CBS, ABC returning to Norway Cable TV
Residents upset after two channels lostBy LISA M. HOFFMANN, Staff Writer
NORWAY - Norway Cable Television customers should have a CBS and an ABC channel by Wednesday, officials said.
This is after City Council on Monday approved a provision to the city's contract with Packerland Broadband, a division of CCI Systems of Iron Mountain.
Earlier this month when Channel 10 out of Marquette shut off its signal in Marquette in order to move it to Ishpeming, cable customers lost a local ABC channel.
On Friday, June 12 when all channels went digital as required by the FCC, Norway CATV customers lost CBS.
Because of that, cable television customers have not had an ABC or CBS channel.
Norway City Manager Ray Anderson said when the federal government turned off the analog signal to broadcast in digital on Friday, the city lost channels.
"We realized a few channels went black, and we could do nothing," he said.
Jim Bryner, chief technician for city of Norway CATV, said channel 10 (ABC out of Marquette) went completely off. He made calls on Monday, but said officials at the station did not know when the channel would be back.
He said the picture for Channel 3, which is a rebroadcast of Channel 5 out of Green Bay, is not going to be consistent. Bryner said the channel is applying to the FCC for a permit, and construction could start as soon as November.
WLUC TV6 has been broadcasting in digital since February. Channel 11 (WLUK) is on the cable, and PBS is also OK, Bryner said.
Packerland Broadband's quote to the city to broadcast the channels out of Green Bay was 50 cents per subscriber for all four channels.
Anderson added with the addition of WBAY, an alternative to Channel 10, customers will see a positive response from the channel.
City Hall on Monday received many calls from city residents asking when Channel 10 and Channel 3 would be back on the air.
Chad Kay, chief engineer for Packerland Broadband, said equipment for the channel switch is on order and officials would try to install it Tuesday. He said there is a 24-hour turnaround, and the latest the channels would be back on the air is Wednesday morning.
With the new channel line up, Norway Cable customers will get WBAY (ABC) and WFRV (CBS), both out of Green Bay. Eliminated because the city can no longer get the channel's signals are WBUP (Channel 10) and WJMN (Channel 3, a rebroadcast of Channel 5).
Anderson said with the channel change, customers will not see a cost increase on their monthly bill. The difference will be absorbed within the city's contract with Packerland Broadband.
In other action, City Council:
- Held a public hearing on the fiscal year 2009-10 operating and capital improvement budget and general appropriations act. Pursuant to City Charter, a public hearing must be held before final adoption. Council members held budget workshop sessions May 26-27, June 2 and June 9. No city residents spoke at the hearing.
- Approved the city's general utility and service rate for fiscal year 2009-10. Anderson said there are no rate or fee increases in this resolution other than an increase for garbage rates of 25 cents for residents and 50 cents for commercial, effective July 1. This increase will appear on August bills.
- Approved pay rates for non-union employees for fiscal year 2009-10. Anderson said his employment agreement will stay the same until it is discussed by council. He added all non-union employees pay will remain the same with the exception of the city assessor, who will get a 3 percent raise. City Assessor Jim Waisanen has not had a increase in the last three years. He will be paid $18,025 per year.
- Set 16.3942 mills to be levied under the general property tax act.
- Approved a contract with United Kiser for the installation of a band brake for units one and two at the Sturgeon Falls Hydro Electric plant at a cost of $88,000.
- Approved the city to enter into an agreement with Northern Michigan Public Service Academy (NMPSA). The city has not been a member for the past couple of years due to cost of membership. Since employees have participated in training sessions, the cost to be a member is more feasible. Members pay $10 per person for each training class where non-members pay $60 per class. The cost of membership is $600, which is less than when the city quit. At that time membership was $700 per year.
- Approved Council Member Jeremy Oja as a voting member to the NMPSA, and Mary Pollard, city treasurer, as the alternative. The member or alternate member is eligible to attend monthly or quarterly meetings at Marquette City Hall.
Lisa M. Hoffmann's e-mail address is lhoffmann@ironmountaindailynews.com.
