Charlie Smyth Urbana City Council Ward 1	email: csmyth at charliesmyth.org phone: 367-2813 805 S. Coler, Urbana, IL 61801

AT&T U-Verse Information

We (Charlie and Brandon) met with a representative of AT&T from Joliet, John Quinn (no relation to the new Gov.), to talk about AT&T's upcoming offering. Essentially, this will be a service similar to Comcast in that Comcast now offers phone service and so AT&T will offer TV. This expanded service has a planned July 2009 startup though not all of the community will be covered at the beginning. Further expansion will occur over the next couple years.

As you all know, AT&T has been building a fiber backbone to supplement it's copper wire system. All of the services that AT&T will offer will be based on Internet Protocol (IP) delivered from these fiber nodes (the so called VRAD boxes) to homes on existing copper wire (though very new areas may have fiber all the way to the home). The goal is to have fiber within 3000 feet of homes in the Urbana-Champaign area; 5000 feet max. This will allow current DSL services to expand both in terms of area covered and speeds (the maximum speeds will now be more like 18mbs instead of the current 6 or 9 max).

The TV services are very similar to those available from the current cable provider except there is no "basic" service. Using Indianapolis as an example, there are 4 or 5 packages plus a sports package plus a Spanish language package, and a premium/a la carte selection resulting in nearly 500 channels. They will also offer combination packages that include phone and cell phone services. All local channels and the various public access channels are provided in all packages. We suggested that they provide a basic level of service comparable to Comcast's to better match Comcast and to help bridge the digital divide.

The technology involves a set top box for each TV to be connected. Essentially, you need a box to convert  the IP to video signal and select the channel desired. Included will be an Emergency Alert System and access to a number of online services such as Yahoo! Web, Flickr Online, Yahoo Games, and Yellow Pages. They also offer a Total Home DVR service, Picture in Picture, and Advanced Search.

This AT&T offering is based on a State of Illinois issued Franchise. We have no local control or say in how services are provided. There are basic provisions in the state law that provide for them to match the locally negotiated franchise agreement with cable (hence they have to pay the same additional fees that Comcast customers pay), to broadcast any pubic access channels, and to provide coverage to at least 30% of lower income neighborhoods. It is our intention to follow expansion and encourage coverage to all of the community as well as under served areas that are just outside city limits.

As AT&T gets closer to going live with this service, expect to see advertisements and door to door leaf letting.