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Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad January 10, 2006 Suitors ask city about purchase of AFN By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings In addition to the JPR Foundation, Charter Communications and Qwest have expressed interest in AFN, according to City Administrator Gino Grimaldi. But the city is contacting brokers and investment bankers to handle a possible sale of AFN. From this point, the city will only have contact with potential buyers through a broker or investment banker, he said. The AFN Options Committee recommended that the city contact three or more investment banking firms specializing in the sale of television and Internet systems. The firms would provide input on AFN’s salability, possible sales prices, estimated time-frames for such sales, the cost of the sales process and how to put additional pressure on possible buyers to complete the purchase, according to a committee report to the city council. Meanwhile, Grimaldi said he will be sitting down with JPR Foundation representatives within the next few weeks for discussions about a possible spinoff. The JPR Foundation Board of Directors authorized the organization’s executive committee to have conversations with city officials. The board must ratify any contract with the city, according to Ron Kramer, executive director for the foundation and Jefferson Public Radio. Grimaldi also is contacting community members who might be interested in sitting on various panels to aid in pursuing alternatives for AFN. Ashland City Councilor Russ Silbiger had recommended a community task force explore spin-off opportunities and a community team look at opportunities for having businesses pay to sell telecommunications services over AFN’s infrastructure. Any final decision about AFN’s fate is in the city council’s hands. --> Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.