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December 17, 2008

AT&T adding new service to Vinemont

By Tiffany Green

STAFF WRITER

VINEMONT — The Vinemont Town Council passed a motion to allow AT&T; to bring its new video service to South Vinemont.

“We are offering an exciting and fun new service we want to roll out to the citizens of South Vinemont,” said Gary Pledger, chief of staff at AT&T.;

AT&T; will introduce U-Verse to customers soon, said Pledger. U-Verse is a combined television, Internet and voice system that will allow users to receive video on demand and access to over 300 high definition channels, Pledger said.

“We want to be a little bit different,” Pledger said.

“Customers are telling us that’s what they really want,” he said. “You can use AT&T; cell phones or computers to tell your DVR at your house you want certain programs recorded, and it will record.”

The agreement between the town of South Vinemont and AT&T; will guarantee that AT&T; will pay fees and the town will not be disadvantaged from a revenue standpoint, he said.

“You’re going to see an improvement,” he said.

Town attorney Roy Williams said he thought the agreement was a good one and advised the council to adopt the agreement.

“The agreement is better than the current contract with the county,” Williams said. “This one is more encompassing and specific.”

The agreement will not restrict any other cable service providers from bringing their services to the area.

“The other municipalities liked this contract very much,” said Melba Patton, Vinemont mayor.

Williams said the Supreme Court recently sided with the Federal Communications Commission which said companies cannot be forced to service all areas, but AT&T; has agreed to service areas within 125 feet of a pole.

The company has not yet set a date for when the system will be available, but Pledger said AT&T; hopes to have it soon.

“It’s in our best interest to get it rolled out as fast as possible,” Pledger said.

The council also discussed plans for the upcoming municipal park.

Mike Graves, the town’s public works official, said plans are moving along. He said requests for qualifications have been submitted by several engineers, but the council has not yet decided on one.

They want to travel to other parks to review the work of the companies before they decide on which company they will chose.

Graves also gave an update on the community storm shelter.

“We are waiting on the natural gas for generators. When that’s done, we will be able to open them up,” he said.



In other business the council:

‰ Approved the bid from DJ Smithson to sell him the small building owned by the town for $176.

‰ Will allow the Cullman County Rescue Squad to go door-to-door between the hours of 8 a.m until 7 p.m. to solicit people for pictures to be taken by Olan Mills as a fundraiser for the squad.



‰ Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 221.

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