No Franchise Agreement with Charter Communications Yet, Public Hearing Looming

ST. CLOUD - A new 10-year contract between Charter Communications and the city of St. Cloud is not a done-deal yet. The St. Cloud City Council heard specifics in the deal so far during their work study session this (Monday) evening.

Some of the key points include that Charter must maintain a local office within five-miles of the city of St. Cloud. Charter will also pay the city more money in PEG fees - paying 1.5 percent per customer per month, instead of the existing .75 cents they are paying now. Charter also pays the city five-percent of the revenue they get from their cable subscribers. But, they don't pay anything for broadband or telephone subscriptions.

Some details that still need to be worked-out include Charter moving the PEG channels last summer, without the city's consent.

Roughly about 15,000 St. Cloud residents subscribe to Charter. A public hearing on the issue has been set for Monday, February 23rd.