Wariness clouds ConnectedTN parent

Updated 6:54 p.m. - As made clear in this report from The Wall Street Journal, some broadband activists are critical of the opaque relationships between Kentucky-based ConnectedNation, and subsidiaries like ConnectedTN, and such telcos as AT&T and Verizon. The sudden prospect of Stimulus funding for broadband has heightened already-tense relationships, in all directions. Regulators and consumer advocates say they are frustrated in efforts to verify ConnectedNation broadband infrastructure data by nondisclosure agreements in each of 10 states, including Tennessee. ConnectedTN has a contract with the state to collect and map data and provide broadband educational services designed to increase broadband usage and technology penetration, particularly in rural TN. ConnectedNation insists that only confidentiality ensures the participation of Cable and Telcos, who don't want competing players to have their detailed network maps. Late this afternoon, ConnectedTN chief Michael Ramage referred VNC and readers to ConnectedNation's rebuttal, here. An AT&T Tennessee spokesperson said he is not aware of any forthcoming comment on the WSJ article from his company.