City cable rates may increase

Kalispell residents likely will see a 4 to 4.25 percent increase in their cable bills from Bresnan Communications.

Bresnan and the city are negotiating a franchise agreement in which the company pays for using Kalispell's public right of ways.

At a workshop Monday, City Manager Jim Patrick briefed the Kalispell City Council on the talks.

Right now, two proposals are on the table.

. Bresnan's proposal calls for roughly 4.7 percent of Bresnan's total gross revenue to go to the city, of which 4 percent would come from subscriber fees.

That translates to about $118,700 for the city each year. Bresnan also would pay a one-time $20,000 fee toward the city buying about $40,000 worth of its own broadcasting equipment.

. The city's proposal would mean almost 5 percent of Bresnan's total gross revenue would go to the city, of which 4.25 percent would come from subscriber fees. That translates to about $126,000 to the city each year.

Bresnan also would pay a one-time $15,000 toward the city buying its own broadcasting equipment.

The council members leaned toward sticking with the city's proposal, which probably would raise rates by 4.25 percent.

Part of the talks also address how Bresnan broadcasts City Council meetings.

Currently, Bresnan broadcasts the council's two regular meetings each month live on Channel 9 and also reruns them later. Bresnan does not record or broadcast workshop sessions.

Without a franchise agreement, Bresnan likely would broadcast the council meetings - taped and delayed - on the Montana Channel maybe once, Patrick said.

The $40,000 worth of broadcasting equipment could be used to expand city-related shows on Channel 9, Patrick said.

However, he pushed the council for the channel to be a government channel and not a public access channel. A public access channel would be tricky to manage and regulate because of the needed protocols and fairness doctrines, Patrick said.

A government channel would have to be nonpolitical and limited on what it can broadcast.

Council members suggested broadcasting local school sports events, which would be possible on a government channel.

Council members and Patrick also said technology should be pursued so council meetings could be rebroadcast on computer screens.