Class action lawsuit filed in Florida against AT&T Broadband. (Government & Regulations).

High-Speed Internet Access, October, 2002

A Class action lawsuit filed in a federal court in Florida alleges that AT&T Broadband attempted to deny access of broadband service to poor and minority neighborhoods in an effort to boost profitability. The practice is called "electronic redlining." The suit, filed by two Florida residents, alleges that AT&T Broadband has failed to wire neighborhoods in minority and low-income neighborhoods as it awaits its merger with Comcast, which is scheduled for October.

"AT&T Broadband completely rejects any claim of redlining, and we will vigorously oppose this lawsuit," said Rick Bailey, general counsel at AT&T Broadband. "We are confident that this lawsuit will have no impact on the expected close of our merger with Comcast."