Orange County NC Website
As no other questions were asked of Alert, the Chairman turned the <br /> floor over to Jim Heavner of Village Cable. Mr. Heavner asked the Board <br /> to consider the following points: - <br /> Alert Cable T.V. has many concerns other than Orange County; <br /> Village has no other concerns. <br /> Alert is controlled by"foreign"management; Village is controlled <br /> locally. <br /> Consider the level of local performance--Alert was franchised in <br /> Carrboro in 1976. The first customers were turned on in 1979 and <br /> installation is still in progress. Village was franchised in Chapel Hill <br /> in 1979. Construction was completed ten (10) months later. <br /> Village has already conducted a housing census of Orange County and <br /> knows where lines are to be constructed. <br /> Village is prepared to build to a density to 30 homes per mile. <br /> Village anticipates serving 4,300 customers. Alert proposes to serve <br /> 2,400. This difference is covered by anticipated 70% market penetration <br /> versus a 49% penetration. <br /> Village is offering a 38 channel service with 35 channels actually <br /> being used. <br /> Village projects franchise fee to the county of $140,000 over the <br /> next five (5) years and proposes to construct a $2,000,000 plant. <br /> Alert proposes a local staff only one-half the size of Villages staff. <br /> Village proposes three (3) satellite antennas. <br /> At the conclusion of Mr. Heavner's remarks the Chairman opened the <br /> • <br /> floor to questions. <br /> Q. Norman Vogel asked, did Village propose to construct 160 miles of <br /> Cable within two (2) years? <br /> A. Village response, yes--regardless of customer density. <br /> Q. Gralger Barrett inquired if a 02%increase in the prime rate during <br /> the next two (2) years would curtail construction plans? <br /> A. Village answered, no. Financing was already firm. <br /> Q. Granger Barrett: Does Village have permission from the Town of <br /> Carrboro to serve schools within the Town's corporate limits? <br />