The experience of many communities suggests otherwise. These benefits have been obtained in many communities without significantly increasing rates to consumers. A successful cable franchise renewal is not a matter of chance. Too many communities allow the cable operator to take control of the process. If a community fails to identify what it can and should obtain through the renewal process, the cable operator will have a large advantage.
Every renewal is different, and every community has different needs and interests.
It is possible to satisfy the needs and interests of your community if the community puts the effort into the renewal process. My operator wants me to ignore the formal process and just enter into negotiations. It is generally not a good idea. But the two processes can and should work in tandem. The first step in the formal process is to identify future, cable-related needs and interests of the community and to review the past performance of the operator.