Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Carjacker killed in shootout with police near Dunsmuir; baby remains missing ... Truck crashes reported on I-5 at exits 30 and 6 ... Guest Opinion: Forest Practices Act can (but doesn't) do the job ... Carjacker killed in shootout with police near Dunsmuir; baby remains missing ... Truck crashes reported on I-5 at exits 30 and 6 ... Guest Opinion: Forest Practices Act can (but doesn't) do the job ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Why is Charter our only choice? Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 24, 2014 at 12:01 AM Posted Sep. 24, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News I just sent off my latest check to Charter for the mandatory “new and improved” digital services. As usual, this entails an increase in monthly fees. Since Charter is the only “choice” for a cable provider in the city of Medford, the question begs: Who in city government is watching out for us? Does our fine City Council just rubber stamp the outrageous Charter fees, or would it entertain the concept of perhaps allowing another vendor the opportunity of providing alternative cable/Internet services. It seems the council is not interested in looking out for the folks in this city. Food for thought in the next election. — Ted K., Medford. If you’ve ever heard the city councilors discuss Charter, Ted, you’d realize they have their own beefs about the cable provider. It’s not like we have cable service providers beating down our doors, so Charter’s been the main cable game in town. However, many residents have switched over to a satellite dish television. City Councilor Daniel Bunn said the council has often expressed frustration about Charter in the past, and the city would welcome another provider. “It’s not an exclusive franchise,” he said. However, the expense of installing cable and other improvements doesn’t make it easy for someone else to move in, Bunn said. “Nobody wants to do it,” he said. “It would require a huge, upfront capital investment.” Bunn said the council does approve the Charter franchise, and he said most councilors think it’s not up to them to tell a company how to conduct its business. Also, getting another cable company wouldn’t necessarily result in lower rates, he said. Despite your feelings about Charter, Ted, we can offer you some comfort in the realization that Comcast is in the process of acquiring Charter’s operations in Oregon as part of a massive telecommunications deal. But Comcast isn’t saying what it will charge for service in our fair city, though it is saying that it will offer the Pac-12 games. If the federal government approves the takeover, Comcast will become the cable provider in Southern Oregon by next summer. Charter has about 11,000 customers in Medford. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.   MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 24, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501