Save Access

Note: Michigan passed the state video franchise bill Jan. 1 2007. Last week, AT&T made a big splash announcing that they now provide service in Michigan. The law provides that PEG channels be carried within 90 days, but AT&T still does not have answers on how that will work. The transcript below is from the public meeting of the Southwestern Oakland Cable Commission. This is what happens when AT&T gets their legislation and finally come to town to start service - they haven't a clue what they are doing.

AT&T QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
MAY 23, 2007
SWOCC MEETING

Carmen Johnston AT&T External Communications Director: I have provided information of our new product roll-out that was newly launched this week. We are servicing 56 cities through S.E. Michigan.
What is U-Verse? It is internet based television that comes with more than 300 channels to choose from. More HD Programming than cable channels. Video on-demand library and Spanish and mobile remote access to your DVR.
For more information you can go to Uverse.att.com

Q – Ellis – Someone had to call Texas to get to AT&T. Why wasn’t there a local number.
A- Carmen-We have our own new Regional office in Southfield. There is also a channel line-up located on the website.

Q-Landry-Can people in my city of Novi get access to U-verse?
A-Carmen- Go to website plug in your phone number and see if it’s available.

Q-Landry- Am I correct in assuming that it is NOT available in ALL parts of Novi
A-Carmen- We are gradually rolling it out. I can’t tell you which parts of Novi has it right now. Our goal is to be fully equipped in all of Novi in the future.

Q-Landry-Is it true on the PEG channels they will be shrinking the signal and having it only in a quarter of the television?
A-Carmen-They are in discussion with technicians at this time.

Q-Landry-Is the PEG channel going to be part of the high definition channel
A-Carmen-That’s a good question! I’ll have to answer that at a later date.

Q-Landry-In the AT&T Yahoo Internet Account, is there a separate charge?
A-Carmen-Not to my knowledge. They have a lot of different message boards and other activities free of charge, but I’ll get back to you on that.

Q-Walsh-How does PEG Access Channel work? In my understanding you go to channel 99 click on to that, surf thru , click on your city then click on the channel after that. You would not be able to channel surf like you do now. You have to search for PEG channel and surf thru menus.
AT&T is just beginning talks on how PEG channels are going to work. We have volunteered at Novi to be a Test Community because of our Web streaming at City Council meetings. (NOTE: Carmen deferred to Walsh to answer the question)

Q-Brock-Do you have the 800 number shown at the end of the slide?
A-Carmen-I don’t know the number – I will certainly find out.

Q-Pastue-Will we have an over-ride for emergency alerts?
A-Carmen-Not sure that we’ve come up with the answer. We do not have a solution on that yet.

Q-Buck-I am interested in your marketing plan and contributions to the community.
A-Carmen-AT&T has done that frequently as a community. They’ve been very good about bringing dollars back to the community. We’ve been able to provide lap top computers to the Senior Center in Farmington Hills. AT&T believes in giving back to the community.

Q-Buck-How can the Public Access Community obtain information on funds available to the community?
A-Carmen- I am the contact in Oakland County

Q-Buck- What will your Market Penetration be over the next 12-24-36 months?
A-Carmen- To eat up all of the competition. People will still be looking for the best deal. We will bring the best opportunity to the SWOCC community. I am not part of the Marketing team so I cannot tell you what their plans are. I know that we’re not going to come in and take over everything today. It’s going to be something that we’re going to be working on.

Q-Buck- It would be nice to hear what kind of impact we will have on our numbers. So we can understand better what our numbers at SWOCC can be.
Also, the support of Programming for our schools to provide them with drops.
A-Carmen-Any cable provider must provide the PEG channel so it is our intent to provide educational channels today.

Q-Buck- So, actually you can provide a drop and signals to schools?
A-Carmen- I can’t answer that question.

Q-Buck- You mean to say you don’t know the answer or you are not prepared to answer that?
A-Carmen-I am not prepared to answer that question

Q-Walsh-To elaborate further on that question, what services are available now in Novi. If I were to call and schedule installation with the current provider how long would it take? 8 hours?
A-Carmen-It is so new, I can’t tell you. Installation process does take some doing and I really can’t say how long. It’s a lengthy process it doesn’t take as long as 8 hours, but it takes some doing.

Q-Brock-Is it an “in the wall” connection?
A-Carmen-The current wiring is in the houses.
Q-Brock- Are you sure about that?
A-Carmen-I can go back and check if you’d like, but that’s my understanding.
Q-Ellis-Basic price is $44.95 with Bright House Basic cable. And the lowest price is $11.95 a month. Do you have anything comparable to that?
A-Carmen- Wow that’s pretty low. Not that I know of. We have $44.95 that includes television without internet access. That would be under 200 channels.

Q-Ellis- If you add premium stations what is the cost?
A-Carmen-It depends on what kind of speed you want. You’re looking at not only Package line-up but 3 levels of internet speed.

Q-Ellis-Bright House standard is at 7 megabytes –What is yours?
A-Carmen-Ours is at 6 megabytes

Q-Ellis-How much is that?
A-Carmen-We have a Package U Family for $59 a month. The express package which is under 100 channel line-up is $59 a month without internet access.

Q-Ellis-Bright House Expanded Basic is $44.95 under 200 channels. How much is the Standard Internet Access channel.
A-Carmen- You can’t take the Standard internet access alone.

Q-Ellis-Do you have to add on the package?
A-Carmen-To get internet access, it has to be tied with a package either U-Family or under 100

Q- Do we have the equipment for streaming?
A-Angott-No, we do not. We would have to invest money into AT&T to get these PEG channels.

This is the end of the questions and answers to Carmen