RENO CITY COUNCIL
GRANTS 60-DAY EXTENSION
12-17-2003
RENO (17
Dec. 2003) — The Reno City Council today unanimously granted
Charter Communications an extension of its now-expired 15-year
franchise.
The city's
Citizens Cable Compliance Committee (CCCC) voted to oppose the
previous extension and has since been barred from considering
franchise renewal matters.
CCCC members Chuck Lanham and Noel Thornsberry attended the Reno
City Hall hearing with Chairman Andrew Barbano. Councilmember
Dave Aiazzi , liaison
to the CCCC, was the only official to ask a question. He asked
Mr. Barbano for the identity of his mystery expert with decades
of experience.
"
I told Councilman Aiazzi I'd make him a deal, " Barbano said,
"I'd ask that person to reveal his (or her) identity if the
council would open up the negotiating process to the public.
"No
sale."
The council then voted unanimously for a 60-day extension.
The council further directed staff to have six negotiation sessions
within that 60 days. They want the franchise wrapped up.
No one made any comment as to whether or not the city and its
ratepayers are getting anything for their trouble. After the September
extension, Mr. Aiazzi told CCCC members Barbano and Barbara Stone
that there are very good, albeit secret, reasons for granting
the extension.
The Dec.
17 Reno City Council meeting will rerun beginning at 10:00 a.m.
on both Thursday, Dec. 18, and Sunday, Dec. 21, on SNCAT/Charter
Cable Channel 13 in Sparks-Reno. The cable franchise extension
is discussed toward the end of the first hour (a few minutes after
the Pop Warner football teams depart).
Washoe County's one-year franchise extension expires this month.
We have asked the county for a status report. Sparks apparently
continues to sit on its collective rump.
There
are Sparks activists who want a cable committee established, but
thus far they've been told that whatever is organized, if anything,
will be done as part of the omnibus Sparks citizens advisory committee.
That body has an open-ended number of members and is famous for
identity crises — "what are we supposed to do and why do
we exist?" It's developed a reputation for being an advisory body
that seldom advises. When TMCC political science Prof. Fred Lokken
chaired it in the mid-90s, he didn't think it should make any
recommendations to the busy councilmembers. Go figure.
More as matters progress
or regress.
Happy holidays.
Be well. Raise hell.
Back to page delineating CCCC opposition
