Newport Awards Contracts to Cable Companies

The two cable television companies offering services have won final approval on new 10-year contracts to operate in the city.

The agreements came after months of discussions, including a public hearing two weeks ago at which the companies were criticized for their performances. Some residents complained of overpriced services, unresponsive customer service and poor quality from the companies, ComCast Cablevision and Community Cablevision.

The agreement given final passage this week was a compromise between 20-year agreements the companies had wanted and the three-to-five-year contracts that some council members proposed.

Councilman John C. Cox Jr., who had long supported the longer contracts, led the council in approving the compromise, although he said he is disappointed that the city insisted that the businesses agree to certain stringent requirements.

Under the agreements, the companies both have two years to create an additional channel for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District and one for the Fire Department. They also need to provide the Fire Department with video production equipment during that time.

Within five years, the companies must expand the system from about 40 channels to 54 channels.

The council voted, 7 to 0, to approve the contracts, which will go into effect in January, 1992.