LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Louisville’s largest cable and internet provider is suing the city for giving other companies what it says is an unfair advantage.
Charter Communications said in a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court that the city’s separate franchise agreements violate the company’s constitutional rights by allowing competitors Google and AT&T to operate under different rules while offering similar services, The Courier-Journal (https://cjky.it/2cQCdgj) reported.
According to the lawsuit, unlike Google, Charter is required to provide free internet and cable to dozens of city buildings and “costly government channels, as well as a studio for public access channels.”
In addition, the lawsuit stated that the city imposes other burdensome regulations that affect Charter’s ability to provide services, such as cable programming, on-demand television and high-speed internet, to customers.
“The current situation is like requiring the University of Louisville to use the NBA 3-point line, while its opponents use the closer college line,” said Mike Pedelty, a Charter spokesman. “More burdensome regulation inevitably means a higher cost to do business and ultimately higher prices for customers. We’re simply asking the court to ensure the equal treatment state and federal law require.”
The move comes months after Charter asked Mayor Greg Fischer to ease the regulations. In a July 28 letter, Charter said there was “no justification for different regulatory treatment.”
Fischer spokesman Chris Poynter declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
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Information from: The Courier-Journal, https://www.courier-journal.com
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