Several Tennessee counties are suing AT&T, alleging the telecommunications company failed to collect 9-1-1 fees.
The Blount and Roane County communications districts are part of the lawsuit. It's filed with the U.S. Federal Court in Chattanooga, under the Tennessee False Claims Act.
The lawsuit alleges that AT&T broke state law and tried to gain a competitive advantage by failing to collect and report 9-1-1 charges from customers. That money is given to the emergency communications districts, and it's an essential part of their operating budgets.
AT&T denies the allegations.
The counties have requested a jury trial and seek an unspecified amount of damages, as well as court costs.
A status conference for the case is scheduled for April 2013.