AT&T Files For Statewide Video Franchise In Tennessee
Telco Announces Plan To Invest $400 Million In U-verse Throughout Volunteer State
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 7/1/2008 9:01:00 AM MT
AT&T as expected filed an application Tuesday in Tennessee for a statewide certificate of franchise authority to offer video services under a recently passed franchise-reform law. The telco said it plans to invest $400 million in network upgrades to roll out U-verse TV in the Volunteer State.
Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen (pictured) signed the cable franchising bill into law last month after two years of lobbying by AT&T.
The law allows AT&T and other new providers to deploy broadband services in the state 10 days after they make a complete application to the office of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, which oversees utilities in the state.
“We look forward to bringing Tennesseans not only choice and competition but also advanced video, voice and Internet service technology,” AT&T Tennessee president Gregg Morton said, in a statement. "It will take time to enhance our network to offer these exceptional services, but we will move as quickly as possible to compete for Tennessee customers.”
