By Fred Pace
FAYETTEVILLE — Fayette County commissioners unanimously approved the cable franchise transfer of Rapid Communications to Shentel Cable Co. during its regular meeting Tuesday.
“We are visualizing the addition of high definition and increase in speed in Internet broadband that are up to five times faster than currently offered,” said Jan “Yon” Lesser, customer relations manager for Shentel.
“We would also be in a position to offer telephone service, which allows customers to bundle services and save money,” Lesser added.
The transfer will affect approximately 418 customers in the Ansted, Beckwith, Lansing, Mossy, Page and Scarbro areas.
“Rates will not increase, but services will,” Lesser said. “We will continue to meet and improve on the service levels that are currently in place today.”
Shentel would take over operations beginning the middle part of November, Lesser commented.
A spokesperson for Rapid Communications said the decision to transfer the cable franchise was a business decision.
“This was just a group of systems that made sense from a business standpoint to sell at this time,” he said.
Commissioner Matt Wender wanted Shentel to agree to cooperate in giving Fayette County a public service channel in its cable television lineup as Suddenlink recently agreed to do when its franchise agreements were extended by the county.
“We want a channel dedicated to Fayette County news, events and activities,” Wender said. “The content would be under the director of our county Chamber of Commerce.”
Lesser said the county is entitled to a channel.
“We absolutely, positively do commit to giving Fayette County a channel, as we do in the other areas we serve,” Lesser said.
Shentel is a 106-year-old company, headquartered in Edinburg, Va.
The county commission also:
-- Approved a proposed amendment to the county’s Unified Development Code which would allow for the on-site sale of products manufactured at said sites. Under the current regulations for industrial districts, no avenue existed for manufacturers to sell goods from their premises. The amendment now establishes a “retail outlet” sub-category as “special use,” which would provide for a public hearing. County officials said the amendment would enhance industrial districts and provide an avenue for economic development, which is clearly supported by the county’s comprehensive plan.
-- Approved Oak Hill’s annexation of the Pannell property.
-- Approved funding $1,000 toward a “grand lodge” feasibility study being done by Forward Southern West Virginia. Other agencies, including the 4-C Economic Development Authority and the state Legislature, have indicated they are also willing to support or fund the study for a new economic development and tourism project in the New River Gorge area.
— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com
