AT&T Conn. Franchise Fight Heads to Court MultiChannel News 7/20/2006 1:55:00 PM
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6355023.html?display=Breaking+News The battle over whether AT&T requires a cable franchise to offer Internet-protocol-TV service in the state of Connecticut is heading for the courtroom. The New England Cable and Telecommunications Association, representing the state's cable operators, filed suit in U.S. District Court in New Haven in an attempt to overturn a decision in June by the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control, AP reported. "If allowed to stand, the DPUC's decision will allow AT&T to become a telecommunications freeloader, serving only the wealthy while avoiding taxes, privacy protections and rules protecting children," NECTA president Paul Cianelli said in a prepared statement that accompanied the lawsuit, AP reported. "The DPUC allows AT&T to be a cable operator without any of the obligations, responsibility or accountability required of other cable providers," Cianelli added. AT&T spokesman Seth Bloom told AP the telco will pay local property and state sales taxes, along with $5 per subscriber to support public-access operations. The telco has said in the past that it will provide "nondiscriminatory access" to video services that will be available to more than 5.5 million low-income households in 41 markets where it is building its video-capable network, according to AP. ================================ George Antunes, Political Science Dept University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204 Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927 antunes at uh dot edu Reply with a "Thank you" if you liked this post. _____________________________ MEDIANEWS mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
