Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rosston Examines Cable Issue

Rosston could be getting into the cable television business, and it's no joke.

At the regular monthly meeting of the Rosston City Council, Thursday, April 1, Mayor Lewis Jackson informed the city's governing body the current cable provider, Cablevision of Monticello, has offered to give the city the system at no charge.

However, Jackson said, the city would be responsible for operating the system and keeping it maintained, if it takes control.

Members of the council complained about the quality of service and picture being received in the area by Cablevision. It was said when a tree limb knocked the cable lines down, service reps with the company didn't climb the utility poles and replace them.

Instead, the serviceman reportedly removed the limb and left the cable lying on the ground, even though it crossed a well-traveled road and was constantly being run over by vehicles.

Jackson talked with company officials but gave them no guarantee the city would take the system over. He did tell them the city would consider it.

Jackson will contact the Arkansas Municipal League's attorney's to see if the city can legally take control of the cable television system.

He will also get in touch with the cable companies in Hope, Magnolia and Waldo to see if a deal can be made with one of them to provide service and maintenance on a part-time basis.

However, if the city can't legally take control of the system, or if Jackson learns the city simply can't afford to do it, Rosston will lose its cable television service completely.

At this time, he said, there are about 24 customers receiving cable services there.

He will get in touch with Entergy as well to see if the energy company will waive its lease fee of $5 per year per pole to have cable lines ran along them.

Should the city be able to take the system, he said, he will look into getting more channels added as soon as possible, as well as having the repairs made so the current customers will have better reception.

Under the original cable agreement, Jackson said, the entire city limits was supposed to be wired for cable TV, but this was never done.

At this time, he said, the city has no one working who knows anything about how to operate a cable system.

Still, he added, once the lines are repaired and other equipment checked out, it should be simple to maintain.

But, if the city does take the system over, he continued, all bills will be mailed to the Rosston City Hall, just like the water bills.

In other business, Jackson said the hand held radios for the Rosston Volunteer Fire Department are in, and the city made money on a shotgun chances were sold on to help with the project.