Dewhirst Properties And AT&T Announce Next-Generation Entertainment Services To West Jackson Row Apartments

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* and Dewhirst Properties today announced an agreement to offer AT&T U-verse^® services over a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network to a new multi-dwelling apartment community that will service more than 70 residents at West Jackson Row Apartments, located at the corner of W. Jackson Ave. and S. Gay Street.

AT&T's Project VIP includes a plan to expand and enhance AT&T's wireline IP network to approximately 57 million customer locations in its wireline service area by year-end 2015. The Project VIP plan includes an upgrade for U-verse High Speed Internet to speeds of up to 100 Mbps over the next several years.

AT&T invested more than $175 million in its Knoxville area wireless and wireline networks from 2010 through 2012, with a focus on expanding 4G LTE mobile Internet coverage and enhancing the overall performance of its networks.

With the agreement, AT&T will offer Internet Protocol (IP)-based AT&T U-verse TV, U-verse High Speed Internet and U-verse Voice on an advanced 100 percent fiber network to designated units within West Jackson Row Apartments. AT&T U-verse offers some of the most dynamic and application-rich services available today, with advanced capabilities that customers don't get from other providers.

"This is a great example of how a public process can generate interest from private and commercial businesses," said Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero. "Here, the private sector is delivering services to the public and fulfilling a great need for broadband Internet.  We look forward to seeing more partnerships develop due to our on-going public discussion and dialogue."

"I've believed for some time now that our collective success is tied to having access to leading edge technologies that can keep us connected," said State Representative Joe Armstrong. "This is a real plus to have this kind of network investment coming to the downtown Knoxville community to make next-generation, high speed broadband and video services a reality."

This initiative with West Jackson Row Apartments is part of the AT&T Connected Communities^® program – a strategic marketing initiative between AT&T and regional or national single-family builders, developers, real estate investment trusts, apartment ownership and management groups, and home owners' associations to provide next-generation communications and entertainment solutions to residents and homebuyers.

"This agreement with AT&T gives us a distinct advantage over other properties downtown, while also boosting the value of the apartments we offer here," said David Dewhirst, developer, West Jackson Row Apartments. "As a matter of fact, this is an improvement over our satellite TV service we offer at our other properties and now we're able to meet the varying technological demands of our residents in an easy, turnkey way."

"AT&T Connected Communities is yet another way we're working hard to keep Knoxville residents connected to the information in their busy lives – whether that is across town or around the world," said Alan Hill, regional director, external affairs, AT&T Tennessee.

A great perk for residents living in downtown Knoxville is being located within walking distance of Market Square, the Old City and the Tennessee Theatre. Built around the turn of the century and used for manufacturing until purchased by Dewhirst Properties, the buildings at West Jackson Row are now home to over 70 residential apartments and six commercial tenants.

More Choice, More Features

AT&T U-verse services, which are all delivered over AT&T's advanced Internet Protocol (IP) network, offer a new alternative to cable with a better DVR, better features and apps, and a better TV experience. AT&T U-verse brings together your broadband, TV, home phone and AT&T wireless services, with unique features that provide a new level of integration, convenience and control.

"Through this arrangement with AT&T, Dewhirst Properties will be meeting the demands of new downtown Knoxville residents by offering the latest technology at their property," said Michele Hummel, director of Downtown Knoxville's Central Business Improvement District. "One of the many reasons that people choose to live in the center city is for convenience. Being able to move into a property that has turnkey U-verse TV and High Speed Internet service plays right into this desire, and offers the perfect complement to the numerous amenities of downtown living."

"West Jackson Row Apartments will be a significant boost for downtown living quarters and a very appealing attractor for new residents," said Mike Edwards, president and CEO, the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce. "The connectivity amenities that are being offered to their residents are really on the cutting edge in Knoxville and the region. This is possible in part because of companies like AT&T and they've been encouraged by public policies shaped by Mayor Rogero, local city and county leaders, and our state legislative delegation."

With AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet services, every AT&T U-verse customer, including small businesses, can enjoy fast broadband speeds. Packages include a range of speeds, with the fastest downstream speeds up to 24 Mbps. All AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet packages include wireless home or office networking capability at no extra cost, so West Jackson Row Apartment residents will be able to connect Wi-Fi enabled devices to their home broadband connection. Wi-Fi provides fast speeds for accessing the mobile Internet on smartphones and other devices, and Wi-Fi usage doesn't count against AT&T customers' monthly mobile data plans. Information on available packages can be found online at: www.att.com/u-verse. 

Where AT&T U-verse services are available, West Jackson Row Apartment residents can enjoy numerous U-verse features and applications, including the ability to manage their DVR recordings, and, for qualifying TV customers, watch hit TV shows on their tablet or select smartphones with the U-verse app; the freedom to manage and playback recorded programs from a single DVR on any U-verse connected TV in the house with Total Home DVR; the ability to choose and watch up to four of their favorite channels at one time with the AT&T U-verse My Multiview app; an extensive High Definition (HD) channel lineup; the ability to check the current weather conditions and forecasts in any U.S. city with Weather On Demand; and more.

AT&T U-verse was recently named Frost & Sullivan's 2013 Video Company of the Year for excellence in customer value, innovation and growth.

More information on AT&T Connected Communities can be found at: http://www.att.com/communities.

For additional information on AT&T U-verse — or to find out if it's available in your area — visit AT&T U-verse.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

© 2013 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 4G not available everywhere. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T U-verse. Go to www.att.com/u-verse to see if you qualify.

About Dewhirst Properties

Dewhirst Properties is committed to preservation, believing that historic structures are worth the extra effort required for redevelopment because they give our community its unique identity and character. We have been creating upscale condominiums, urban lofts, high-tech office space, and unique retail locations in downtown Knoxville since 1993.

SOURCE AT&T Inc.