The state franchising battle in the state of Tennessee is starting to gear up between AT&T and the Tennessee Cable Telecommunications Association, according to published reports.
The legislature is not scheduled to be back in session until next month, at which time it will consider whether to grant AT&T statewide video franchises instead of making the company earn each franchises on a city-by-city basis.
Cable representatives were able to fend off a statewide franchising proposal that was backed by AT&T earlier this year.
The current dustup between AT&T and the Tennessee Cable Telecommunications Association revolves around statements made recently by AT&T’s Gregg Morton, who has made speeches where he said the incumbent providers were impeding advertising by AT&T and its supporting groups.
Tennessee Cable Telecommunications Association president Stacey Briggs denied AT&T’s claims via a letter that was sent to the media and Morton.
Lobbying expenses incurred by AT&T and the cable television industry reached the $11 million plateau this year, according to reports filed with the Tennessee Ethics Commission by major participants.
