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from: Boca Raton news

State to franchise cable TV; Boca doesn’t like it

Published Friday, May 4, 2007
by By Dale M. King

After spending years working on a master ordinance to regulate cable television franchises, it appears Boca Raton will have to put that law on the shelf.

Deputy City Manager George S. Brown told the Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Associations this week that the House and Senate have both passed a bill that will give the state power to approve cable franchises.

“The city is against it,” said Brown, since it diminishes what the community can do within its own borders – commonly known as “home rule.”

Brown said the city actually wants competition among cable TV providers, and hopes the state takeover of franchising will do it. But he said Boca Raton has been trying to woo AT & T (as Bell South) to come into the city’s cable market. “They are interested in going into several parts of the state, but not Boca,” he said.

Costs the same

Some in the audience felt with the state running the cable franchising operation, local viewers might get a price break. Don’t count on it, said Brown. “I see no reduction in costs.”

As it now stands, when the state franchises a cable provider, “they can go anywhere.” Boca has an “incumbent provider,” Comcast, which took over from bankrupt Adelphia. “That carrier will continue to provide service.”

Residents will see little change in their cable service under the new system. There will, however, be a shuffle in the cable lineup, said Brown. “With Comcast, the Boca government channel will move from Channel 20 to Channel 19. The Palm Beach County Channel will take over 20. And Boca Raton Educational Television will be broadcast on Channel 98.”

TV watchers may see another change – particularly if they have a problem. “Under the new system, complaints will go to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.” With the state granting franchises, there is not even a requirement to have a local cable business office, he said.

No local oversight

“Right now, we can look at the financial reports and records and we can test signal strength,” said Brown. “All of this goes away when the state takes over.”

He said new regulations will also put pressure on the city’s cable system and BRET. “They have to be activated and used 10 hours a day. And at least five hours must be non-repeating material. That requires a lot of programming.”

Brown did say the city will continue to get the 5 percent franchise fee for having a cable system.

Dale M. King can be reached at 561-549-0832 or at dking@bocanews.com.