Council OKs tough approach with Cox

Rob O'Dell (1.18.07)
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/165119

Formal franchising process will begin with Cox if compromises are not met.

The City Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to put Cox Communications through the costly and time-consuming federally mandated license-renewal process for the company to maintain its Tucson cable franchise.

The formal process could be suspended if Cox and the city can agree on several remaining sticking points:

● Five public access, education and government channels (PEG), down from the current nine, but more than the four Cox is offering.

● A nine-year franchise agreement, down from Cox's offer of 12 years.

● Requiring outside agreements made with the University of Arizona and Pima Community College to run for nine years — the same length as the franchise agreement. This would in effect give the city seven PEG channels.

● If the agreements for the higher-education channels expire before nine years, Cox would be required to give the city back one PEG channel.

Councilwoman Karin Uhlich is hopeful for a speedy resolution, but believes the vote shows the council's willingness to go through with formal processes, while Councilmen Steve Leal and Jose Ibarra voted no. Leal said the city should negotiate harder and should look at denying Cox's license and buying its cable system.

Council to vote on Cox's cable offer

Eric Sagara (1.17.07)
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/38889.php

City officials and Cox communications argue over public access channels in Tuscon.

Cox's informal offer would reduce the number of public, education and government channels available to the city, make viewing those channels more expensive for some customers, and remove a requirement for the cable company to provide free service in Tucson schools.

City officials are willing to compromise on the number of PEG channels available to Tucson, but the dispute lies in how many should be removed from the airwaves, and say Cox's offer does not meet the needs of the community and hope that a formal process can bring about a better deal for Tucson. However, they must reach an agreement with Cox before July 1, when a new state law engineered in part by Cox takes effect.

The law will limit the number of PEG channels available to cities to four and place a cap on the fees cities can charge cable companies to use their rights of way to install cable.

The City Council is expected to make its decision during today's study session after a closed-door meeting to review a study conducted by the city.