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City seeks to upgrade cable TV franchise
The city's cable tv franchise got the bulk of the city council's attention at its short meeting Monday, a meeting that welcomed back
alderman Mark Kessler. He has returned from a six month plus tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Chris Warwick, chairman of the utilities committee under whose jurisdiction the cable tv falls, said that he and NewWave, which is
basically new to the city, are working out a new franchise. "The existing franchise hasn't been updated since 1995," said Warwick.
Warwick says a number of issues need to be resolved and to date he notes NewWave has been easy to work with. "They want to get
things cleared up also."
One of the major problems is getting cable service to all who care to have it. Warwick said that the company has a 30 house per mile
rule that needs to be worked out. But an effort is being made to take care of two streets in Meadowbrook and Gridiron (Auburn Hills)
subdivisions.
Warwick said that some residents have reported a cost of up to $2,000 to be connected.
The old franchise covered much of what and how but the intervening years and change of ownership has developed more problems.
NewWave is considered a much more rounded service since it includes internet and phone components in its offering.
Presently, Warwick and city attorney Raylene Grischow are researching the present agreement and will meet with NewWave officials
in the near future to hammer out a new franchise agreement.
In other business, the council learned that there have been 10 water breaks to date. Supt. Bill Karhliker said this is abnormal, way
up over recent years. "We have had to order more rock (CA-6)" he said.
The council also voted 7-0 (Svetlik absent) to vacate an alley immediately behind the United Community Bank facility at Fifth and
Jefferson and okayed the first reading of amended sick leave proposal for city employees (Ord. 1300-10).
The city's cable tv franchise got the bulk of the city council's attention at its short meeting Monday, a meeting that welcomed back
alderman Mark Kessler. He has returned from a six month plus tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Chris Warwick, chairman of the utilities committee under whose jurisdiction the cable tv falls, said that he and NewWave, which is
basically new to the city, are working out a new franchise. "The existing franchise hasn't been updated since 1995," said Warwick.
Warwick says a number of issues need to be resolved and to date he notes NewWave has been easy to work with. "They want to get
things cleared up also."
One of the major problems is getting cable service to all who care to have it. Warwick said that the company has a 30 house per mile
rule that needs to be worked out. But an effort is being made to take care of two streets in Meadowbrook and Gridiron (Auburn Hills)
subdivisions.
Warwick said that some residents have reported a cost of up to $2,000 to be connected.
The old franchise covered much of what and how but the intervening years and change of ownership has developed more problems.
NewWave is considered a much more rounded service since it includes internet and phone components in its offering.
Presently, Warwick and city attorney Raylene Grischow are researching the present agreement and will meet with NewWave officials
in the near future to hammer out a new franchise agreement.
In other business, the council learned that there have been 10 water breaks to date. Supt. Bill Karhliker said this is abnormal, way
up over recent years. "We have had to order more rock (CA-6)" he said.
The council also voted 7-0 (Svetlik absent) to vacate an alley immediately behind the United Community Bank facility at Fifth and
Jefferson and okayed the first reading of amended sick leave proposal for city employees (Ord. 1300-10).
Issue Date: Feb. 4, 2010
