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Highland granted cable franchise |
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Written by Andrew Powell
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Friday, 27 November 2009 |
Highland Media Corporation was granted the right to provide cable service in the county during a special session of the Fiscal Court Monday. The measure came two months after the court began wrangling over the subject and listening to concerns of citizens and the owner of Access Cable, Highland’s primary competitor.
Highland Media Corporation was granted the right to provide cable service in the county during a special session of the Fiscal Court Monday. The measure came two months after the court began wrangling over the subject and listening to concerns of citizens and the owner of Access Cable, Highland’s primary competitor.
The move Monday gives Highland a ten year right to the local service and the opportunity to expend a portion of a $48 million loan in the county over the next few years developing the service. Highland representatives have said the move comes following expansion into the cable market in neighboring Scott County, Tennessee. The Sunbright based conglomerate has provided telephone and internet service in the area for a number of years and have only recently began expansion into cable television.
Right now, representatives say a timeline for implementation of the service is unavailable.
“The Board will begin consideration of the steps necessary to expand video into the service area,” said Highland attorney Ernie Petroff. “There is no timeline. The first step was to obtain the legal authority (the franchise) for McCreary County, now the allocation of Highland’s resources will be considered.”
Locally, Access Cable, owned by Roy Baker, is the only cable television provider operating under a franchise agreement with the county that lasts through 2015. Baker also provides high speed internet in the area and has plans to expand into telephone service once his system upgrade is complete.
Baker had voiced several concerns to county officials during the debate over Highland obtaining a franchise. Baker has questioned the county on the process of implementing an agreement with Highland and voiced dissatisfaction of the company’s ability to use “federal stimulus funds” to compete with private enterprise.
Essentially, once their system is in place, Highland will go head-to-head with Baker for cable customers in the county’s more populated areas.
But, local citizens speaking out on the issue show concern with why neither business has explored taking cable service into the outlying areas of the county. Both Jimmie Greene, of Honey Bee, and Fred Baird, of Corder Flats, again questioned their own access to such a service; currently not available in their respective areas.
Greene likened the process to expansion of water service through the county in the 1970’s, when the utility only covered Pine Knot and Whitley City.
“I would like to see this expanded into the outlying areas,” Greene said. “From where I live in Honey Bee to Clark Hollow.”
Baird stressed the same availability of service, but stated he would like to see a detailed development plan with a timeline for the service and even costs he could pay for extension of the service to his home on Corder Flats.
“These companies could tell us their plan and then it would be your place (Fiscal Court) to hold them to that,” Baird said.
But, as noted by County Attorney Michele Wilson, the court must grant approval for operations of a cable service in the county, but cannot dictate the scope of the service. Wilson said cable television is not governed by the same laws within the county as local utilities are.
“They are private enterprise and can do as they please,” Wilson said. “They want to do business in McCreary County, but we can’t tell them how to do it, when to do it or how to go.”
Judge-Executive Blaine Phillips concurred with Baird and Greene in their desires to see cable expansion into outlying areas of the county. The court, on Phillips’ recommendation, urged Wilson to draft a letter encouraging Highland to consider such an expansion of service, even if over a 20 year period.
“We need it expanded because citizens in the outlying areas need this and I challenge both Mr. Baker and Highland that if you can do this you will find large numbers of customers waiting on you.”
Highland company officials, as well as elected board members, were present during Monday’s meeting, but did not respond to the requests. Baker has said previously he first commitment is to existing customers, but once his system expansion is complete and promises to those customers fulfilled, he would look at further expansion of the system.
Currently, Access Cable services are available to nearly 4,000 households, Baker says. The Highland expansion would extend generally three miles north and south of their Whitley City office along U.S. 27, KY 1651 from Pine Knot to Marshes Siding, three miles down Sandhill Road and part of KY 92 West and Poplar Springs Road, North and East Appletree Road.
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