Officials appeal for high-speed Internet

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — City Council members are appealing to cable television companies to bring high-speed Internet services to some areas now doing without it.

But they have had no luck.

Two subdivisions in northwestern Cleveland have more than 100 homes seeking high-speed Internet service.

Charter Communications, which has the cable television franchise for Cleveland, does not provide the service to the neighborhoods.

Councilman Bill Estes asked city staff Monday to look into negotiating high-speed Internet services into the franchise agreement.

“If AT&T won’t come in, we need to ask that,” Mr. Estes said.

AT&T won state legislative approval last year for a statewide franchise.

“Last year we worried they would not provide services to the poor,” Mr. Estes said. “They won’t even consider the rich.”

“I would like to see if there is any wiggle room with Charter,” he said.

Mayor Tom Rowland and Councilman Avery Johnson said they have appealed for help from the Tennessee Regulatory Authority. But the TRA’s utilities division chief, Darlene Standley, wrote a letter earlier this month to the city that the authority does not regulate high-speed Internet services. That’s left to the Federal Communications Commission.

AT&T has no plans to extend its digital service lines (or high-speed Internet) to the two communities, Ms. Standley wrote. But, she wrote, AT&T plans to begin offering its U-Verse service beginning in August to some areas of Cleveland. That service will include both cable TV and Internet.

“I was disappointed with that letter,” Mr. Rowland said. “And I am disappointed with AT&T after they pleaded to get a franchise for all of Tennessee and now they refuse to build out.”

No one with AT&T could be reached Monday evening for comment.