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Cable ONE contract expiring

Published 12:13am Friday, August 24, 2012

NATCHEZ — The 10-year franchise agreement between the city and Cable ONE is set to expire next week, and Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Smith foresees the contract being renewed but maybe not for 10 years.

Smith, who is chair of the city’s health and utilities committee, said she asked City Attorney Hyde Carby to check into whether the city can shorten the time for the next agreement.

“Technology is changing so fast, I just don’t see us having any contract for as long as 10 years,” Smith said.

The city’s current franchise agreement with Cable ONE was for 10 years.

John Hilbert, general manager for the Natchez Cable ONE office, said 10 to 15 years is usually standard for cable contracts.

Hilbert said a different group of city officials are in office than were 10 years ago when the franchise agreement was put in place, so the current officials may want different terms in the agreement.

“The city is looking at the agreement now, and when they’re ready to discuss it, we’ll both come together and bring everything to the table,” he said.

One of the issues the city has been trying to work out, Smith said, is having a set schedule for when Cable ONE will air the board of aldermen meetings.

Smith said she believes the meetings will be aired mid-morning and evenings on the Wednesdays after the Tuesday meetings.

Hilbert said when Cable ONE airs the meetings depends on when the city provides the tape to the company.

Smith requested Cable ONE provide the city with the company’s complaint log quarterly so the city could know any complaints about service.

“It’s to make sure were on top of (the agreement), and if there is something repetitive or something they’re not taking care of, we can make sure we know,” Smith said.

The city, Hilbert said, receives a 5 percent franchise fee through the agreement, which Hilbert said is the maximum allowed.

Customers in years past have complained about Cable ONE service in the area, and Smith said the city looked into other cable providers but has not encountered a lot of other options.

“We’re not going to be on the top of the radar for every service to be here,” Smith said.

 

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  • Anonymous

    Why can’t we have other options here in natchez..lived else where and had them to choose from…had comcast bundle more channels, and much cheaper!! have cable one bundle w/basic cable only, phone and net goes up every month!! 156 dollars!! pd. 120 for that w/ comcast many more channels free HD and all!! don’t want dish or direct!!

  • Anonymous

    Remember that Cable One removed four broadcast stations and then raised the rates besides that.  Then, they recently removed the second C-Span channel from basic cable and didn’t put it back in.  Hilbert refuses to specifically address these issues when you contact him – just glosses over the real facts with corporate double-talk.  The Board of Aldermen needs to insist that the removed channels are replaced before signing off on a new agreement.  The other thing they need to do is formally approve ATT U-verse as an incentive for the service to be available in Natchez. Contact your Alderman about this.

  • Anonymous

    Time for Cable One to Go

  • Anonymous

    We’ve had constant problems with Cable One.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/AR5HUXFKXAP5ILXHYCOCDBBTGE Michele

    it’s funny too that they are doing cable work in morgantown this past week.  could this have something to do with the possible renewal.  trying to correct things now instead of earlier. 

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