
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 7, 1990                   TAG: 9007070392
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MARK LAYMAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CONSULTANT TELLS PANEL COX CABLE'S RATES FAIR

A Bethesda, Md., consultant told the Roanoke Valley Cable Television Committee on Thursday that Cox Cable's rates are fair and that the company has "generally complied" with applicable regulations.

O.D. Page was hired to evaluate Cox Cable's performance and its request for a new franchise. The current 15-year franchise ends Dec. 31.

Only four of the committee's eight members attended the meeting, not enough to officially conduct business. Still, Page gave those who were there a brief summary of his lengthy written report.

He said the cable company had "generally complied" with federal regulations, with only a couple of minor problems.

"I'm favorably impressed with the rate structure here," he said. "I hope Cox doesn't take that as a signal to raise its rates."

One thing the cable company should improve is the availability of local public-access channels. There is "not an overwhelming demand" for public-access channels, although the city school system, among others, has expressed interest, he said.

Page also said a 15-year franchise is too long. Other localities have 10-year and even five-year franchises, he said.

The committee delayed more detailed discussion of Page's report and the franchise until more members could attend.

The committee decided to ask Roanoke, Roanoke County and Vinton, the localities served by Cox Cable, to appoint one person each to represent the committee in franchise negotiations with the cable company.

Cox Cable serves about 45,000 customers in those localities. Salem has a separate cable-TV system.

by CNB