New cable agreement being considered by supervisors

Carson City and Charter Communications have come to an agreement after more than four years of discussions.

This extension provides for a $200,000 payment by Charter over two years to help the fledgling cable public access channels operated since July by the Brewery Arts Center.

A 15-cent increase in monthly rates to Charter customers will help fund $100,000 of the money promised to the public access channels, said City Manager Linda Ritter.

This agreement would be an extension of the old contract that expired in July 2002, and would end December 2011.

The Board of Supervisors will be asked to approve the franchise contract extension during its meeting Thursday.

Charter also would provide for connections that would allow the airing of state legislative programming on another access channel, she said.

While this state programming likely wouldn't be a realistic goal by the start of the 2007 Nevada Legislative Session on Feb. 7. By 2009, however, "we could have everything up and running," Ritter said.

The franchise fee will be 5 percent of gross revenues, and this money will be paid to the city's general fund.

It's an agreement with Charter that will provide the necessary equipment for the BAC "to hook up with the Legislature, build viewership and offer a diversity of programming that will assist our community," said Mayor Marv Teixeira, who has been involved with negotiations for the past year.

He said any state legislative programming could be provided across the state and allow Carson City "to be the hub of all government of Nevada - as it should be."

The Legislature offers some webcasting and has a closed-circuit hookup of events in some of its buildings.

While some expected federal cable regulation changes haven't occurred, localities might not have the latitude that exists now when it comes to making franchise agreements.

California legislators approved a statewide franchise that would lessen the power of cities and counties, and Nevada could consider something similar next year, Ritter said.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.

If you go

What: Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting

When: 1:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Sierra Room, Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.