DATE: Thursday, October 2, 1997             TAG: 9710020563

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   54 lines

SUFFOLK ENLISTS AID IN CABLE TV BATTLE THE CITY COUNCIL WILL FILE A RATE-HIKE COMPLAINT WITH THE FCC

The City Council on Wednesday night decided to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission on recent fee increases by Suffolk's sole cable provider.

The city also will ask the commission to give Suffolk certification to regulate Falcon Cable's basic service rates.

``Our goal is to make sure we get good cable service at a reasonable rate,'' Cindy Rohlf, Suffolk's assistant to the city manager, said.

Effective Wednesday, Falcon's rates for its basic service package, which includes 35 stations, costs $24.91, a 9-cent increase. Its tier service package, originally an additional $2.36, is now $2.87, an increase of 51 cents.

Asking the FCC for certification could give Suffolk the authority it needs to determine whether Falcon's rates are fair, Rohlf said. Rohlf said the city will submit a letter to the FCC. If the city does not hear anything within 30 days, its request will be granted. The city will then have 120 days to devise a list of guidelines for the company.

The commission will allow the city to regulate only the company's basic service package.

The complaint on the more advanced cable package will force Falcon to justify its rates with the commission, Rohlf said. A decision could take six months to a year.

Council's decision is the latest development in a cable debate that has lasted for several years. City officials have warned that they will revoke the company's license if changes are not made to the service. Falcon has had the Suffolk franchise since 1984.

Last year, the city hired Rice, Williams Associates to document problems with the cable company. Two reports that evaluated the company's technical system and customer relations were released this May. Complaints included the lack of frequent testing for Falcon's equipment and poor customer service.

The company was given 30 days to fix the problems.

Rohlf said the consultants will visit the company this month to see if it has fixed the problems.

Councilman S. Chris Jones, said he would prefer revoking the company's license.

Cable subscriber Kathleen B. Taylor rates the company a ``minus zero'' on a scale of one to 10. ``These fee hikes are ridiculous,'' she said. ``They say the fee hikes are only a few pennies, but when you have three television sets, it adds up to about $5 more. They got a monopoly, and I wish the city would do something.''

To voice complaints, call the city's cable hot line, 934-3413. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Councilman S. Chris Jones wants to revoke the company's license. KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK CABLE TV

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu