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from: Journal News

Fairfield against change in cable deals

By Michael D. Pitman

Staff Writer

Monday, April 09, 2007

FAIRFIELD — While city officials are still trying to get a franchise agreement with Time Warner Cable, an Ohio Senate bill introduced last month may nix it — along with all other cable franchise agreements in the state.

The Fairfield City Council passed an ordinance Monday night opposing Senate Bill 117, which proposes to eliminate franchise agreements with local governments.

Assistant City Manager Dennis Stuckey said the franchise agreement allows local governments to have more control over what services they would like to provide to residents.

"We're not opposed to competition, but we are concerned about taking away what citizens have come to rely upon and enjoy," Stuckey said. "We try to improve our cable offerings, and this is a step in the other direction, I think."

Stuckey said he believes AT&T actually drafted the bill. Sen. Jeff Jacobson, R-Butler Twp., introduced it on March 15.

City Law Director John Clemmons said the bill is an apparent attempt to circumvent the need to work with local governments and compete for franchises.

"The Time Warner deal is non-exclusive," Clemmons said about the unsigned agreement. "(The telephone companies) just don't want to compete on those terms (of a franchise agreement)."

According to Local Voice Ohio, a state-wide coalition opposing the bill, SB 117 would:

• Reduce franchise fees paid by cable television operators;

• Allow cable operators to immediately opt out of current agreements;

• Reduce local control of a government's right of way;

• Eliminate institutional networks afforded to schools and local government;

• Limit public, educational and governmental access channels; and

• Eliminate funding for public, educational and governmental access channels.

The city council agreed to pay Local Voice Ohio $4,200, or 10 cents per capita, to fight the bill.

Stuckey said there has already been proponent hearings at the Senate committee level, and he said the bill is moving "on a fast track."

The city has been trying to get Time Warner Cable to renew a franchise agreement since last year, when the two sides apparently agreed on what took years to hammer out, Stuckey said. The city and cable company are working under the old franchise agreement, which expired in 2004.

If the bill becomes law, it would reduce the city's $500,000 income from the Time Warner franchise agreement by an estimated 15 percent, Stuckey said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or mpitman@coxohio.com.