According to an article in the Charlotte Business Journal, BellSouth has been pushing legislation in the Carolinas that would speed its entry into the television business. The South Carolina House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill granting BellSouth a statewide video franchise last month. BellSouth plans to address statewide franchise legislation in North Carolina when the General Assembly meets in May.

AT&T's proposed purchase of Bellsouth may hasten that IPTV rollout. "AT&T has been making a stronger push in video than BellSouth," says Harry Lightsey, president of BellSouth's South Carolina operations. "I suspect we will be part of that aggressive plan."