If you want cable service in San Francisco, Comcast Cablevision is just about your only choice. Although Comcast does not have an exclusive contract with the City, its competitors are virtually nonexistent. After 40 years, the good news is that San Francisco is renegotiating its long-standing cable franchise. In fact, the Board of Supervisors has already rejected several offers from Comcast, so the City might have gained the leverage needed to complete a better contract for those in its service area.

What does this mean for homeowners and other residents? Possibly lower priced service, increased competition, free wireless Internet access in public spaces, and more money for the City's general fund, which receives a majority of the cable franchise fees. In turn, more money for the general fund might lead to much-needed quality-of-life improvements. In addition, media fairness advocates are lobbying for such terms as free service for government and non-profit organizations, discounted rates for seniors and low-income households, as well as uniformity in service and pricing throughout San Francisco.

The contract will lay out the scope and provisions of the cable television and broadband Internet service that the City will receive from the cable giant. New technology has, of course, given more weight to the negotiations, which are to extend through the end of 2005. Whatever the outcome, the City and Comcast will be bound by the terms of the new contract for the next ten to 15 years.

For more information on contract negotiations, call your Supervisor or read about Digital TV Transition scheduled for Feburary 17, 2009, that will transform your television viewing experience by enabling broadcasters to offer better picture, enhanced sound quality, and multiple programming options.