Cerritos
Bidding for the lucrative cable television contract in Cerritos will open Monday. The City Council last week approved an ordinance authorizing cable television in Cerritos and enabling officials to accept bids for construction and operation of the system, which is expected to cost about $10.3 million.
City spokeswoman Michele Ogle said bidding will end Nov. 15, followed by the announcement of the winning firm. If all goes well, work on the system could begin early in 1986, with completion of the project by late next year.
Construction of the system will be the main expense. Because it costs less, cable companies prefer putting lines above ground on telephone poles. However, city ordinances require that all new utilities be placed underground. An underground system, such as the one Cerritos wants, can cost up to $60,000 a mile to install, while an aerial system costs about $20,000 a mile.
Since 1972, underground cable hookups have been required in new houses. Older homes will be made cable-ready at the expense of the company winning the franchise contract.
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