How's the Competition?

Things change fast in the telecommunications industry. New products and technology, changing prices, new companies, companies going out of business, reorganizations and mergers. The marketplace never stops changing, and the customers are often the last to hear about changes that will affect them. Aeneas helps you stay informed with what’s going on in the telecommunications marketplace right here in Tennessee.

  • AT&T - April 4, 2013 – Customers of AT&T in the state of Tennessee have recently noticed a new fee being added on their March bill. The fee is labeled as a "Tennessee Regulatory Authority 'Inspection' Fee" and costs customers $1.99 (click here to see a real AT&T customer's bill).

    While the inspection fee statute is memorialized in Tennessee Code Annotated 65-4-303 – stating “A public utility may recoup its inspection fees by including a line item on its subscribers’ bills" – Aeneas finds it hard to understand how AT&T can charge such a fee since the company was essentially declared deregulated by the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA).

    AT&T has consistently raised rates on Tennessee consumers. All the while, they have become more and more distant from their customers. Aeneas strives to keep rates down and be there for you when you need us. We appreciate your friendship and business. Thank you for being a part of the Aeneas family.

  • JEA - August 1, 2012 - On June 28, Jackson Energy Authority announced its plan to offer business and residential Local Area Network (LAN) Support Services. JEA, a municipal utility company, has furthered its encroachment on the private sector. To read the minutes from the meeting that passed this new service, click here.
  • AT&T - June 5, 2012 – AT&T recently announced that effective June 15, 2012, they will be increasing their Frame Relay rates by nearly 50%. Aeneas, meanwhile, still continues to focus on offering its customers great local service at affordable and competitive prices. Click here to see AT&T's notice.
  • Chattanooga Electric Power Board - December 21, 2011 - Chattanooga Electric Power Board (EPB) becomes one of nine publicly owned communications networks in Tennessee, offering ultra high-speed Internet services on a $300 million network funded largely by taxpayers. See more.
  • AT&T - September 9, 2011 - AT&T raises rates on several services in Tennessee including business long distance. See more.
  • Verizon - June 28, 2011 - Verizon overcharges a customer $233,000 and doesn't reverse the charge until after he goes to the media. Read more.
  • JEA - June 23, 2011. JEA is adding Find Me Follow Me and SimRing to their telephone feature offerings. Read More. Aeneas has been offering these great features since 2004. We are constantly working to stay on the cutting edge and offer our customers the most advanced services and features.
  • Cavalier - May 5, 2011. Cavalier Telephone has been bought by a big out of state telecommunications company, PAETEC.
  • AT&T - April 13, 2011. The Governor of Kansas signed a bill loosening price regulation for AT&T in that state. Here in TN, AT&T promised the TN General Assembly that deregulation would mean increased capital investment and employment. But what we've actually see are price increases and layoffs. Kansas consumers may be in for the same. Read more.
  • AT&T - April 12, 2011. As of May 2, AT&T will crack down on any DSL user who exceeds 150 gigabytes per month. Customers who receive the company's U-verse broadband service will have a cap of 250 gigabytes. AT&T will charge overage fees of $10 for every additional 50GB of data. Read More.
  • JEA - August 24, 2010. The JEA board voted to issue another $10 in Bond Anticipation Notes, as well as to spend over $1 million to install a telephone switch. Meanwhile, their electric rates have been raised another 4.72 percent. Read More.
  • JEA - August 16, 2010. JEA is outsourcing support for its local Internet and telephone providers to The Electric Power Board of Chattanooga. Read More.
  • Charter- February 12, 2009. Charter to file for bankruptcy. Read More.
  • Charter- January 2009. Charter is exploring options amid bankruptcy concerns. Read More.
  • AT&T - September 2008. AT&T Has Updated its TOS to Clarify its Internet Speed Tiers. Read More.

  • Memphis Networx - View an archive of information on MLGW fiber-optic network changing hands here.

  • Comcast - April 2007. Another Comcast customer writes a letter to the editor of the Commercial Appeal. Read the letter.

  • Comcast - February 2007. A letter to the editor in the Commercial Appeal describes problems with Comcast customer service. Read the letter to the editor.

  • Vonage - September 2006. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Vonage is demanding customers who didn't pay for stock they agreed to buy pay part of the amount the pledged, even though they won't be getting any stock.
    Read the Wall Street Journal article.

  • US LEC and Paetec - August 2006. The Wall Street Journal has reported that US LEC Corp. (based in Charlotte, NC) and Paetec Communications (based in Fairport, NY) will merge to form one company. Read the Wall Street Journal article.

  • New Smyrna Communications - August 2006. New Smyrna Communications will no longer offer telephone service in Tennessee as of September 1. Read their statement.

  • Other VoIP Providers – June 2006. The Wall Street Journal has reported growing customer complaints with VoIP companies like Vonage. Read the article.

  • BellSouth – May 2006. BellSouth has announced another price increase for Tennessee customers. View the pdf here.

  • Charter Communications – March 2006. The merger of AT&T and BellSouth could be a heavy blow to Charter. Read the Wall Street Journal article here:
    Will Charter Live Long and Prosper - March 11, 2006

  • BellSouth and AT&T merger – March 2006. AT&T has announced it will acquire BellSouth, reuniting four of the Baby Bells created in the 1984 breaup of Ma Bell. Consumer groups have said they will oppose the deal, arguing that consolidation in the phone industry reduces competition and raises prices. Read the Wall Street Journal articles here:
    A Reborn At&T to Buy BellSouth - March 6, 2006
    At&T's Bid Raises Brows of Consumer Groups - March 6, 2006

  • Cinergy Communications – October 2005. Cinergy Communications and Access Integrated Networks have petitioned to transfer certain Cinergy customers in Tennessee to Access, a company out of Macon, Georgia. Please refer to the Tennessee Regulatory Authority docket here: http://www.state.tn.us/tra/orders/2005/0500269.pdf

  • Network Telephone - October 2005. Network Telephone, Inc., is being bought by Talk America, a telephone company out of Pensacola, Florida. View the Talk America press release here.

  • BellSouth – BellSouth raised its prices in July of 2005. See the details here. Another BellSouth price raise for Tennessee customers occurred in September of 2005. See the details here.

With all the changes that occur in our fast-moving industry from day to day, be assured that Aeneas isn’t going anywhere. We have ten years of experience, and deep roots in the West Tennessee community. If you want dependable local service and high-tech telecom solutions for your home or business, if you’re looking for a telecom company that truly values its customers, you can’t do better than Aeneas Internet and Telephone.