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Council asks committee to investigate possible franchise violations in Time Warner–ABC dispute
Summary
The council approved a motion to investigate whether the Time Warner–ABC carriage dispute violated the city's cable franchise customer-service or notice requirements and to pursue franchise enforcement if necessary.
Council Member Padilla introduced a motion asking the council to investigate possible franchise agreement violations arising from the dispute between Time Warner Cable and ABC that had interrupted local programming for subscribers. Padilla said the motion did not ask the council to take sides between the two corporations but instead to ‘‘exert its jurisdiction’’ to protect consumers and subscribers and examine whether Time Warner failed to meet customer-service and notice standards under its city franchise.
Padilla said a resolution to look into franchise violations would protect consumers and create a framework so future disputes between broadcasters and cable providers do not leave subscribers without notice or remedy. Council Member Chick and other members voiced public-support for bringing the issue into committee and for encouraging affected residents to testify at the committee hearing next Wednesday on a related cable transfer matter.
The motion to refer the matter to committee passed on a recorded vote of 14 ayes.
Ending: The council asked staff to place the motion on the relevant committee agenda and invited public comment at the committee hearing to document consumer impacts.
