Council to Consider New Cable Contract
Simi Valley’s ongoing battle with Comcast over cable television rates may come to an end tonight as the City Council holds a public hearing on a contract proposal with the cable giant.
City Manager Mike Sedell on Friday refused to comment on details of the proposed deal with Comcast. But Sedell said negotiations were continuing over the weekend, adding that “we’re not that far apart.”
Some of the unresolved issues include the lineup of channels, the classification of certain channels as basic or nonbasic and contract language, Sedell said.
Since a 1993 federal law gave cities the power to regulate basic cable TV rates, Simi Valley has been pushing Comcast to roll back rates for the city’s 28,000 or so subscribers.
In February, 1995, the City Council voted to roll back basic cable rates by 21 cents to $21.69.
But Comcast had requested a rate increase of 30 cents to $22.20 and appealed the city’s decision to the Federal Communications Commission, which suspended a decision on the matter so the two parties could work out their differences in negotiations.
The City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall, 2929 Tapo St.
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