Latest from CHS
- Blotter | One arrest after E Pike 'store invasion,' burglar nabs E Pine office safe by jseattle
- Following Capitol Hill pushback, City Council backs off 'corner store' zoning changes by jseattle
- Volunteer Park's busy 100th year: Playground overhaul, Conservatory's $3 ticket and weddings plan by BCC
- Capitol Hill Alano Club announces its 'bittersweet' dissolution by Kelton Sears
- A look at Bauhaus as one of the 'big three' in Seattle's coffee history by jseattle
Not a Member?
Sign Up
| When: | Thursday, June 24, 2010 05:30 PM - 07:00 PM |
| Where: | 2301 South Jackson St 98144 |
| What: |
NEWS ADVISORY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Community Forum: Broadstripe & City of Seattle Report on Cable & Internet Franchise Agreement Thursday, June 24, 2010, 5:30 – 7 p.m. Bank of America Conference Room, 2301 South Jackson St 98144 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seattle, WA --- A large group is expected to gather Thurs., June 24 for the 2nd Quarter meeting of volunteers who are pushing for better technology within neighborhoods included in a contract between the City of Seattle and Broadstripe, a privately held cable and internet company based in Missouri. The meeting is sponsored by Upping Technology for Underserved Neighbors (UPTUN), a group that has worked with the City’s Department of Technology and Broadstripe since February 2009 to advocate for improvement of services. The group contends that Broadstripe cable tv and internet services are higher priced and lower quality than those of companies that serve other neighborhoods in Seattle. Those neighborhoods within the franchise agreement include parts of the Central District, Beacon Hill, Capitol Hill, Leschi, Queen Anne and Downtown Seattle. Broadstripe serves approximately 17,000 Seattle cable subscribers with cable television and Internet service and is the sole cable operator in these neighborhoods. “This arrangement is an outdated form of redlining that started in the 1970s when companies viewed these areas as crime-ridden, dangerous and not having the revenue potential like other Seattle neighborhoods “says Tracy Bier, who coordinates the UPTUN group. UPTUN calls the quasi-monopoly situation “digital redlining” and believes it is very outdated. Continuing the perception that these neighborhoods cannot larger companies is damaging to the neighborhoods by stifling economic development in numerous and varied ways. UPTUN contends that the current situation that provides substandard services to individuals, small businesses and companies is a negative economic consequence that is serious and needs to be addressed. Customers have complained repeatedly to the City about the poor service. George Staggers is Executive Director of the Central Area Development Association and a member of the UPTUN Work Group. Staggers says that rental property managers, business owners and sellers of residential homes report similar stories to him: when potential customers learn that Broadstripe is the sole cable provider, they often walk away. Other negative economic consequences are cited on UPTUN’s web page: 1) multi-family properties (that have Broadstripe service) are harder to sell or lease 2) it is impossible for individuals to telecommute reliably 3) home business owners cannot compete well 4) for many years, citizen anger festers toward the City due to contract 5) for many years, citizen anger festers toward Broadstripe (previously Millenium) 6) inadequate service has been a reason individuals have left the neighborhood 7) uploading and downloading large documents is especially difficult for business When UPTUN did a survey of neighbors, the following problems were documented 1) frequent interruption of internet service 2) no assistance available on weekends 3) frequent outages on weekends 4) service problems that are not attended to for weeks and sometimes months. During the meeting on Thursday, June 24th, there will be time for directors from Broadstripe and the City of Seattle Technology Department to report on improvements in service. There will also be time for questions from attendees. For more information, www.uptun.org , call 206-322-8613 or atbier@msn.com |
|
|
|
