Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 18, 1995 TAG: 9501180095
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The county's legal consultant, Douglas Harold Jr., won this round in the cable-rate battle.
The supervisors voted 4-0, with Supervisor Bonnie Barger Mayo abstaining, in favor of Harold's recommendation for a rate order.
That order requires Tele-Media Cable Co. to refund $2.66 a month that Harold found county cable subscribers were overcharged for "lifeline" service from September 1993 to May 1994. Lifeline, which consists of channels 3 through 13, is the cable company's basic service and costs $10.19 a month.
Tele-Media's representatives and Harold went several rounds before both conceded that cable regulation is a confusing business.
The board voted knowing that the national experts - the Federal Communications Commission - would be the ultimate judge.
``This is a very complicated issue, and the five us weren't elected to know every word of FCC regulations,'' said Robert Layman, board chairman. ``Our decision would be appealed, and rightfully so.''
Tele-Media Vice President Frank Vicente agreed. He said the company will definitely appeal the decision to the FCC, and added that he was disappointed it reached that stage.
``I've been through eight of these things,'' Vicente said, ``and we were able to negotiate agreements that didn't hurt the company as much and that lowered the cost to subscribers.''
The refund would cost Tele-Media $93,000.
``That's just too much,'' Vicente said. ``That's about how much it will cost for our four planned expansions in the county. ... Where will that money come from?''
Tele-Media also lost a battle to keep its cost-of-service documents confidential. Tele-Media will appeal that decision to the FCC, as well, Vicente said.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***