 31, 2003. We originally reported the transactio
n date of this transaction as December 27, 2002.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">This is not a new transaction. This is an amended and restated form.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Angie Woo pursuant to a Power of Attorney</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-09-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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