The good news

is that, when AT&T Broadband finishes its upgrade of Fayette County's

cable television facilities, local residents who currently can't watch

Atlanta Braves games on Turner South will be able to do so.

The bad news

is that it may be awhile longer before the upgrade is completed.

"Yes,

that [Turner South] will be part of the expanded lineup," said company

spokesman Reg Griffin in answer to one of the most often-asked questions

from local viewers.

Along with

frequent service interruptions and poor reception, not being able to get

the Braves games and other sporting events has been one of the biggest

complaints with the county's antiquated cable system.

But with the

upgrade 70 percent complete, a dispute between the company and the Georgia

Department of Transportation has halted work, and there's no telling how

long it will be before Fayette residents will have the new, improved service.

DOT has demanded

that AT&T pay a telephone use fee before the agency will issue permits

to allow the company to install its cable trunk lines on state right of

ways.

"It took

everybody by surprise," said Griffin.

"They

have never asked before that we pay this anywhere that we provide service,"

said Michael Grover, an attorney for AT&T Broadband.

While upgrade

of the cable system does eventually allow the company to offer phone service

in areas where it provides cable service, "telephone is down the

road," said Griffin. "We feel like that [telephone use fee]

doesn't apply."

The company

is working to convince DOT to change its mind, and may go to court if

necessary, he said. The firm also has asked the Fayette County government

to use its influence in the matter.

But as of this

week, no solution to the impasse has been found, and the company may miss

its promised Nov. 30 deadline for activating new and improved cable service

in Fayette, he said, adding there's no telling how long it will be before

work can resume.

Most Fayette

neighborhoods have new cable in place, but the fiber optic trunk lines

that supply broadband service remain to be installed, he said. Once the

main lines are finished, all local customers will get the new service

at the same time, he added.

Meanwhile,

the season is over for the Braves.

Maybe next

year...