Cox Communications files lawsuit against city of Tempe
Sep 21, 2015, 6:01 AM
PHOENIX — A major telecommunications company is suing the city of Tempe.
Cox Communications legal team has filed a lawsuit claiming Tempe officials violated state and federal law by not classifying Google Fiber as a cable operator.
The company declined KTAR’s request for an interview but released this statement regarding the issue:
“As we have said in the past, Cox believes that recent actions taken by the City of Tempe to license Google Fiber violate federal and state law. Tempe residents should have the opportunity to get subscription television and internet service from providers who are willing and able to meet the same government rules and regulations, especially those that protect customer privacy and property rights. It is the City’s responsibility to ensure that happens. Unfortunately, Tempe created a different set of rules for a new provider that waived important customer privacy and property protections.”
KTAR legal analyst Monica Lindstrom explained Cox is claiming the city of Tempe made special exemptions for Google Fiber to lure in the business.
“(Cox) is saying that Google Fiber does the exact same thing that Cox Cable has been doing and to define Google Fiber as something different is unfair,” she said.
Cox is now asking a judge to rip up the agreement between Google and Tempe.
The city of Tempe declined to comment on the lawsuit.