The public will likely get a chance to voice their opinions on a new community television program.
Monday, the Ranier City Council recommended to the International Falls Cable Commission that it hold a public hearing on the proposed channel, and a franchise fee charged to each cable television subscriber, before moving forward with the plan to start the local program.
Cynthia Jaksa, representing the cable commission, made a presentation to Ranier’s Committee of the Whole on March 8. Cable commission members spoke to the county board Committee of the Whole Tuesday.
Tuesday, the county board seconded the notion of getting community input, and suggested a survey of all local cable subscribers.
Ranier Mayor Ed Oerichbauer told The Journal that implementing the fee without hearing from area residents was akin to making a mandate.
“Cost is an issue. ... I think the public does know what they want to buy,” County Commissioner Wade Pavleck told the cable commission members.
Commissioners questioned whether subscriptions to the service (a choice by the cable subscriber) or flat-rate payments could be considered. Jaksa said that federal regulations on cable providers stipulate the franchise fee.
The cable commission said it has gathered information from other Minnesota communities that have done similar programs.
“When you talk about other communities doing this, they did it in much better economic times,” Pavleck said.
The International Falls City Council on March 1 agreed to levy the 5-percent franchise fee, which would amount to around $3 per month per cable customer.
The commission said that programming would include public meetings, sporting events, community bulletins, and other local content. Funding is needed to purchase equipment and pay staff.
If the plan is successful, the commission expects to receive $62,800 in franchise fees from International Falls, Ranier and Koochiching County subscribers in 2011. During that projected first full year in operation, it also hopes to leverage $30,000 in grants and $7,500 in memberships, sponsorships and contract fees.
More information can be found linked from the City of International Falls’ Web site http://www.ci.international-falls.mn.us or in packets Jaksa said were placed in the International Falls Public Library.
