City, Jones Intercable to Meet Over Service

Hoping to resolve a dispute over cable television service, Oxnard officials and Jones Intercable representatives are scheduled to meet in a special hearing Tuesday.

The hearing was scheduled after Jones filed a request with the city stating that cable newcomer GTE Media Ventures received a franchise agreement that gives it a competitive advantage.

Jones officials claim that GTE will save thousands of dollars because it is not required to provide public access and other services to Oxnard residents, as their company must.

Jones filed a lawsuit against the city this summer outlining its complaints with GTE’s contract with Oxnard, but the suit was dismissed. Meanwhile, Jones withheld about $300,000 in annual fees owed to the city.

Jones Intercable and city officials hope to resolve their differences at the hearing before City Council members. Jones acknowledges that it has lost some customers lured by GTE’s high-tech cable system, but it recently cut prices and added channels to strengthen its subscriber base.

Jones’ franchise agreement with Oxnard was scheduled to be renewed this week, but officials gave the company an extension that lasts through the hearing.

Jones General Manager Steve Naber said the company will again argue that there should be no difference between its cable deal and GTE’s. “We feel that’s only fair,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dennis Scala, an Oxnard city management analyst, said the city wants the $300,000 Jones withheld.

“We think that’s a violation,” Scala said.