 The public is invited to attend the meeting and speak to the council
about the service provider and the products they are currently
offering to residents of the city.This stems from an ordinance
that was passed in 1994 that gives the city the authority to
evaluate the services and, if needed, submit a request to the
service provider that they make changes to their offerings.
At the Tuesday night committee-of-the-whole meeting of the
Lincoln City Council, Mayor Keith Snyder handed out copies of the
ordinance and spoke about what it meant for the city.
The ordinance states that an evaluation can be conducted at
certain intervals during the franchise agreement, including at the
anniversary of the 16th year of the ordinance.
That anniversary will come on Sept. 1, and according to the
ordinance, the city has a 30-day window on either side of that date
to do the evaluation.
The ordinance states that the city can hold a public evaluation,
and if "the city determines that there exists a reasonable community
need and/or interest in additional channel capacity and/or upgraded
facilities or technology, the city may make such a request to the
company."
Once this is done, Comcast will have the right to evaluate the
request and give the city an answer as to whether or nor they agree
that action needs to be taken.
If the service provider replies that there is no need for action
on their part, then the city has the right to hire a third party to
conduct a second evaluation.
This third party would be a consultant who is qualified to
evaluate Comcast and according to the ordinance would "submit a
report to the city as to the feasibility of increasing channel
capability and/or upgraded facilities or technology, taking into
consideration the cost, the reasonable economic return to the
company, the generally accepted state of the art technology for such
systems of comparable size and age, and the balance of the franchise
term."
[to top of second column]
 |
The city would then have the right to submit this report to
Comcast and once again request that the provider make changes.
If the service provider would still maintain that there is no
action necessary on their part, the city would have the right to
pursue "legal or equitable remedies."
When Snyder opened the floor for discussion, Alderwoman Melody
Anderson said she wanted the public meeting so the city
could compile a list of what the issues are. She noted that even if
nothing can be done at this time, having such a list would be
beneficial when it is time for the city to look at a new contract
with possibly a new service provider.
Aug. 24 is a workshop session for the council, which would
normally begin at 7 p.m. However it was agreed that in this case
they would back the workshop off to 7:30, allowing them 90 minutes
to hear from constituents on this issue.
Anyone who is interested in voicing their opinion or concerns in
a constructive manner, whether they be satisfied or dissatisfied
with the CATV services provided by Comcast, is welcome to attend the
town hall meeting and share those opinions with the council.
[By NILA SMITH]
 |
