Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007
Cable TV might see competition
By William Kincaid
FORT RECOVERY - Village officials are excited about the possibility of a new cable provider bringing its services to Fort Recovery and offering some competition to Insight Communications, the village's sole cable provider based out of Hartford City, Ind.
Village Administrator Randy Diller on Monday night informed council members that Wabash Mutual Telephone of Celina is interested in installing its telephone, Internet and digital cable services in the village.
"Obviously, we don't have exclusive contracts on any of those things," Diller said.
Council members unanimously supported the company's request to perform preliminary research necessary for future installation of services, which according to Diller could begin as soon as January.
"I don't see any reasons for them not to explore that (possibility)," Diller said.
Currently, Insight Communication provides both cable and Internet services. Also, Verizon offers phone and Internet services, while Bright.Net Communications offers Internet services.
Diller said if Wabash were to establish its utility lines in Fort Recovery, residents could save money by subscribing to the company's bundle package.
For example, Diller said he currently pays $125 a month for cable, Internet and telephone service through different companies. Wabash Mutual representative said the company currently offers the same services in a bundle package for $83 a month, a savings of over $40 a month, Diller told councilors.
Diller also pointed out that because the company is located in Wabash, phone calls to Celina would no longer be long distance. The village office makes 200-300 calls a month to Celina, Diller pointed out.
When asked by Mayor Roger Broerman about the possibility of Hometown Cable, Coldwater, expanding its services to Fort Recovery, Diller replied that that probably won't happen, as Hometown is just now beginning to install lines in St. Henry.
"Hometown is out of the picture because they're not coming to us," Diller said.
Wabash Mutual already is in the village helping Cooper Farms install utility systems, he added.
