Ridgewood has spent three years fighting with Cablevision over a new franchise agreement. The village is getting its system rebuilt and a dedicated public access channel, but just one of 15 cable modems it requested. Wayne is in mediation with Cablevision over the company's refusal to provide it with another public access channel and allow it to reopen the 10-year contract after five years if the township is unhappy. And Paterson is fighting to get the remainder of the city wired, local camera operators rehired, and more cable revenues. The state requires a cable company to return 2 percent of its revenues from broadcast basic cable each year to a municipality.
Cable operators say that towns' complaints are overblown.
They say the negotiating process is fair and results in good deals for municipalities. Alexander and company executives also insist that cable still offers customers a good deal. It's a combination of the price, product, and service. Murphy also said Cablevision has been receptive to the needs of communities and customers. It also plans to give 20 scholarships this year to New Jersey students, sponsors the Great Falls Festival in Paterson, and is promoting the Fourth of July festival in Ridgewood, she said.