Tuesday, April 24, 2007

More Giant Boxes in Brea?

Article - News - Time Warner vs. AT&T:

"There will need to be about one box – which is about the size of a refrigerator – for every 300 homes. Currently there are about 50 locations targeted for the boxes with more to come.

'They will be placing those in various places throughout the city near existing telephone cabinets,' Matz said. 'Of course we are concerned about making as little impact visually as possible.' "

Monday, April 23, 2007

Wheeling Countryside :: News :: Wheeling halts AT&T's TV boxes

Wheeling Countryside :: News :: Wheeling halts AT&T's TV boxes: "Wheeling halts AT&T's TV boxes
April 19, 2007

By CASEY MOFFITT Staff Writer

AT&T will not be allowed to install any more utility boxes to provide television service to Wheeling residents until the company and village officials work out an agreement that explains the rights and responsibilities of both sides. "

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Lodi residents may lose yard space to AT&T cabinets


Julie and Sean Whiteley have a nickname for the hulking gray box in the front yard of their Grand Fir Drive home. But it's not an affectionate one.

"We call it 'the refrigerator,' " Julie Whiteley said.
Read all about it here.

Costa Mesa City Council: Big Boxes Need CEQA Review!

The City of Costa Mesa reviewed a proposal from their staff and legal counsel at their mid-January meeting. The proposed requirements include California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, notification to residents within 100 feet, and assurances that the structures will conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act among other things.

For example:

“… Where cabinets are proposed on two-lane residential streets, or on collector streets within residential areas, the maximum cabinet height shall be 48” or less without exception.”

Full text can be found

Aliso Viejo Residents: Huge AT&T Boxes Bad News for Property Values

Nearly 79% of the residents of Aliso Viejo believe having refrigerator-sized AT&T boxes near their homes or along their sidewalks will have a negative effect on their property values according to a recent survey.

Amazingly, 97% of those surveyed had no idea of AT&T’s plans to put more than 100 clusters of these huge boxes throughout Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel.

Mission Viejo to AT&T: "BURY THE BOXES!"

At the March 19, 2007 meeting of the Mission Viejo City Council, the Council heard a presentation from Jonathan L. Kramer, Esq, a telecommunications consultant, about AT&T's plans to put huge boxes all over Southern California. After hearing from Mr. Kramer and AT&T's representative, the Council voted to amend an ordinance that regulates telecom in the city. Read the minutes of the meeting here.

"By consensus, the City Council directed that any and all equipment boxes installed in Mission
Viejo are placed underground."

Article - News - Time Warner vs. AT&T

Article - News - Time Warner vs. AT&T: "There will need to be about one box – which is about the size of a refrigerator – for every 300 homes. Currently there are about 50 locations targeted for the boxes with more to come.

'They will be placing those in various places throughout the city near existing telephone cabinets,' Matz said. 'Of course we are concerned about making as little impact visually as possible.' "

AT&T U-verse TV Targets L.A.

Multichannel News Print Page: "AT&T U-verse TV Targets L.A.
Time Warner Cable Troubled in Los Angeles Market
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 4/18/2007 3:17:00 PM

AT&T plans to launch television service in the Los Angeles area “in the coming weeks,” hoping to poach customers from the Time Warner Cable system there that has been wrestling with customer-service problems.

The telco declined to provide more details about when and where it will roll out U-verse TV in the L.A. market. Last month, AT&T won a statewide franchise from California to offer video services. Meanwhile, Verizon Communications is marketing FiOS TV in 29 communities in Southern California."

Free Press : Naperville Tries to Box AT&T into a Corner

Free Press : Naperville Tries to Box AT&T into a Corner: "Naperville Tries to Box AT&T into a Corner
From Daily Herald, March 1, 2007
By Jake Griffin

Taking a cue from Itasca, Naperville leaders are placing giant boxes around the city to show residents what the landscape could look like if the state legislature takes away a municipality’s right to regulate cable franchise agreements.

Telecommunications giant AT&T is pushing for the change and now municipalities are pushing back.

Naperville announced Wednesday it will be distributing large yellow boxes around the city to demonstrate the size of AT&T’s proposed junction boxes for its new video service. Itasca officials did the same a few days ago, only they were pink in color. The boxes are about 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide.

Each box in Naperville is also emblazoned with: “This big ugly box brought to you by AT&T Project Lightspeed in the name of competition.”"