AT&T ended an IPTV dispute with Milwaukee, for now anyway, with a...
AT&T ended an IPTV dispute with Milwaukee, for now anyway, with a deal for the Bell to sell U-verse service there. A 3-year “interim operating agreement” requires AT&T to pay a 5% video franchise fee and 2% public access…
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channel tax, said Vincent Moschella, deputy city attorney. The deal was approved April 17 by the city’s legislative body, the common council, Moshella told us. He said Milwaukee agreed to put a lawsuit against AT&T on hold pending the outcome on a statewide franchise bill (SB 107) set for Senate debate (CD May 15 p3). The legislation, passed by the House, would let cable operators and new video entrants including AT&T apply for statewide franchises. It doesn’t make financial sense to pursue the lawsuit -- filed last year in the U.S. Dist. Court, Milwaukee -- while legislators consider a law that would take away municipalities’ right to set video contracts, he said: “We just told the judge we'd all like to wait.” AT&T’s deal with the city has a provision letting either side opt out of if it’s made moot by changes in state or federal law or a pending court appeal of FCC franchising rules, he said (See separate report in this issue.) An AT&T official confirmed the city has an agreement with Milwaukee, but couldn’t provide further details on the deal right away.