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from: Knox News

AT&T wins over Hamilton County

In advance of the next legislative session, AT&T representatives have been working hard to convince local governments across Tennessee that its statewide video-services franchising proposal won't mean fewer fees and less control for cities and counties.

from: OakRidger

AT&T still wants statewide franchises

By: John Huotari | John.huotari@oakridger.com

AT&T is still pursuing legislation that would allow a statewide franchise for video services that could compete with cable television.

If approved, the legislation would keep the giant phone and communications company from having to negotiate individual franchise rights with more than 300 local governments, AT&T officials said.

from: Jackson Sun

AT&T seeks state bill
Legislation would create franchising agreement

By NED B. HUNTER
nhunter@jacksonsun.com

Proponents of a state bill that would create a single franchising agreement with AT&T and all local communities will attempt to get the legislation passed when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.

from: KnoxNews

AT&T vs. the Cable Industry

From Knoxville News Sentinel, November 9, 2007
By Andrew Eder

Tennessee’s telecommunications heavyweights are gearing up for round two of the bout over competition in the TV market that began in the last state legislative session.

from: chattanoogan.com

Tennessee Getting Wired For The Future

by Drew Ruble
posted November 4, 2007

The last thing a person would expect to find after pushing through the solid brass doors of the nearly Century-old neoclassical Giles County courthouse on the historic downtown Pulaski square is a high tech communications nerve center resembling something out of a futuristic Hollywood movie. But inside, beneath the contemporary offices of “PES Energize,” the telecommunications services arm of local utility Pulaski Electric Service, which is headquartered there, lies a state-of-the-art data center housed within a tornado-proof bunker with fully redundant systems ready to support any size off-site data storage need. It’s also the focal point of a publicly-owned and operated $8.2 million fiber-optic network providing high speed Internet access and other telecom services through pieces of glass cable weaving like a piece of spaghetti to every home, business, factory and school in Pulaski, population 7,875.

from: Business Tennessee

Fiber Optic Nerve

November 2, 2007
By Drew Ruble

The last thing a person would expect to find after pushing through the solid brass doors of the nearly century-old neoclassical Giles County courthouse on the historic downtown Pulaski square is a high-tech communications nerve center.

From: Tennessean

Should AT&T Be Able to Receive a Statewide Video Franchise?

October 25, 2007

Should AT&T be allowed to rewrite Tennessee law? No.

Here’s one reason, based on legislation AT&T offered this year, legislation in other states and reports from other states: Many Tennessee cities and towns have at least one public, educational or governmental (PEG) access channel. There are thousands of PEG channels across America. Very nearly every version of AT&T legislation offered or passed in other states does violence to those channels.

from: Tennessean

AT&T Wants a Dodge Despite Allowances for Franchising in Tennessee

October 26, 2007
By Stacey Briggs

Cities and counties across Tennessee, particularly Nashville, have rolled out the red carpet for AT&T, inviting the company to begin the application process for a local franchise to provide competitive television services in this market.

Note: Tennessee faces another round of industry lobbying and propaganda.

from: The Tennessean

Franchise reform works in other states
Thursday, 10/25/07

By GREGG MORTON

I enjoy a good debate, and the Tennessee General Assembly has participated in a lively debate on the future of consumer access to advanced communication services in our state.

from: Tennessean

Consumers have best chance with statewide video franchise
Today's Topic: Sabers rattle over video rights
Thursday, 10/25/07

Our View

As long as Tennessee legislators focus on what's best for consumers, they will be on the right track if and when a renewed battle between AT&T and cable operators erupts next year.