ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, June 20, 1996                TAG: 9606200045
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER 

CABLE TV EXPANSION CONSIDERED COUNCIL TO MULL CABLE TV GROWTH

Town Council on Tuesday agreed to consider a request from American Cable Entertainment to extend its local license in order to expand cable-television offerings.

The cable-television provider wants to offer more channels in response to increasing competition from satellite-television companies, said Paul Morbeck, ACE vice president and division manager.

The upgrades will involve replacing electrical equipment throughout the company's coverage area of Christiansburg, Radford and Radford University, and the cost will be between $850,000 and $950,000, Morbeck said.

The company needs the extension to secure a loan for the expansion. The cable provider's current license in Christiansburg expires in 1999, and Morbeck asked for a 10-year extension.

If the expansion happens, ACE gradually will add 20 channels. "We cannot add even one more channel in the service until we replace all the equipment in the town, Morbeck told council.

The expansion could mean higher costs to the company's customers, Morbeck said, but he does not know what that increase could be until the expansion begins in the fall of 1997.

"We won't be setting rates until we're ready to launch the service and we see what the market is," he said.

Also Tuesday, council passed its budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The $12.8 million budget is balanced, and tax rates will remain the same, as they have since the 1970s. The real estate tax rate is 14 cents per $100 of assessed value, and the personal property tax is 45 cents per $100 valuation.

Council on Tuesday also increased the rate it charges for curbside brush pickup. The new rate will be the current $25 charge plus the $38 per ton tipping fee the landfill charges.

Council appointed Barbara Phillips to replace Imogene Brumfield as clerk of council. Brumfield is retiring after 31 years in different jobs for the town.

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