Simi Signs New Cable Contract With Comcast

This city’s ongoing battle with Comcast over cable television rates came to an end Monday night as the City Council ratified a new contract with the cable giant, raising basic access rates by 6.3% but putting a lid on other fee increases.

After a sparsely attended public hearing, the City Council voted 4 to 0, with Councilwoman Barbara Williamson absent, to sign a two-year contract that will raise the monthly cost of basic cable service by $1.49 to $23.39 on May 15.

But the pact also keeps all other fees for cable installation, service and equipment rental at their current levels.

It offers a $3 monthly discount to subscribers age 65 or older.

And it grants a $10 rebate to every subscriber for past billing discrepancies. In addition, 242 subscribers who were overbilled for the Disney Channel will each receive rebates of $9 a month, retroactive to Feb. 1, 1995.

“I’m glad that we finally came to some agreement,” Councilwoman Sandi Webb said. “I’m sorry it took so long for both sides.”

Councilman Paul Miller added: “I would say that this fits the definition of an agreement being ‘hammered out.’ City staff and Comcast have worked back and forth on this for a long time now. Both sides have worked hard to reach this agreement.”

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 that the two parties could work out their differences in negotiations.

Comcast and city staff have been working on an agreement since then. Over the weekend, City Manager Mike Sedell worked with Comcast to sort out the last few disputes over a lineup of channels, the classification of certain channels as basic or nonbasic and contract language.

These provisions and others take effect May 15:

* The monthly fee for basic service is raised to $23.39.

* No more rate increases are allowed until Feb. 1, 1997.

* Comcast can raise installation and equipment fees beginning in July, according to FCC limits.

* Comcast is to meet with city officials every three months to review any proposed changes.

* Turner Classic Movies and the Disney Channel will remain basic-service channels until Feb. 1, 1998.

And although the contract does not bind Comcast to the promise, the firm has said it will upgrade equipment in Simi Valley’s cable TV network, some of which is several decades old.

Mayor Greg Stratton on Monday night applauded the move: “Technology has been the limiting factor” to improved cable service, he said. “This system is in many cases 30 years old. . . . I’m sure some of you remember when it was a group of wires strung on backyard poles.”

But with the addition of the discount for the elderly and the inclusion of the Disney Channel as basic service, Stratton said, “I now believe we offer a system that can hold up its head against any other cable system in Ventura County and even in Southern California.”