AT&T Proposal. Do we win, or do we lose?

[stephen davis]

I got this e-mail from Denis Dunn.

[quote]July 13, 2006

Dear Fellow Lakewood Residents and friends,

AT&T has embarked on an exciting endeavor to bring the next generation of telecommunications, broadband, and video technology to communities throughout our local exchange network in 13 states, including Ohio. AT&T plans to invest $4.7 billion in its Project Lightspeed initiative to deliver this new technology to nearly 19 million homes by the end of 2008.

Consumers and local businesses in Lakewood stand to benefit from upgraded communications technology and a new choice for video service. AT&T will provide “switched IPâ€Â

[dl meckes]

Those are good questions.

I'm also wondering about the big green boxes and while I heard (at a council meeting) that the placement of those was going to be worked out in some satisfactory manner, I never heard any details of what the city or AT&T think that means.

One of the things my DH wondered about is whether or not those boxes could be put on rooftops (should building owners be able to come to some sort of deal). We'd negotiate space on our garage roof...

I'm reminded of the fights about cell phone towers and what we have now is fairly unobtrusive.

Will there be full coverage?

Who will maintain the boxes and what happens if there's some sort of shift in technology - will AT&T remove outdated equipment?

I'm not opposed to these companies competing. I just want to know what I might be paying for in my phone bill, cable TV bill, and my tax bill.

Let the games begin. I hope everybody wins.

That pretty much sums up my feeling.

I'm not really interested in arguing the merits of the services that the companies offer, because I think that's a market choice that consumers make.

We have Cox as our cable and internet provider and Sage Telecom for our phones. I also received the email from Denis Dunn. (Disclosure...)

[Kenneth Warren]

Steve:

I also received the e-mail and provided Dennis Dunn with the library director's perspective.

I would expect AT&T to provide Lakewood Public Library with a fiber optic high speed network solution just as Cox Cable is currently obligated to provide through the Institutional Fiber Loop under the current franchise agreement.

Lakewood Public Library uses the I-Net to connect Main Library and Madison Branch.

Previously the library paid $450 per month for a T-1 connection. The I-Net is now free. By using the I-Net the library has been able to add another layer of security for confidential patron data.

While I can only speak directly for Lakewood Public Library, I believe from my work on a previous cable advisory committee that the current I-Net provided by Cox is a critical piece in the IT strategies of schools.

I believe the Lakewood City Schools have invested substantially in the I-Net for various applications.

Bottom line, at least in my perspective as public library director, is that level playing field should mean that AT&T, like Cox, will provide the physical network and bandwidth necessary to continue this level of free and secure networking through the I-Net.

Let’s make certain no unintended consequences and costs accrue to public institutions resulting from the hasty decision-making regarding Project Light Speed.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

[Cox Communications]

I would like to respond and give some perspective from Cox Communications. It is encouraging to see Lakewood residents taking an active role in educating themselves on the issues before City Council votes on the proposed AT&T Video Competition Agreement.

This is not about blocking competition. As I am sure Lakewood residents know, Cox is a pioneer of local competition. Cox urges Lakewood residents to encourage City Council to make sure AT&T can only enter the video arena on a “fair and level playing field.â€Â

[Jeff Endress]

I'd like to talk to Mr. Cox.....just exactly WHO posted the prior message?

Jeff

[Kevin Butler]

City Council will take up this issue at a committee meeting on Monday at 6 p.m. (not 5 p.m. as the original post indicated) at city hall. Your concerns are valid. I encourage everyone to attend.

Kevin Butler
Councilman, Ward 1

[Jim O'Bryan]

I'd like to talk to Mr. Cox.....just exactly WHO posted the prior message?

Jeff

Jeff


This would be a mistake from DL Meckes I believe. Cox Communications like many of our advertisers have signed on the board to take part in some FREE benefits. COX Xommunications should only be able to post in Mainstreet. Three other employees have signed on, and this post should have been through them.

DL will have this straightened out I am sure soon enough.

Denis Dunn is also a member of this Deck and I am sure he will be posting soon.


.

[stephen davis]

I hope a Cox representative steps up to take ownership of that post. It is relevant to the discussion and should stay in the thread.

I welcome comments from Denis Dunn.

[dl meckes]

I'd like to talk to Mr. Cox.....just exactly WHO posted the prior message?

Jeff

Jeff


This would be a mistake from DL Meckes I believe. Cox Communications like many of our advertisers have signed on the board to take part in some FREE benefits. COX Xommunications should only be able to post in Mainstreet. Three other employees have signed on, and this post should have been through them.

DL will have this straightened out I am sure soon enough.

Denis Dunn is also a member of this Deck and I am sure he will be posting soon.

.

The way that the Deck works is that any registered user may post in the General Discussion & other areas.

Lakewood Observer advertisers, such as Cox Communications or AT&T, are asked to post using their business names in the Main Street area only.

Otherwise, we request that an individual representative from our advertisers post in discussion areas.

While I could move the Cox Communications post, it makes more sense to leave it here.

To totally prevent this from happening in the future, I will have to shut the board down and put our individual and business users into different posting groups.

This is an unintended consequence of the growth of the Lakewood Observer and the Observation Deck.

[Mike Deneen]

Like most Observers, I love the fact that we use real names.

However, I have absolutely no objections to businesses posting under their legitimate names.

I actually prefer that the post be registered under "cox communications".

The post reflects the views and opinions of that organization, which is a legitimate local business.

I actually think it would be much more disingenuous for the post to have gone under "Joe Smth" or some other actual Cox employee.

By allowing the post to be under "cox", people understand that the poster has an agenda.

For the record, I love Cox cable and internet service!

[Suzanne Metelko]

Mike,

I'm with you. Not only does Cox have great cable and internet but when something isn't working they have excellent customer service and technical support.

I also appreciate their committment to the community. They have been with Lakewood's not for profits from the beginning. In fact they're one of the few large utilities that joined the Chamber of Commerce and still participates. They show up at events in the community, they contribute to the events and they support groups and initiatives. It's been my experience that it's not just lip service with Cox. And all they're asking for is an even playing field. How can you argue with that?

[DougHuntingdon]

I think we should have an online chat debate between Mr. Dunn and Mr. Cox.

Does the city's agreement with Cox have an expiration date?

Why doesn't the AT&T plan include some kind of internet? If it does, I didn't see it mentioned.

Doug
Logging in from north of Clifton

[Jim O'Bryan]

I think we should have an online chat debate between Mr. Dunn and Mr. Cox.

Doug

Both are members, Denis for a long time. Both have been to the board today many times to read what is posted.

They may post anything of relevance to this board. It is open for .pdf, .mp3, hotlinks, and anything else either company would need to make their point.

I am sure both will be happy to answer any questions needed to be answered.


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[Jeff Endress]

I actually prefer that the post be registered under "cox communications".

Yeah...I understand, its nice to know that the poster is a paid infomercial....but since there is no Mr. Cox, I'd still like to know who
's the talking head...

Walt....

Maybe it's digital Max!

eff

[Mike Deneen]

Suzanne, don't misunderstand.

Just because I am happy with my Cox service doesn't mean that I am against AT&T. In fact, this proposal seems like a good thing.

For the reasons you mentioned, I think Cox will hold up well against the competetion. Plus, I believe (and market forces demand) that prices will likely come down. Friends that move here from Adelphia communities are shocked by the high prices at Cox.

My only concern is that we have the Big Ten Channel in place by August 2007.