HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 10-21 Maplewood cuts ties with RWSCC MAPLEWOOD REVIEW2/19/2016 Maplewood cuts ties with RWSCC I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
Maplewood cuts ties with
RWSCC
Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 10/21/2015 - 12:OOam
By: Erin Hinrichs
After more than two decades with the Ramsey Washington Suburban Cable Commission, the city of Maplewood has decided
to strike out on its own.
A founding member of the cable commission, the city chose to withdraw from the Joint Powers Agreement governing the
commission in favor of franchising with CenturyLink on its own. The motion passed 4-1, with council member Bob Cardinal
dissenting.
By bringing cable competition to the local market—where Comcast is currently the only provider —those in favor of the
move anticipate better service and lower rates for cable customers. City Manager Melinda Coleman also framed the
departure from the cable commission as an opportunity for the city to better handle its own government programming.
Can negotiate directly
Maplewood was the largest member city of the RWSCC, which was formed to provide a uniform voice for 11 member -cities,
including North St. Paul and Oakdale.
Given the population disparity between Maplewood and some of the commission's smaller member cities, Coleman explained
the partnership was no longer advantageous.
Rather than be tied up in group discussions over build out negotiations in the commission's franchise agreement with Comcast,
Maplewood is looking to independently bring cable competition to its residents.
In breaking from the commission, Maplewood will need to manage its own franchise agreements, PEG fees and programming. It's
an added responsibility that Coleman says the city is prepared to support.
"As we developed our strategic objectives this year ... one of the number one goals was coordinated communication and we believe
we can do that better by handling our own government programming," she said, adding improving communication with residents
has been a priority this year as demonstrated by the Maplewood Living newsletter, Spotlight on Maplewood and the broadcasting of
all city council and commission meetings.
She refuted claims that this is a move to "grow city government."
"What we're proposing is that we withdraw from the commission so we can take the [fees] we get ... and do more with that
according to our defined priorities," she said before the council vote.
As for residents' future access to community television programs produced and aired on the Suburban Community Channels 14
and 15, Coleman says the details will be worked out during the transition process.
"We're just now going to begin those conversations about what programming will be done by us and if there's still an opportunity to
work with SCC on those channels," she said in a phone interview.
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"There's just a lot of unanswered questions right now. The only thing we know for sure is we'll continue to do all the
government programming."
Getting static on idea
Cardinal had cautioned against the withdrawal, challenging the city's ability to both afford and manage its own programming.
Furthermore, he framed the move as poor teamwork with the city's neighbors.
"The city would be leaving the partners high and dry," he said. "One of the benefits of the commission is that, collectively, the
partner cities represent a large number of cable subscribers which enhances their bargaining power."
He had suggested the city vet the situation further, delaying a vote until the start of the new year. But as city attorney Alan
Kantrud explained, that would have bound the council to another full year of membership, as member cities must give notice
of their intent to withdraw by Oct. 15.
Moving forward
Serving as the city's liaison to the RWSCC, council member Marylee Abrams attended a CenturyLink presentation a while
back to preview its new cable television service, Prism, and only had positive things to say about it.
"We all know that competition is good and I was very pleased with Prism," she said at the Oct. 12 council meeting. "It's a
superior viewing experience, I think, compared to anything that is out there now."
She said city staff did, in fact, reach out to the cable commission to express the city's concerns prior to the council vote to
withdraw. Ultimately, she said, the city's needs no longer aligned with those of the larger cable commission.
Mayor Nora Slawik reassured viewers that government programming would continue.
"I think the city's at the forefront. We're looking towards the future," she said.
Now the city will begin the transition process, with the help of the commission.
Independent of the commission, the city is now at liberty to negotiate a new franchise agreement with CenturyLink.
Erin Hinrichs can be reached at 651-748-7814 and ehinrichs@lillienews.com. Follow her at twitter.com/EHinrichsNews.
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