Chattanooga’s political and business elite braved thunder and lightning to attend AT&T’s U-verse launch event Monday afternoon, where Gregg Morton, president of AT&T Tennessee, announced the company’s plans.
The company launched its Internet, TV and voice services in Chattanooga; Cleveland, Tenn.; and Athens, Tenn., and said it would continue to expand rapidly throughout the region with its $400 million investment in the state.
From watching recorded DVR movies on a smartphone to choosing one of up to 30 vantage points to watch the Super Bowl, Mr. Morton outlined an ambitious agenda for U-verse.
The most surprising announcement was a futuristic system that will, for example, enable customers to pick out an item or piece of clothing a sitcom actor is wearing by pointing the remote at it and purchasing it without ever leaving the couch.
“You can click on it, buy it and receive it the next day,” Mr. Morton said.
Bryan Klamer, AT&T’s general manager for home solutions, said installation quality was going to be a key component of the company’s success.
“These are going to be AT&T employees, not contractors and not Jimmy down the street with a ladder on his truck,” he said.
Bob Doak, president of the Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau, said AT&T’s arrival was just the latest in a series of technological breakthroughs for the city.
“What’s amazing about this is the amount of tech that’s come to Chattanooga in the last three months,” he said. “That’s going to position our city as a technology destination.”
AT&T took special pains to thank gathered legislators for their help passing a bill allowing AT&T to compete statewide, with Mr. Morton singling out state Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga.
“The most important thing we can do as legislators is to make sure business can come in here and make money,” Rep. McCormick said. “Our legislation made it more attractive.”