AT&T-Comcast merger's effect on Jacksonville still uncertain Shareholders to vote today on consolidation From staff and wire Jacksonville's beleaguered cable television provider, AT&T Broadband, could be folded into a much larger cable television company if AT&T shareholders meeting in Charleston, S.C., and Comcast shareholders meeting in Philadelphia approve their merger today.Approval of the $45 billion deal will form the country's biggest cable TV company but have an undetermined effect on Jacksonville residents' concerns about cable service.Since the planned merger was announced in December, neither AT&T nor Comcast officials have shed much light onto how the transaction would affect the approximately 250,000 AT&T Broadband customers in Northeast Florida.AT&T has struggled with customer service across the state, and Jacksonville has battled with the cable giant for more than a year. The city and AT&T have said for three weeks now that they're close to reaching a settlement to reimburse customers for the poor service.A settlement package, valued near $2 million to $3 million, could include rebates for customers, and the city is also trying to tighten up service standards to include specific fines for violations. If the merger eventually receives federal approval, AT&T Comcast would be subject to the city's new regulations.Florida's The state attorney general is investigating AT&T Broadband's billing practices statewide, stemming from complaints in Jacksonville and a potential class-action suit against the company that was filed here in May.
