AT&T to boost U-verse spending

AT&T Inc. said it would spend as much as $6.5 billion over five years on its U-verse television service, a $1.4-billion increase from its previous estimate, as it challenges cable TV providers.

The additional spending will help AT&T add high-definition channels and perform more work to prepare phone lines for the service, a spokesman said.

AT&T, based in San Antonio, has sped up the rollout of its video service this year as cable TV providers expand into home-phone service. The company had 20,000 U-verse TV subscribers as of April 24.