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SpringdaleSpeaksOut1This story from the Northwest Arkansas Morning News is the first that TelecomWatch has seen about the Springdale franchise renewal negotiations. Apparently, they are getting most of the information from Cox, rather than conducting their own Needs and Interest study. TelecomWatch will keep you updated on the renewal process in Springdale as it unfolds. Apparently, their current franchise is 20 years old. As in Fayetteville, the local subscribers voiced strong opinions about the need for more options on the basic tier lineup. Cable Company Hears From Customers By Bob Caudle The Morning News SPRINGDALE -- Residents voiced a variety of opinions about Springdale's cable service at a public hearing Thursday night at the City Administration Building.The hearing was the final of two meetings preceding Cox Communications' proposed franchise agreement renewal with the city of Springdale.Most of the questions dealt with the basic tier of cable channels -- the lowest-cost package offered by the company."Most people on basic cable wanted more things added, but they all wanted different things," said Wyman Morgan, finance and administrative services director for the city of Springdale. "Anytime you add to basic, it pushes the cost up. Cox is trying to keep the cost of basic down so people with limited income can afford it."James Anderson, director of public relations and government affairs for the cable company's Northwest Arkansas region, also addressed phone calls to the local Cox office.Callers in the Northwest Arkansas area sometimes call the local cable company number and wind up speaking to someone in another state."If the first number is busy, the phone is on a rollover system," Anderson said. "If all people in the Northwest Arkansas area are busy, it rolls to a different office in the region so you don't have to sit there and wait for someone to answer the phone."The cable company has also split its Internet service from its cable TV service, Anderson said, in answer to a question from the public."You can get Cox Internet now without getting Cox Cable," Anderson said. "That's only been done within the past 30-60 days. But, if you get the Internet and the video service both, you get a better deal than if you just got one. It's a packaging deal."Also, because of the recent channel changes, the company is also offering a 30-day period when you can make channel (package) changes without additional charges.To compete with the popular TiVo? service, a company that allows viewers to record and pause live programming, Cox is offering a DVR service.The Cox DVR service can pause a program up to an hour and then resume the program at the point where it was paused.The service can also record programs for varying periods of time, depending on whether the cable service is digital, analog or high-definition programming.After taking public comment, the cable company sits down with the City Council and reviews the franchise agreement, Morgan said."The agreement was drafted 20 years ago," Morgan said. "Some of the technology has changed since then."Ultimately, the council has the say in the franchise matter, Anderson added. |