Council to Weigh Cable TV Protocol

Cable television subscribers will be able to lodge formal complaints about--or endorsements of--rates charged for basic service if the Thousand Oaks City Council approves a protocol for regulating cable TV charges.

Adopting the protocol is the final step before Thousand Oaks can receive federal certification as a body capable of regulating local cable rates for basic-tier service.

The eight-page protocol, which the council will consider Tuesday, outlines both consumers’ and cable companies’ rights should the city decide to step in and regulate basic cable rates.

“What happens Tuesday night won’t affect subscribers directly, but it will give them an opportunity to appear and make comments” in a future public hearing, cable consultant Tracy Westen said. “It also gives cable companies the right to appeal and to keep some data confidential.”

Residents interested in cable issues do not have to wait for the city to challenge basic-tier rates to put their two cents in. They can apply for one of seven vacancies on the Citizens’ Advisory Cable TV Issues Committee, chaired by Councilman Alex Fiore.

The committee helps city staff monitor the performance of the two cable companies serving Thousand Oaks: Falcon Cable and Ventura County Cablevision. The advisory board also makes recommendations on use of the public-access video production van. Finally, it evaluates applications for city grants to film public-access TV programs.

The committee is seeking five Ventura County Cablevision subscribers and two Falcon Cable subscribers to fill the vacancies.