AT&T today received a statewide video franchise in California, the second one to be awarded since that state passed its video franchise reform law, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2007.

“The CPUC's approval of our application brings Californians one step
closer to finally having a real choice to cable TV,” said Ken McNeely, President, AT&T California. “After more than 40 years of the status quo, Californians are now beginning to see the benefits of a competitive marketplace for both TV/video and other broadband services.”

McNeely also said AT&T would start rolling out its IPTV service “in
cities throughout the state as soon as possible.”

AT&T has deployed IPTV in California cities already, including the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and in parts of the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara MSA.