OXNARD : City to Seek Cable Regulatory Control

The Oxnard City Council agreed Tuesday to submit an application to the Federal Communications Commission for regulatory control over the city’s only cable television operator.

Jones Intercable representatives said the decision will very likely mean that Oxnard residents will pay less than they do now for cable television, though they have expressed fears that the company will not have the money to improve services for customers.

“There will be changes in the pricing structure, and the overall pricing for our consumers in Oxnard will go down,” said John Hutton, general manager of Jones Intercable.

Jones Intercable serves about 73% of the city, or 35,500 Oxnard households.

The council is expected to establish pricing for the company by using an FCC benchmark rate based on fees charged by companies that face competition. “The FCC will provide the framework,” Hutton said, “and the city will determine if the bottom line is acceptable.”

At the City Council meeting Tuesday, council members and cable company representatives said they were optimistic that their relationship would continue to be a good one.

“We were going to have to comply with the rates regardless, so we’re glad we will be working with the city,” Hutton said.

Mayor Manuel Lopez said he was pleased that Jones Intercable was so easily accepting more local control. He said his goal is to meet community concerns on cable programming.

Hutton said the company will be open to all programming suggestions by city officials but said the city’s new role “will not affect programming in a substantial way.”

Cities in Ventura County were given until Oct. 1 to apply for regulatory control.