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from: Broadband Reports

U-Verse, Lawsuits in Milwaukee

Wasn't avoiding franchises supposed to make the process easier?
Posted 2007-03-02 09:32:30 by Karl

With a tenuous agreement in place, AT&T launched U-Verse in portions of Milwaukee this week, though local lawmakers have been fighting the company's decision to avoid paying franchise fees since December.

From: Daily Herald

Naperville Tries to Box AT&T into a Corner

March 1, 2007
By Jake Griffin

Taking a cue from Itasca, Naperville leaders are placing giant boxes around the city to show residents what the landscape could look like if the state legislature takes away a municipality’s right to regulate cable franchise agreements.

from: Broadband Reports

AT&T Cuts U-Verse Deployment Goal in Half

March 1, 2007

A day after AT&T told the San Antonio Express News they were “taking off the brakes” on U-Verse IPTV & VDSL deployment, USAToday says that the company quietly cut their projected deployment goals in half for 2007. Fletcher Cook, an AT&T spokesman, tells USA Today the company decided there was no need to issue a press release to highlight the change. “We figure people are paying attention to the analysts’ call,”

from: LA Times

AT&T’s TV Rollout Slowed by Glitches

March 1, 2007
By James S. Granelli

California regulators are expected to adopt rules today to make it easier for phone companies to compete for cable TV customers. But don’t expect new competition next month — or even count on it next year.

From: Columbia Tribune

AT&T Plays Hardball with ‘Astroturf’

February 27, 2007
By J. Scott Christianson

Tomorrow the House Special Committee on Utilities will consider SB 284, the Missouri Video Franchise Bill. I wrote Feb. 6 that SB 284 is a bad bill. It would reduce public oversight of the cable companies that use public easements, it would essentially eliminate local PEG (public, education and government) channels, it would allow telecom companies to cherry-pick high-profit customers, and it would reduce the ability of government to audit those companies for compliance with the law.

from: PR Newswire

Group Calls on Speaker Nunez to Fix Video Franchise Law After PUC Rejects Oversight Role, Consumer Protections

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a
perfunctory vote Thursday, the state Public Utilities Commission rejected the protests of California cities and consumer groups, deciding against any direct oversight of the state's new statewide video-service franchises for phone and cable companies. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights called on Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to amend the law to provide the nondiscrimination and other protections that he said would be guaranteed.

from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

AT&T challenges cable TV, satellite
Internet-based U-verse won't pay communities franchise fees

By DORIS HAJEWSKI
dhajewski@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Feb. 28, 2007

AT&T is launching its Internet-based television service to compete with cable and satellite offerings in the five-county metropolitan Milwaukee area, and it is choosing not to pay municipalities for franchising rights or giving them any oversight, as cable companies do.

from: The Business Journal

AT&T launches Internet television in Milwaukee

The Business Journal of Milwaukee - 8:35 AM CST Wednesday, February 28, 2007
by Rachel McCormick-Jennings

AT&T Wisconsin has begun installing and providing its new Internet television product, U-Verse, in the Milwaukee market, despite a federal lawsuit filed by the city challenging the service's implementation here.

from: SF Gate

AT&T's TV alternative
After some delays, company says it's ramping up its U-verse service

Ryan Kim, Chronicle Staff Writer

Monday, February 26, 2007

It's been two months since AT&T last announced new markets for its cablelike television service called U-verse.

AT&T: 'How You are Delivered to U-verse' informational brochure.

We've received this 'corrected version' of one of AT&T's explanatory brochures on how their new U-verse system really works. It all makes sense now . . .

Download PDF

enjoy.