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Central Point OKs high-speed Net provider Hunter Communications will compete with Charter after council's fast approval By BUFFY POLLOCK CENTRAL POINT - The Rogue Valley's main provider of high-speed cable Internet services will have to compete in another market with the passage of an emergency measure by this town's City Council. Hunter Communications was officially granted the city's first-ever telecommunications franchise agreement Thursday night. That puts it in competition with cable TV and Internet provider Charter Communications, which serves several cities in the valley. Council members unanimously agreed to declare an emergency to allow passage of the franchise agreement on first reading. The measure grants the Central Point company the right to install fiber optic cables for high-speed Internet throughout the city. "We need some competition in town, and it's a financial hardship on Hunter to delay any longer," said council President Bill Stults. The franchise agreement was delayed last month after Charter Communications representatives questioned the arrangement. Charter officials said it was too vague and allowed Hunter unfair access to customers. Hunter's plans are to first provide high-speed Internet and data services to city government, the school district and downtown business and eventually provide cable television to residents. They won't use the same technologies as Charter, said Hunter President Richard Ryan. But Charter representatives claimed high-speed Internet was in fact considered cable and Hunter should be required to sign a cable franchise agreement. In addition, they argued Hunter should not be allowed to only offer services to specific customers, adding that their cable television franchise is more regulated and requires Charter to offer a broader range of services. While the council did not require Hunter to sign a cable franchise agreement, changes were made so that Hunter would have similar franchise fees and bond requirements. Charter's general manager did not immediately return phone calls Friday. Ryan said he is excited about the opportunity to "introduce some healthy competition into an otherwise monopolistic venue." "Anyone doesn't have to look any further than Ashland to see the quality of services Hunter will be providing this community," he said. Charter faces head-on competition in Ashland with the city-owned cable and Internet provider Ashland Fiber Network. AFN and Hunter have been making inroads into Medford as well, with plans to provide high-speed Internet service to City Hall there. Ryan said Hunter's plans are to finish some work on the Medford agreement and survey interest levels of Central Point business owners over the next six months. He hopes to install fiber lines by summertime. Hunter also has been meeting with Jackson County about providing services to smaller unincorporated areas, but Ryan said the company had some issues to iron out regarding the county's franchise agreement. Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.