AT&T's U-verse roll-out continues with a $100 million expansion in Nevada. The telecom giant issued a statement to that effect last week that also lauded the statewide video franchising bill passed by the Nevada legislature in early June. Assembly Bill 526 will allow AT&T to bypass the process of securing perhaps hundreds of municipal franchise agreements.
At least a dozen states have passed such bills, and while AT&T contends that U-verse is not subject to video franchising rules, roll outs are following state legislation. North Carolina also recently passed statewide franchise legislation, and AT&T followed with a commitment to invest $350 million there.
AT&T announced its $4.6 billion IPTV initiative in early 2006, with a goal of reaching 19 million homes in 41 markets within two-and-a-half years. At the mid-point of 2006, the telco had reached around 51,000 subs.
For More:
- The Nevada investment press release is here
- The North Carolina investment press release is here
- A piece in the Nevada Appeal that illustrates why municipalities oppose sweeping franchise legislation is here
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