Commissioners to take up new cable TV agreement

Adrienne Packer

Monday, Sept. 28, 1998 | 10:55 a.m.

Clark County commissioners scheduled a special meeting Tuesday to consider a new cable agreement that could bring more than $1.5 million to the county's general fund coffers.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Clark County Commission chambers.

As other local governments throughout the valley have done during the past month, Clark County likely will approve transferring ownership of the cable franchise from Prime Cable to Cox Communications. Members of the Henderson City Council in a special meeting tonight are expected to approve the cable ownership transfer as well.

Cox is acquiring the Las Vegas cable television operation for about $1.3 billion from Prime Cable, which is co-owned by the Greenspun family and the Texas-based company, Prime.

As part of its contract, Cox agreed to complete a state-of-the-art fiber optic build out by Jan. 1, 2000. The system was started by Prime Cable.

The agreement was hammered out by county representatives and officials from Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Boulder City and Henderson. Also in on the four months worth of meetings were representatives from Cox and Prime Cable.

In the settlement of the transfer, the local governments will receive a total of $4.7 million.

Also on Tuesday, commissioners will vote on whether to sign a 10-year Cable Television Franchise Agreement between the county and Cox Communications.

The franchise fees will be bumped from 3 percent to 4 percent for the first two years and 5 percent for the remainder of the term.

According to Administrative Services Director Thom Reilly, the advantages of the franchise agreement include the upgraded system, two educational access channels and a community access channel.