Note to AT&T Broadband: Islanders like their Mariners games. All of them.
Second note: They’re perfectly happy to drop cable for satellite dishes, when the service of the local provider falls short.
We offer these comments as AT&T Broadband closes in on purchase of the island’s cable franchise from Northland, which has provided local service since 1983.
AT&T no doubt sees the opportunity for profit here, but the spotty record of Northland – its dispute with the city over utility taxes, its much publicized failures this past baseball season – suggests that even a local monopoly can blacken its own eyes, and customers are willing to unplug and go elsewhere when provoked.
As a utility using public rights of way, AT&T must strike a franchise agreement with the city to do business here; the pending sale gives the city the ideal chance to negotiate an agreement that works to the advantage of consumers. Goals should include performance standards, and the continued access of Bainbridge Island Broadcasting, which showed new vitality and relevance with its recent election night coverage.
With regard to pricing, subscribers will probably find themselves at the whim of the company, just as they were with Northland. That’s because what passes for cable-industry regulation can be found only in the distant halls of the Federal Communications Commission.
That leaves the franchise agreement as the best, and perhaps only, avenue to promote consumer interests up front.
That, and satellite.
Light season
Is it too soon to think about Chrismas?
We think not, and coming through the transom this week was a welcome note from Dana Berg and a group of like-minded downtown boosters.
Looking ahead to the holiday season, Dana called our attention to a new effort to brighten our Winslow commercial area, a project she’s calling Light Up Downtown.
“Many cities of the world cover their streets during the holiday seasons,” Dana wrote. “When we saw a festive display while traveling several years ago, we thought it would be a perfect addition to Winslow Way.
“We envisioned strands of soft white lights arching across our main street during December.”
This holiday-dreaming is taking shape even before the publicity machine starts turning. Berg and company so far have raised $1,000; they’re looking for local benefactors to match that amount, to fund purchase of two 40-foot strands of white lights to run along Winslow Way.
Contributions can be made to Light Up Downtown, c/o Team Winslow, 221 Winslow Way West, No. 205 (that’s upstairs at the Marge Williams Center, if you want to drop a check off in person).
Light Up Downtown strikes us a fine way to support our downtown merchants as they ready for the coming season.
We note that a new advertising spot is already running on local cable, touting the various charms of our Winslow Way business district. Here’s a chance to add a little more light to the end of an unusually troubled year.
Light Up Downtown? We’ll be glad to flick the switch.
