The Nashville Metro Council voiced approval for a new law that enables Google to deploy its gigabit fiber technology on the city's utility poles, despite strong opposition from rivals AT&T and Comcast.
Regardless of how quick broadband internet might be, Google might see a legal court coming its way even faster.
Google argues that the Council's approval will make way for a fast installment process. The new legislation should allow contractors to make room for their cable by moving every existing line, be it phone, cable, internet or electric, from the metropolitan utility poles. The previous law stated that when new lines are added, existing ones can only be moved by their owners.
Not all data carriers are happy with the new rules.
AT&T, for example, complains that the modification is going to mess up its contracts with unionized workers. The company further added that governance over their poles stays with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and not the Metro Council. This argument was validated by the attorney representing the Council.
Comcast also voiced its concern with the new policy, and said that it may yield service disruptions and worker safety issues.
AT&T touted that should the Council turn the bill into a law, the carrier will sue the authorities. The company already has a precedent, as it sued Louisville, Kentucky, in the wake of the city's council passing legislation that aids Google in its gigabit infrastructure deployment.
Megan Barry, the mayor of Nashville, avoided taking sides during the debate, but confirmed that she will sign the new legislation. In a statement, she acknowledged that the dispute could lead to court action, but expressed her hopes for a quick settling of the conflict.
The legislation, known to most as "One Touch Make Ready," was ratified on a voice vote.
"[The law is] a common-sense way of speeding up the deployment of high-speed internet throughout Davidson County," Barry said.
The mayor complained that AT&T's potential legal action will lead to delayed implementation of the law, affecting Nashville consumers. Barry notes that she urged fiber providers to cooperate in order to arrive at a common solution, but the big tech names could not strike an accord.
On Tuesday, Sept. 20, an attempt to defer the bill and a resolution that was backed by AT&T and Comcast were rejected by the Nashville Metro Council.
"We are disappointed in the outcome of today's vote," says Sara Jo Walker, Comcast's head of PR.
