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New Connecticut Law Enables Video Choice; Takes Effect Today

Posted on: Monday, 1 October 2007, 12:00 CDT

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Beginning today, Connecticut consumers will benefit from a new law that enables more choices for video entertainment. AT&T Inc. today submitted an application to the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control to become a Certified Competitive Video Provider. Further demonstrating its commitment to bringing the benefits of video choice to more consumers in the state, the company also announced that AT&T U-verse(SM) TV and Internet services are now available to more than 135,000 homes in Connecticut in parts of 40 cities and towns.

Passed overwhelmingly by the Connecticut General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Jodi Rell during the summer, the law -- An Act Concerning Certified Competitive Video Service -- lays out a series of consumer-friendly requirements that will be followed by any company wanting to enter the marketplace to compete with incumbent cable providers. The law provides the regulatory clarity needed for AT&T to continue its previously announced $336 million network investment and bring new choice to cable customers.

AT&T has been offering a compelling, new video service -- U-verse TV -- in Connecticut since December 2006 under the then-current regulatory framework. Now that AT&T has filed its application, the process under the new law puts the DPUC in charge of verifying that the application is complete and issuing a license within 45 days.

"When a real choice for communications and entertainment services exists in the marketplace, lower prices and better customer service follow for consumers -- just look at voice or high speed Internet services," said Ramona Carlow, AT&T state president overseeing regulatory and external affairs. "The law taking effect today provides relief to Connecticut customers who are fed up with cable prices that rose year after year in the absence of competition. Connecticut residents should thank the Connecticut General Assembly, led by Energy and Technology Committee co-chairs Senator John Fonfara and Representative Steve Fontana, as well as Governor Rell, for their vision, foresight and leadership in bringing video choice to the state."

Since it was first launched in Connecticut last December in parts of nine cities and towns, AT&T U-verse has been changing the television experience in Connecticut -- in a big way. More than 135,000 Connecticut homes can now choose AT&T U-verse TV, which offers a range of packages, hundreds of channels, unmatched features, and competitive prices that start as low as $44, depending on the television and Internet packages selected. The company plans to continue expanding the reach of this unique service.

"AT&T U-verse is bringing a new and exciting video choice to more than 135,000 Connecticut consumers today, and we're committed to delivering the benefits of AT&T U-verse to even more residents across the state," said Chad Townes, AT&T vice president and general manager for Connecticut. "We are being welcomed with open arms around the state when residents learn that they are going to have a choice. Once potential customers learn about the compelling prices and robust features of our service, more often than not, they're eager to sign up."

To meet the continued expansion of the service and customer demand, AT&T will have approximately 240 U-verse installation technicians employed in Connecticut by the end of 2007. All AT&T U-verse customers receive professional installation from an AT&T technician, and the company is averaging more than 7,000 nationwide U-verse installations each week.

Interested applicants can go to http://www.att.com/careers for more information.

AT&T is the only national provider to offer a 100 percent Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV) service, making U-verse TV one of the most advanced television offerings available anywhere. The service recently reached the milestone of more than 100,000 customers, and AT&T U-verse has been recognized as the 2007 Best Business Strategy by industry analyst firm Stratecast.

The deployment of next-generation video services, including AT&T U-verse TV and AT&T Homezone(SM), reflects AT&T's strategy to become customers' preferred communications and entertainment provider and to deliver a video solution through its traditional footprint that provides greater value, flexibility and simplicity than competitors' offerings.

Customers seeking additional information on AT&T U-verse -- or to find out whether the service is available in their area -- can visit http://uverse.att.com/.

Note: This AT&T release and other news announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/.

(C) 2007 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved. AT&T and the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Knowledge Ventures. For more information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at http://www.att.com/newsroom.

AT&T Inc.

CONTACT: Seth Bloom of AT&T Inc., +1-203-710-5100, sbloom@attnews.us

Web site: http://www.att.com/http://uverse.att.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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