So happens I was in the Nashville area last weekend and read the report in the Tennessean. It was a little more thorough that the linked story but no more 'enlightening'. What confused me was the remark that the same 768 download speed was available in a more widely advertised 'service' for $20. I didn't understand why anyone would pay double for the same 'service', I guess that was the point of the Boston, Nashville papers and the 'analysts' comments. AT & T is simply complying, to the letter of the law, what it has to do. The area I was in ( actually 40 miles South of Nashville, Spring Hill, TN ) doesn't have
any DSL options, anyway. Charter Cable is the only horse in the 'race' there.
That only 'new' customers can sign up is not surprising. No company makes it easy to 'downgrade' any service they provide, that ain't the way to pay for all those customer 'service' reps!