Irvine and AT&T U-verse TV remain at impasse
July 9th, 2009, 6:29 pm · 14 Comments · posted by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
Readers: This is part of an ongoing series of updates on what happened to the AT&T U-verse rollout in Orange County. So keep checking back!
Finding out exactly why AT&T’s U-verse TV and speedy Internet service hit a roadblock in several Orange County cities may be more difficult than moving to a town that offers the service.
After AT&T said earlier this week that it stopped pursuing permits in seven Orange County cities – Cypress, Dana Point, Irvine, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, San Clemente and Tustin – because it kept getting rejected, I decided to check with each city to find out what gives. Next stop: Irvine.
The city had me go through Craig Reem, its director of public affairs and communications. Via e-mail.
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Irvine happens to be one of the cities that has already let some U-verse through. Some new neighborhoods even got the superior “Fiber to the Home” treatment, which allows AT&T to offer TV and Internet over fiber-optic technology all the way to a person’s house (most U-verse users have what I call “Fiber to the Sidewalk,” which is cheaper for AT&T since it runs fiber to a box on the sidewalk and copper wires to the user’s home).
But availability of the alternative TV service in Irvine is spotty.
Reem cited the same reason for U-verse stagnation that I’ve heard from other cities: The city wants those big boxes built underground. But it appears the city is willing to be somewhat flexible — it already has “more than 200 boxes in the public right-of-way in the city of Irvine,” Reem said.
Yes, we’re going in circles here.
Cities are saying they haven’t rejected AT&T. They’re waiting to hear AT&T response to their requirements.
But AT&T is telling me that it’s repeatedly explained its case with the cities as to why the equipment needs to be above ground (to maintain and protect the electronics inside), why it doesn’t interfere with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements (AT&T isn’t putting these in the middle of sidewalks) and why it is California Environmental Quality Act friendly (U-verse is in 220 communities in California who didn’t have a problem).
Hence, an exasperated AT&T has walked away.
Obviously, there’s some disconnect between the two. And unfortunately for consumers seeking a TV alternative, this means no more new U-verse expansion in those cities.
Reem does add that if Irvine residents want their opinions heard, they can comment during any public-comment portion of weekly City Council meetings, or make an appointment to talk to Mayor Sukhee Kang, who provides a “Meet the Mayor” one-on-one meeting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays. Irvine residents can call 949.724-6233 to make an appointment.
Previous U-Verse news:
Check out the Gadgetress Guide to local TV services
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I’m in one of the new Irvine neighborhoods that offers U-Verse, and I think it’s the fiber-to-the-home kind, since it’s newer construction and there are no boxes nearby. In fact, I just got a U-Verse mailer today….6 months for $90/mo. for 70 channels, 3MB Internet and phone. HD is $10 extra and the whole package goes up 25% after 6 months. I’ve got faster Internet and more channels from Cox for about the same as AT&T’s regular price. Not worth switching.
pseudonym = Cox plant!
We need more alternatives, it means more competition which is great for consumers. I’m glad that the cable company is getting challenged, whether it is AT&T or satellite TV services, etc.
Can you start compiling a list of links, city by city, with the status? It seems nobody has done that so far, and it would be nice to find out.
Am working on it!
pseudonym, if you had fiber straight to your home, you would certainly notice faster internet.
Does anyone know if any more of the AT&T boxes have exploded or caught fire recently? They had a problem with their giant uverse boxes blowing up or catching fire for a while. That would make ME glad that Irvine and the other cities are wanting them to put those things underground!
uverse is very bad for cox, thats why it wont happen without a fight
Cox is just fine with me. No major problems so far, especially with the internet and telephone. As for TV, I’d like to know what AT&T or any of the other competitors offer that Cox doesn’t.
I just moved in to a Irvine Company apartment in less than 1 month ago and signed up with Cox internet and Cable. Since then, I had 3 cable boxes and 2 service visits. Currently my HDTV service is still down. They’re sending a senior technician over tomorrow. I’ll see what happens and be prepared to move to DirectTV. (uVerse and Fios are both not available)
Jousting with AT&T is simply pretense to protect COX. COX has local Irvine politicians in their back pocket.
BTW, my friends have U-Verse and it rocks. Great HD content; reliable, and available in every room. Sadly, Irvine will protect COX at any cost.
U-Verse has a DVR that can record 4 shows at once and you can access it from other rooms in your house. We currently have Cox and pay for 2 DVR’s limited access to the room it is in. We also pay considerably more for service than U-Verse is advertising. Cox should step up to the plate and offer these services to their existing customers so we would not need alternatives.
Last year AT&T sued Mission Viejo for being over-restrictive in regulating U-Verse boxes, citing the Federal Telecommunications Act . A settlement was reached after a few months. AT&T will probably sue other cities or try to use the Mission Viejo agreement as a template for other resistent cities,
I TOTALLY AGREE! There is something rotten in Denmark, I mean, Irvine! The Irvine politicians are obviously protecting Cox by making rediculous demands of AT&T. I do hope that AT&T sues Irvine – we need an alternative to Cox and their monopoly! ARRRGH! It makes me so mad! Citizens – we need to unite and do something about this – it just isn’t right!