AT&T high-speed Internet access coming next year

Business and town buildings first in line, residential
customers to follow
by COREY YOUNG – Staff Writer
High Speed Internet service is coming to businesses and public
offices in Windsor next year.
Under an agreement with AT&T-Comcast, the new company formed
by the billion-dollar merger of AT&T and Comcast Corporation,
commercial cable TV customers will be offered the cable modem
service in 2003.
Town Hall, the senior and community centers and other public
buildings will also be connected to high speed service, beginning
in February. Local schools and the Santa Rosa Junior College
training center on Skylane Boulevard could also choose to subscribe
to the service, said Assistant Town Manager Matt Mullan.
The town has wanted cable modem service since 1999, he said.
“The council considered this to be an economic development tool”
to attract businesses to Windsor, said Mullan. However, a
disagreement with AT&T over the details of its franchise
agreement with Windsor delayed the service, he said.
In recent months, AT&T sought town approval for its merger
with Comcast, and the council pushed for the company to provide the
high speed service.
After negotiating with the town on an option for a different
network, the newly merged AT&T-Comcast ultimately decided to
offer the original cable modem service to business customers.
“After the merger, they were willing to perform under the
requirements of the franchise agreement,” said Mullan.
The first phase of the agreement calls for town buildings,
including town hall, the fire station and public works building, to
be connected.
In the second phase, existing cable TV business customers will
be offered the high speed service. Eventually, the company will
make the service available to all businesses throughout the town,
said Mullan.
“Our hope is they will market it and the service level will be
similar to other providers,” said Mullan. “Basically it represents
competition. We’re pleased that they’re finally offering it.”