Cerritos

By the end of June, Cerritos officials may be ready to solicit bids to install the city’s first cable television system.

The city’s cable television consultant, George L. Page of Lake Oswego, Ore., has begun work on an ordinance that will outline what the city wants in a cable system. Page--who is being paid $26,050 to write the document, evaluate bids, help choose a firm and negotiate an agreement between a cable firm and the city--has been given two months to finish the ordinance.

Based on his initial research, Page told the council last week about 60% of the city’s residents probably will subscribe to cable television. He also said the most economical and practical way to transmit television signals would be by cable rather than by microwave, laser or telephone technology.

Because the city does not allow above-ground cable, the lines will have to be placed underground, which will cost about $55,535 a mile. Placing the cable lines on existing overhead utility poles would cost about $19,580 a mile.

Page told the council the system will cost between $8.9 million and $10.4 million, depending on the type of service and the method of signal transmission. He recommended a system that offers both entertainment channels for home use and institutional channels for use by schools and fire and police agencies.