Cox Sues Tempe Over Plans for Google Fiber Back in August we noted that Google Fiber was laying the preliminary groundwork to bring ultra-fast gigabit broadband service to Tempe. As with previous Google Fiber candidate cities, Google's preliminary arrangement with the city simply struck the groundwork for potential placement of fiber huts, while ensuring that Tempe adhered to Google's fiber-ready checklist. As noted at the time, the threat of potential competition outraged local incumbent Cox Communications.

"It's unfortunate that the Tempe City Council is willing to favor a new entrant into the market, and in doing so appears to have violated federal and state law," complained Cox to local media outlets (they failed to specify precisely which laws). "The waivers granted by the City also give Google Fiber a free pass on obligations that affect public safety; such as emergency alert messaging and protection of subscriber privacy." Cox has since followed its complaining up with a shiny new lawsuit against the city, which claims Tempe violated federal law "by establishing a discriminatory regulatory framework" that exempts Google from obligations imposed on similar companies. "Tempe’s bald assertion that Google Fiber is not a cable operator is incorrect," Cox argued in the lawsuit (pdf). "And based on this incorrect assertion, Tempe’s regulatory scheme allows Google Fiber to provide video programming service to subscribers in Tempe under terms and conditions that are far more favorable and far less burdensome than those applicable to Cox and other cable operators, even though Cox and Google Fiber offer video services that are legally indistinguishable." For its part, Tempe states the agreement fully complies with the law. Earlier reports in the Arizona Republic indicate that when Google struck the deal, it opened the door to incumbents renegotiating their own deals with the city. Cox, apparently, would prefer to fire up the lawyers first.







News Jump Charter Relaunches Free 60-day Internet And Wi-Fi Offer; NCTA: FCC Should Stick With 25/3 Speed Threshold; + more news Comcast Shuts Off Internet for Subs Who Were Sold Service Illegally; AT&T, Verizon Team To Stop T-Mobile 5G; + more news California Defends Its Net Neutrality Law; AT&T's Traffic Up 20% Despite Data Traffic Actually Being Down; + more news Are The Comcast-Charter X1 Talks Dead In The Water?; AT&T May Offer Phone Plans With Ads For Discounts; + more news Europe's Top Court: Net Neutrality Rules Bar Zero Rating; ViacomCBS To Rebrand CBS All Access As Paramount+; + more news Verizon To Buy Reseller TracFone For $7B; 5G Not The Competitive Threat To Cable Many Thought It Would Be; + more news MS.Wants Records From AT&T On $300M Project; Google Fiber Outages In Austin, Houston, Other Texan Cities; + more news States With The Biggest Decreases In Speed; AT&T Hopes You'll Forget Its Fight Against Accurate Maps; + more news AT&T's CEO Has A Familiar $olution To US Broadband Woes; EarthLink Files Suit Against Charter; + more news 5G Doesn't Live Up To Hype, AT&T's 5G Slower Than Its 4G; Cord-Cutting Now In 37% of Broadband Households; + more news ---------------------- this week last week most discussed

Most recommended from 94 comments



karpodiem

Hail to The Victors

Premium Member

join:2008-05-20

Troy, MI 24 recommendations karpodiem Premium Member where's that stock image with the child crying that Karl uses? I think that might be appropriate for this post.

Simba7

I Void Warranties

join:2003-03-24

Fromberg, MT 18.2 1.6

1 edit 11 recommendations Simba7 Member Let the tantrum.. BEGIN!

TIGERON

join:2008-03-11

Boston, MA 11 recommendations TIGERON Member Pathetic A company having a temper tantrum because they are now forced to have real competition.

batterup

I Can Not Tell A Lie.

Premium Member

join:2003-02-06

Netcong, NJ 7 recommendations batterup Premium Member Google is great. Google is setting the bar for new fiber. Verizon wants Google deals for new FiOS. Enjoy.



Google is not a CATV company; these are not the droids you are looking for.