BURBANK : City Considers Cable Contract Extension

The Burbank City Council today is scheduled to consider a three-month extension on its franchise agreement with cable TV company Sammons Communications, whose service agreement with the city expires April 28.

In the action last week, the City Council approved the basic cable service rate at $10.16 as well as the installation charge of $30. But the city rejected Sammons’ posted hourly rate for service calls of $71.25 and cut that rate to $22.35 per hour.

Sammons Communications, based in Dallas, has 30 days to appeal the council action to the Federal Communications Commission, but has not yet responded, Assistant City Manager Steve Helvey said.

The negotiations may still not be completed with the three-month extension, Helvey said. “It would not surprise me if we had to come back and request another extension,” he added.

However, it is not likely that Sammons would lose its franchise with Burbank because of restrictions set by federal law and the impracticalities of changing a cable operator, city officials said.

In other business Tuesday, the council will also consider a plan to reseal several Burbank streets. If the plan passes as expected, roadways west of Buena Vista Street and north of Burbank Boulevard will be resealed beginning in July, said Chuck Gustafson, the Public Works Department supervising city engineer.

The entire project is expected to take 80 days.