Competitive Cable Television Service Coming to Montgomery County

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

Db:starpower.pr 99-51

Contact: Jerry Pasternak 301-217-2500
Jane Lawton 301-217-7372
Starpower, Tony Peduto 202-955-7960

For Immediate Release: February 19, 1999

Competitive Cable Television Service
Coming to Montgomery County

County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today announced that competitive cable television service is coming to Montgomery County through an agreement with Starpower Communications, LLC, which will offer its services to parts of the County. Starpower is a partnership of RCN Telecom Services of Washington D.C., Inc. and Pepco Communications, each holding a 50 percent interest in the company. This agreement is the first time since 1983, when cable service was introduced in the County, that a cable provider has entered the market to offer competitive service.

"Competition is the best thing we can bring to subscribers in Montgomery County," said Duncan in announcing the deal. "It should result in better customer service from both providers and should stabilize rates, which have increased by more than 20 percent in the past two years.

"We are pleased to welcome Starpower to the County and hope that success in its initial buildout area will enable it to expand and serve all parts of the County in the future," said Duncan. Construction of the system will take place in two phases and it is expected to be completed within four years.

The fifteen-year cable franchise agreement provides for a new state-of-the-art 860Mhz system, using a hybrid fiber optic-coaxial cable design and serving no more than 500 customers per node. Starpower has announced that there will be 94 channels of basic analog programming with additional digital, premium and pay-per-view channels also available. The agreement includes strong customer service standards, addressing telephone and service response, billing, installations, and notice to customers. It also addresses construction and maintenance requirements designed to preserve public safety, minimize the disruption to private property owners, and assure prompt restoration of property that is disturbed during construction.

The franchise provides for payment of a five percent franchise fee to the County and participating municipalities and support for Public, Educational and Government programming (PEG), which is comparable to the incumbent provider's PEG support. In addition to video programming, Starpower will also offer high-speed internet service and competitive local and long distance phone service.

The geographical area to be served under the agreement includes parts of Bethesda, Silver Spring, Aspen Hill, Derwood, Colesville and the following fourteen municipalities: Chevy Chase Village; Town of Chevy Chase; Village of Chevy Chase, Section III; Village of Chevy Chase, Section V; Martin's Addition; Chevy Chase View; Garrett Park; Glen Echo; Kensington; Rockville; Somerset; Takoma Park; Village of North Chevy Chase; and Washington Grove.

A public hearing on the proposed franchise agreement is scheduled for Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Third Floor Hearing Room of the Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. The hearing will be televised on County Channel 55 (cable ready 5). Beginning Wednesday, February 24, the agreement and supporting documents will be available for public review in County Regional Libraries, the Takoma Park Public Library, and at the Cable Office, Room 250, Council Office Building. These materials will also be available in the near future on the Internet at the County website (www.co.mo.md.us/hca ). Written comments may be submitted until 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, 1999. Comments should be mailed or delivered to: Hearing Officer, c/o Cable Office, 100 Maryland Avenue, Suite 250, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Comments may also be submitted via E-Mail to al.lister@montgomerycountymd.gov.

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