Cable commission to discuss franchise report

By Shannon Wells

The Gresham Outlook, Sep 30, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

After additional negotiations with Verizon officials, the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission expects to issue a cable TV franchise recommendation to East County jurisdictions at a special meeting on Thursday, Oct. 2.

The commission will discuss its recommendation to Verizon officials and the general public at 6:30 p.m. at MetroEast Community Media, 829 N.E. Eighth St., in downtown Gresham.

Several hours of negotiations between the two parties ironed out some issues since a Sept. 16 public hearing. However, the “big three” issues — customer service, violation fine limits and federal enforcement guidelines — remain sticking points, said Norm Thomas, commission chairman.

“We’ve tried to meet many of Verizon’s concerns,” Thomas said. “The proposed document coming forward will have our best attempt at how to meet Verizon’s concerns.”

A tentative version of the franchise recommendation, which would be passed along for Gresham, Fairview and Troutdale city councils’ review, was not available by Outlook press time.

“We’ll make a recommendation,” Thomas said. “At that point, it’ll be up to the elected (council) officials. That’s probably where the battle will take place.”

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit