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AT&T to Invest $400M in IP-based TV Services in Tennessee

By Michelle Robart, TMCnet Editor

AT&T (News - Alert) has announced it will offer video services in communities across Tennessee and will invest $400 million during the next several years in fiber network upgrades, further broadband deployment and Internet-based technologies.

 

AT&T’s plans to bring new services to Tennessee consumers, including cutting-edge IP based television, is viewed as a direct result of a new state law that encourages statewide video competition.

 

The new House Bill 1421 was passed by the Tennessee Legislature and signed into law in May by Governor Bredesen.

 

“The Legislature and the governor have created a competitive environment for video services, and consumers are the real winners," said Gregg Morton, president, AT&T Tennessee. "We commend Gov. Bredesen, Speaker Naifeh, Lt. Gov. Ramsey, Comptroller Morgan, Chairman Curtis, Chairman Jones, Rep. McDaniel, Sen. Ketron, Sen. Jackson, Sen. Finney and all of the members of the Tennessee Legislature for their vision."

 

The Competitive Cable and Video Services Act of 2008, HB 1421, brings to consumers a new world of communications and entertainment.HB 1421 will also encourage investment in next-generation broadband network infrastructure and will help bring new technology to Tennessee. On the first day that HB 1421 became effective, AT&T filed its initial application for a state-issued certificate of franchise authority to offer video services in communities across the state.

 

"We look forward to bringing Tennesseans not only choice and competition but also advanced video, voice and Internet service technology," said Morton. "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."

 

AT&T's planned infrastructure and investment will include a new world of communications and entertainment through AT&T U-verse services. AT&T is the only major U.S. provider to offer a 100 percent IP-based television service.

 

Michelle Robart is a Contributing Editor at TMCnet. To read more of her articles please visit her columnist page.

 

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IP stands for Internet Protocol, a data-networking protocol developed throughout the 1980s. It is the established standard protocol for transmitting and receiving data in packets over the Internet. I...more