GLENDALE : Work on Cable TV Upgrade to Begin

An upgrade of Glendale’s cable television system that will nearly double the number of channels available to viewers in the next few years will get under way this week, city officials said Monday.

Oft-criticized Sammons Communications will begin the first phase of a four-phase construction schedule, in which fiber-optic cables will replace coaxial cable throughout the city to improve picture quality and service reliability, and increase the system’s channel capacity. Construction could be completed by late 1997, officials said.

The upgrade is the result of a recently approved franchise agreement between the city and the cable operator that took about two years to hammer out. City officials had negotiated for the system to be rebuilt after fielding a steady stream of customer complaints about cable television, and after a 1992 city survey indicated many residents were dissatisfied with the service.

“The agreement is the result of a very lengthy and difficult process,” Mayor Eileen Givens said. “We are very excited to see reconstruction begin because it will mean the introduction of state-of-the-art technology and a significant improvement in cable service.”

Sammons, which has 43,000 subscribers in Glendale and 35,000 in Burbank, has been criticized for service interruptions, poor customer service and for having fewer channels than cable providers in many nearby communities. The firm offers 41 channels, compared to other providers who offer 60 or more, city officials said.

Under the new contract, the firm will raise its capacity to 78 channels and replace its outmoded, 20-year-old coaxial system with fiber optics. The 10-year agreement also calls for service evaluations after five and seven years, with Sammons facing financial penalties if it does not measure up to cable TV service standards in comparable cities.

Each of the four phases of construction will affect a different section of the city, and residents may experience temporary lapses in cable service during the construction. Sammons officials said they will notify residents when workers will be in their areas and try to minimize the impact.

Sammons also will post construction status reports on Channel 15, officials said. For information or questions about the project, call (818) 246-5453.