Newport Beach could get more TV channels

June Casagrande

NEWPORT BEACH -- The city’s lone cable channel could soon have some

company in the form of other local stations.

About 150 community leaders will meet next month to discuss what the

city wants from its cable providers. The meeting is a first step in the

city’s campaign to pressure its two cable companies to deliver the best

service possible to residents. But the series of focus groups that ensue

will also consider whether the city wants to negotiate for more local

programming.

“The idea is we go to the community and say, ‘What do you want?’ so we

can take this information to the negotiating table with the cable

companies,” said Marilee Jackson, the city’s spokeswoman. “Do we want,

for example, a local sports channel covering the high schools? Do we want

an education channel? Or, things like, do we want a studio at City Hall?”

Channel 3 is now the only local station in the city.

The process of gathering community input has stemmed largely from a

recent surge in complaints to the city regarding Adelphia cable company’s

Internet service. Adelphia customers have called and written to city

officials to say that connection speeds are much slower than promised and

that often connections can’t be made at all.

The problems began, most say, when Adelphia’s Internet partner,

Xcite@home, folded. The surge in complaints has tapered off some, Jackson

said, but the city will look into the question of whether technical and

customer service problems persist.

Customers of Cox Cable, the city’s other provider, have not had

similar complaints.

Despite its assertive approach to the problem, the city actually has

little power to demand anything of the cable providers. Under the federal

Telecommunications Act of 1996, local governments have no say in whether

a provider can operate within their borders. The city does, however, have

a contract with its providers that allow the companies to keep their

cables underground on city property. In exchange, the city gets 5.25% of

the companies’ revenues from within the city. In 2001, this amounted to

$705,709 to the city from Adelphia and $227,319 from Cox. This contract

is up for renewal for the first time in about 15 years.

Officials do hope, though, that the input gathered from residents will

put pressure on the cable companies to provide good service, as well as

the programming and other options customers want.

“March 14 will be the first big meeting -- leaders from different

issue groups -- to begin this community needs assessment,” Assistant City

Manager Dave Kiff said. “From here, we’ll get some more names to invite

to the focus groups.”

The focus groups, which will invite residents to chime in on their

ideas for cable service, will probably take place the week of May 20 to

May 24. The City Council vote on the final contract will be residents’

last opportunity to express their views. It is not yet known when the

matter will come before the council.