U-Verse expected in 18-24 months

• By CHRIS GAUTREAU
• Advocate business writer
• Published: Apr 23, 2008 - Page: 1D - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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AT&T could begin delivering U-Verse, its fiber-optic cable TV, telephone and high-speed Internet service, to its first Baton Rouge subscribers within the next 18-24 months, William Oliver, president of the company’s Louisiana operations said Tuesday.

Prices will range from $44 to $154, Oliver said, depending on which combination and level of services are chosen.

Though he declined to provide other details, citing competitive reasons, Oliver’s comments Tuesday were the first such details released publicly since late last month. That’s when the Metro Council unanimously approved an agreement with AT&T, patterned after one with Cox Communications.

The city-parish gets 5 percent of AT&T’s gross revenue from subscription fees. The city also gets 0.5 percent of gross revenue to support the cost of building and operating the city-parish’s public, educational and governmental channels.

U-Verse uses a combination of fiber-optic cabling and copper telephone wire to deliver its various products in a process known as Internet protocol.

Available in about 23 U.S. markets, U-Verse touts numerous amenities such as 40 high-definition channels, the ability to digitally record up to four channels simultaneously and Web-based access to digitally recorded programming.

Oliver said U-Verse will compete head-to-head with Cox Communications, Eatel, local satellite companies and other providers.

“We think Internet protocol is a better product,” Oliver said. “We think we have great service. We think the consumer will really like what we’re going to bring.”

AT&T’s agreement with the city-parish was its first with a Louisiana municipality.

The company previously has said it plans to pursue similar agreements with New Orleans and other cities with a home rule charter.
Oliver said Tuesday that the AT&T is not negotiating with any other Louisiana municipality.

“We certainly have our crosshairs on a couple of locations,” he said, though he declined to discuss specifics.

His comments were at the State Capitol, where AT&T is promoting a pair of measures, House Bill 1009 and Senate Bill 422, that would allow similar companies to obtain a statewide franchise.

Oliver called the measure the cornerstone of AT&T’s $400 million plan to deploy its technology throughout the state.