Agoura Hills cable franchise complicated by new school

Time Warner Cable reportedly has told Las Virgenes Unified School District officials it will not provide cable services to the new Yerba Buena Elementary School when it opens in March.

School district officials asked the city of Agoura Hills to negotiate on their behalf in the city's cable franchise discussions.

Donald Zimring, deputy superintendent of the Las Virgenes Unified School District, asked the Agoura Hills City Council last week to refuse Time Warner a city franchise agreement extension unless the cable company agrees to provide service to the new Yerba Buena school.

Zimring said the media giant, which recently took over areas formerly served by Adelphia Cable, refused to include the new school in its contract because its address was not listed in the city's current franchise agreement.

Agoura Hills city attorney Craig Steele said negotiations with cable companies have become "dicier" since a new law was passed allowing the state to control contracts between municipalities and cable operators. California Assembly Bill 2987 also opens up the competition to telephone companies.

Agoura Hills city officials said they would prefer to keep local control over their franchise agreement. Steele recommended that the council negotiate on the school's behalf, but not make the city's extension of services conditional on Time Warner's Yerba Buena decision. Steele doesn't want the state to move in and take local control away from the city.

Agoura Hills City Manager Greg Ramirez said a strong message was conveyed to Time Warner officials Dec. 13 to work with the school district.

If the city does not extend Time Warner's franchise agreement, it risks loss of cable service and up to $175,000 in future franchise fees, officials said. Ramirez believes Time Warner will agree to provide service to Yerba Buena once the city clarifies the service contract.

Patricia Fregoso-Cox, vice president of community affairs for Time Warner, said contract negotiations are still in the preliminary phase. The city has yet to give formal notice about the extension of the franchise agreement, she said.

"If a school is serviceable, it's an honor and a privilege to provide that free cable service to schools," Fregoso-Cox said.

"The current agreement stipulates service to all schools in Las Virgenes," Ramirez said. But Ramirez said he didn't believe the city should risk the agreement and make service to Yerba Buena a condition for extension.

"It's not only money," said Councilmember Harry Schwarz. "Community service is a big part of it." Agoura Hills TV is aired on cable television, and local fire and sheriff's departments need access to the community channel during emergencies.

If Time Warner refuses to provide service to Yerba Buena, Zimring said, the district would be forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars for the installation of cable or fiber optics. Another option would be to pay for satellite services, he said.

Last week the Federal Communications Commission requested local governments become more responsive to outside cable competitors.

"The whole playing field is going to be redefined," said Ramirez.