by the Common Council

City attorney's office seeks $100,000 for AT&T lawsuit help

Jan. 2, 2007 -- The city attorney's office is seeking $100,00 to pay an outside law firm to represent the city in its lawsuit alleging AT&T needs a cable television franchise to offer up to 200 channels to subscribers.

The city sued AT&T over the issue last month. To read the suit, click here.

The law firm, Miller & Van Eaton, of Washington, D.C., also would represent the city in "complex negotiations" with AT&T, according to city documents.

"The Miller & Van Eaton firm has extensive experience in federal, state and local matters involving cable television franchising agreements and litigation," according to an analysis by the Common Council's Legislative Research Bureau. The law firm already is participating in negotiations with AT&T that would enable the city to obtain revenue from AT&T for video services the firm provides.

The requested $100,000 "will likely be expended given th ecomplexity of negotiations and litigation," the analysis said.

The issue will be considered Jan. 8 by the council's Judiciary and Legislation Commitee.

AT&T insists its U-Verse service is not a cable service and that the telecom giant does not need cable franchise to offer it.

The existing cable franchise agreement with Time-Warner is expected to provide $3.8 million to the city in 2007.

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