City Council weighs in on 'cable monopoly'
Published Jan. 30, 2007
Reading a book, switching to satellite and putting up with a prehistoric antenna are ways to solve problems with a cable service provider. Given the lack of competition in the cable market, switching providers is not as easy as one might think. Then again, it would be even harder to switch if the city controlled cable services, but that is exactly what citizens asked the Columbia City Council to look into during the Jan. 23 council meeting.
"We heard from the public that they're tired of high prices and bad service," First Ward Councilwoman Almeta Crayton said. "We do our own utilities, so I don't see why we couldn't (provide cable) as well."
Mayor Darwin Hindman said all the council members had received complaints from constituents about the cost and service of their cable providers. Hindman said he received a disproportionate amount of complaints about cable service as compared to any other utility.
"It sure gets the elected officials' attention," he said
Mediacom and Charter Communications provide cable for Columbia residents, with Mediacom serving most customers, Hindman said. The cost of the most popular package, Mediacom's family cable package, is $49.95 a month, said Thomas Larsen, Mediacom senior manager of Government Relations.
If Columbia does decide to have municipally run cable, Larsen could not comment on how it would affect Mediacom or how feasible it would be for Columbia to provide its own service.
"Operating a broadband system is a costly proposition and takes a sizeable commitment," he said.
According to a report to the Missouri General Assembly by the state Public Service Commission, three other cities in Missouri — Kahoka, Unionville and Poplar Bluff — have municipally run cable. Poplar Bluff's population is closest to Columbia with at 16,651 residents, about one-fifth the size of Columbia.
City spokeswoman Connie Kacprowicz said the city's Water and Light Department would take over the cable operation if the city decides to pursue municipally run cable. Kacprowicz said the City Council asked the Water and Light Department to begin exploring the city's options, including finding another private cable provider. The council will begin to make a decision once a report on new service options is completed, she said.
Hindman said he also thinks the city could tackle the complications and technicalities that would arise if it decides to run its own cable service.
Larsen said staying with Mediacom allows customers to have quick access to new products and packages and the technical expertise it takes to run a large network. But Hindman said he thinks that if residents are not satisfied with the "cable monopoly," it warrants some discussion.
"This is a good time to be thinking about whether our citizens are getting the cable service they're entitled to, which is the best," he said.