By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

The future of cable television service in Fayette County is now in the hands of communications giant AT&T.

The County Commission last week unanimously approved transfer of the county's franchise agreement from MediaOne to AT&T, acknowledging the recently announced merger of the two firms.

“I'm very confident that AT&T is about doing something about our problems down here,” said Commissioner Greg Dunn after a presentation by AT&T and MediaOne officials.

County officials in recent years have been less than satisfied with MediaOne's handling of local complaints about frequent and prolonged service interruptions.

But with the merger, AT&T hopes to improve things, said Sylvia Anderson, vice president for law and government affairs for AT&T.

In response to complaints, MediaOne officials have assured county leaders that they are working toward replacement of Fayette's antiquated cable system with state-of-the-art technology.

AT&T has promised to complete the upgrade by next November, one month earlier than MediaOne had promised it.

“I understand that there have been problems with the services that have been provided by MediaOne to your constituents,” said Anderson, adding, “I have reviewed each and every complaint.”

Once the upgrade is finished, she said, “You will find service will improve, picture quality will improve and complaints... will go down.”

But she warned that during the construction process, problems may get worse before they get better.

That's fine, said Commissioner Linda Wells, but she challenged the company to make sure people are notified when service will be interrupted.

The company will use door hangers and newsletters to get the word out, said MediaOne vice president Dennis Lopatch, and is willing to use other means as well. “We're very open to ideas about it,” he said.

In the near term, customers won't notice any difference following the transfer to AT&T, said assistant county manager Chris Cofty. In some areas where cable mergers have occurred, he said, the purchased company has not even changed its name.

“At some point I imagine MediaOne will acquire the AT&T name,” he said, “but I would be surprised if it's before the upgrade in service is completed.”