from: WPLN News [1]

Tuesday, December 04th, 2007
AT&T Struggles to Get Message Out

The largest communications company in the world is having trouble airing ads on Tennessee’s local cable channels.

A-T-and-T’s Tennessee president Gregg Morton says the company has been trying to air informative ads about its desire to ink a statewide franchise agreement to provide cable TV services. That would take a change in current state law that now requires cable companies to negotiate individual contracts with cities and counties.

Morton told business leaders at Lipscomb University (this morning/yesterday) that so far, cable companies haven’t agreed to air any of AT&T’s ads.

“I’m not sure what we can do about that. When we advertise on network television, it’s much more expensive so it limits our reach. But that right now is our only option.”

Cable industry spokeswoman Stacy Briggs says AT&T has not been blocked from cable channels. She says the company has been treated fairly and required to prove claims made in its ads.

Whether or not they’ve outright denied AT&T from their airways, cable companies have banned together to oppose the company’s request to bend state rules and enter the cable market. They’ve revived their own ad campaign from earlier this year that attacks the AT&T for its push at the state house. Legislators are gearing up for another heated debate when the General Assembly reconvenes in January. Negotiations fell apart during the last session.

Rep. Steve McDaniel has signed on to sponsor the legislation. Fellow Republican, Sen. Bill Ketron will again sponsor the Senate version.

By Blake Farmer