Milwaukee sued AT&T, claiming it installed equipment for its U-ve...
Milwaukee sued AT&T, claiming it installed equipment for its U-verse IPTV service without a franchise. The city said it agreed to AT&T requests for zoning variances to build an antenna and install underground cable and related “cabinets” aboveground if…
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the company got a franchise before selling video. AT&T told the city it planned to start selling U- verse on or after Dec. 16 without getting a franchise because IPTV isn’t a cable service, said the suit, filed Wed. in U.S. Dist. Court, Milwaukee. The city had been negotiating an “interim agreement” on U-verse with AT&T but planned to sue if the company sold video without some form of approval, said city attorney Grant Langley. Because of the talks, the city decided not to request a court injunction to keep AT&T from selling IPTV there, Langley told us: “We hope that we can reach an interim agreement with them,” but if not, “it may become necessary at some time for us to seek a preliminary injunction.” As part of selling IPTV in Milwaukee, AT&T is willing to pay a 5% tax on video revenue, “assist” public access channels and take other measures, said a spokesman. The company has agreements from 20 other cities to sell video, he said. - JM