Questions about TV cable franchise

DINGMAN — Blue Ridge Cable is hoping to renew its franchise agreement with Dingman Township. Earlier this month Town Supervisor’s Chair Tom Mincer grilled two representatives from Blue Ridge Cable about how much of the township Blue Ridge Cable covers and about how many homes it services. Blue Ridge Cable resident manager for the area Bill Taninies of Hawley responded, “We cover 90% to 95% of Dingman Township.” Mincer then asked, “Yes, but how many homes do you offer cable service to? Do you have any numbers?” Director of Government Affairs for Blue Ridge Bob Miller responded, “We do not have an exclusive.” But, “How many homes do you service?” Mincer asked again. The question never did get answered but Miller said he would find out. “I have called Blue Ridge many times with questions regarding the fact that our volunteer fire department and our public library cannot get cable or internet service from Blue Ridge without having to pay exorbitant charges which they can’t afford. We gasped at the price they were quoted from Blue Ridge. They both have had to go to other private suppliers of high speed internet service,” Mincer complained. “What kind of service is Blue Ridge providing to our township? We want answers before we sign a new agreement,” Mincer stated in no uncertain terms. “We want to make certain our township residents get the same degree of service which seems to be common in other townships,” Mincer said. Miller and Taninies listened carefully and were certainly under “the gun” with Mincer’s direct questions. “We are not a utility which people often consider us as. Blue Ridge provides services based on the number of potential customers per mile and we have a liberal construction policy for installing cable, digital cable and high speed internet in areas including those areas with lower densities. We don’t have exclusive territory and we have to compete with others that offer satellite services and take business away from us. These companies do not have to pay taxes, don’t employ local area residents, and don’t have to pay franchise fees to the township,” replied Miller. “Blue Ridge is basically the only supplier of cable service and you really do have the exclusive franchise. Your company does not seem very responsive to the community needs. The fact that our fire department and library can’t get cable service disturbs us greatly,” said Mincer. “Service and coverage issues are our concerns and it took Blue Ridge until now when your franchise is up for renewal to listen to our concerns.” The two representatives from Blue Ridge Cable were taking it all in and writing down the questions Mincer was posing. Mincer and the other two supervisors hoped that Dingman Township concerns were going to finally be addressed by Blue Ridge Cable. After Mincer’s questions were posed, the question of franchise renewal didn’t come up again at the Feb. 19 meeting.