Internet provider Brightspeed files lawsuit against city of Bristol, Tennessee

Internet provider Brightspeed has filed a lawsuit against the city of Bristol (TN). The suit alleges that the city proposed a ‘right-of-way’ access agreement fee to prevent Brightspeed from installing its upgraded broadband network. According to the filing, the city was set to charge Brightspeed $442,000 per year in fees to set up this upgraded network. The lawsuit alleges this violates state and federal laws because the fee was applied on a discriminatory basis and the cost is not reasonable with what it would cost the city. Brightspeed alleges Bristol Tennessee Essential Services or BTES does not have to pay a similar fee.