A new ordinance could help protect cable customers from being gouged if the rumored merger of a cable giant with the local service happens, officials said this week.
Approved unanimously by the City Council, the ordinance will allow the city to inspect a company’s legal, technical and financial qualifications before allowing the transfer of a cable franchise. Under the new law, local cable service provider Media One could not be transferred or assigned without Elmhurst officials’ consent.
Officials said the ordinance was triggered by their concern about a rumor that telecommunications giant TCI is scouting a buyout of Media One. Media One, owned by former Bell System subsidiary U.S. West, acquired the formerly local Continental Cablevision last year.
“The competition, we firmly believe, will be out there,” said Ald. Susan Rose, chairwoman of the Council’s Public Affairs and Safety committee. With the new ordinance, officials “just want to position ourselves to protect the citizens of the community,” she said.