Sunday, October 17, 1999
Warren Co. cable net considered
Mason council backs study
BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON — Unhappy with Time Warner Cable's reluctance to lower rates for Mason customers, City Council is backing a study that could lead to formation of a countywide fiber optic telecommunications network.
Council agreed earlier this week to partially fund a study to determine the feasibility of hooking up with Lebanon's municipally-owned cable system. The cost of the study has not been determined, but each city involved will be expected to pay an amount based upon its size and level of interest.
The Warren County Municipal League began spearheading an effort in June to create a government-owned regional authority that would provide cable TV, phone, Internet and other electronic services to residents. The organization's move came after Time Warner slashed its rates by 34 percent for customers in Lebanon to compete with the city's popular government-owned cable system.
“There are so many advantages to having a municipal cable system,” said Mason Vice Mayor James “Dick” Staten, who also serves as president of the municipal league. “This thing goes way beyond just cable TV for our residents.”
Among benefits are electronic meter reading for utilities, traffic light monitoring and synchronization, enhanced 911, smoke detector signal monitoring and alarms, distance-learning programs for schools and, of course, cable TV, he said.
Mr. Staten said the benefits of government-owned cable to the city of Lebanon have been significant. He said figures show Lebanon residents using a cable system will save about $500,000 over 12 months. This is based on the cable rates charged prior to Lebanon going online and the rates charged after the city went online.
Lebanon and Wadsworth are the only two Ohio cities with their own cable systems. In Wadsworth, Time Warner dropped its prices by $15 a month to match the city's rate.
The municipal league plans to take a trip to the Medina County city on Oct. 22 to tour its cable television studio.
“We want to see what type of system Wadsworth has been able to develop for its citizens and how that compares to what they had in place before they decided to create their own cable network,” said Carl Boltz, executive director of the municipal league. “We need to know what technological advances this has brought about and how the community has responded to the city being involved in the telecommunications business.”
Some municipal leaders have been hesitant to jump on the government-owned cable bandwagon because it's a relatively new and uncharted territory. Some believe cities should only pursue municipal-owned cable systems as a last resort.
But private cable companies have been the most vocal opponents of the initiative. Time Warner has complained that local government enterprising into the world of fiber optic cables creates an unlevel playing field.
“We already pay them franchise fees, property and payroll taxes, and they also regulate us,” Jennifer Mooney, vice president of public affairs for Time Warner's Cincinnati division, has said. “It is important to us that we are treated equally in the process.”
Mr. Staten said he believes competition is an important factor in guaranteeing that residents get top service.
“I think Time Warner still has a place in Mason and in Warren County, but it's time for a little competition,” Mr. Staten said.
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Warren Co. cable net considered
