Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 12 · column 4 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
forseen are boxes to house equipment to boost the signals during their long traverse.
The question in Mr. McCarthy’s mind, he said, is mainly one of timing. Senator A1 Gore (D-Tenn.) has legislation pending in Congress to reestablish the regulation of the cable television industry. There are also two other bills presently under consideration.
When the industry was deregulated in 1984, Mr. McCarthy explained, localities lost any power to establish or oversee rate structures, service standards and technical specifications. Now, for example, a locality has no authority to require a company to furnish lockout devices for so-called adult channels, or to require a minimum standard of service.
If Sen. Gore’s legislation is adopted, Mr. McCarthy said, those authorities would likely among the powers returned to localities. The county could set the application process for rate increases, he said, including a requirement that the company justify its increase requests. It could also set a certain standard of service, and penalties for non-compliance, including franchise forfeiture.
But, he added, “it’s not likely (those powers) would be retroactive,” meaning that any franchise agreements signed during the period of deregulation would not be covered by the new law.
“If the federal legislation looks as promising as it seems, I would lean toward recommending to the board that we do nothing until we see if it passes,” he said, predicting some action on the bill during this session of the Congress.
Since by granting a franchise the locality essentially gives up its rights to make changes for 15 years, Mr. McCarthy said, “if we spend six or eight months looking at the entire situation, it seems like a pretty good investment in time to me.”
Once the county issues its request for proposals, it is free to accept the bid of any company which meets the specifications. The county is also free to reject all bids without explanation, Mr. McCarthy added.
Marriage
license
Wayne Willard Grindle Jr., Haymarket and Wanda Lynn Moore, Viewtown.
96.9%