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Show Lack Of Action MSL Eyes Revoking Cable TV Iras By MARK D. MICKELSEN NORTH SALT LAKE Unless Wasatch Community Television crews take some action soon to install cable lines in North Salt Lake, there is a good chance that the city council will revoke their 30-year 30-year franchise. CITY MANAGER Collin Wood told city officials last week that he is constantly "plagued" with calls and letters let-ters from cable companies who want to do business with the city. In 1966, he said, North Salt Lake granted Wasatch Community Com-munity TV a 30-year nonexclusive non-exclusive franchise. Currently, Current-ly, the only work the Bountiful-based cable firm has completed com-pleted is the laying of overhead lines along Main Street, he added. "I GUESS the question is, would the council entertain an additional cable franchise?" Mr. Wood asked. Councilman Rod Wood voiced some concern over rable companies whose work ers feel they can install the lines on private property, while at the same time damaging damag-ing lawns and personal items belonging to homeowners. He cited problems caused by cable expansion in West Valley Val-ley City. CARLIN JACOBSON, another city council member, said he is in favor of allowing only one cable company in the city. City Attorney Mike McCoy warned, however, that "exclusive" franchises are no longer feasible largely due to recent Supreme Court cases. He said the Supreme Court has ruled that cities are governed gov-erned by anti-trust laws and, therefore, cannot take action which would create a monopoly monopo-ly within the community. The ruling stemmed from a case in Boulder, Colo., he said, where a cable firm sued the city for issuing only "exclusive" franchises. fran-chises. WHEN NORTH Salt Lake granted Wasatch Community TV a franchise, McCoy said the cable firm agreed to complete com-plete an 18-month feasibility study, and then commence construction. The attorney pinpointed several problems with the city's ci-ty's existing cable ordinance and presented council members mem-bers with an alternate ordinance ordi-nance now being used in Park City. HE SAID the new ordinance would allow the city to scrap existing franchises and allow other companies to come into the city. Several council members asked to review the ordinance. the talk centering around possible pos-sible changes in th: city's current cur-rent restrictions. BY UNANIMOUS vote, the council agreed to notify Wasatch Community TV that they may consider revoking the company's franchise, saying the cable firm has failed to meet all the requirements of the existing ordinance. Recreation Properties. Inc. Cable TV is one of several companies expected lo m;ike a bid for another franchise in April. |