FPB Cable-Telecom Planned Maintenance Outages for Thursday Morning

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FPB Cable-Telecom crews will continue planned maintenance service interruptions in 13 neighborhoods over the next two months in an effort to upgrade cable TV, Internet and telephone infrastructure. The next two areas will be affected Thursday morning, January 7 from 1:00am-7:00am.

Area number one includes: Crestwood Subdivision, 500-800 block of East Main, Allnut Drive, Prince Hall, Myrtle Ave, Hickory Drive, 100 block of Rolling Acres, and Marlow Ct.

For a list of all area one streets click here

MEREDITH AVE
ROLLING ACRES CT BEAUMONT AVE
BARR CT
ATWOOD AVE CONN
E MAIN ST
TURNBERRY DR
LEE CT
ELM DR
HILLWOOD AVE
HOLLY ST
CHESTNUT AVE
CRESTWOOD DR
BEECHWOOD AVE
PINEWOOD AVE
BIRCHWOOD AVE
LINDEN AVE
WALDEN WAY
LAUREL ST
ATWOOD AVE
GREENHILL AVE
MYRTLE AVE
HICKORY DR
JONATHAN CT
MARLOWE CT
WINDING WAY DR
ROLLING ACRES DR
COLUMBIA AVE
IVY AVE

Area number two includes: Cottages of Frankfort, Arborview, C. Michael Davenport Blvd, Heritage Subdivision, Doctors Drive, Kings Daughters Drive, Woodgate, and Franklin Square.

For a list of all area two streets click here

HERITAGE LN
TWIN PINES LN
C MICHAEL DAVENPORT BLVD
CHAMBERLIN AVE
CHAPMAN DR
CHARITY CT
ELERLY LN
FIDO CT
PORTSMOUTH LN
WHEELER DR
KINGS DAUGHTERS DR
CYPRESS DR
TUPELO TRL
GOOD NEIGHBOR DR
DOCTORS DR
BONDURANT DR
PHYSICIANS PARK
C MICHAEL DAVENPORT BLVD
DIAGNOSTIC DR
WOODGATE RD
KINGS DAUGHTERS DR
LEONARDWOOD DR
VANDALAY DR
MEDICAL HEIGHTS DR
CHAMBERLIN AVE
WEST RDG
US HIGHWAY 127 S NC
COTTAGES OF FRANKFORT
CARDWELL LN
GARDNER MOBILE HOME CT
ARBORVIEW DR
ARBOR CT
CARDWELL LN
LEONARDWOOD DR
KACO DR

Please note not every address on every street will be affected. FPB apologizes to its customers for the inconvenience. These upgrades are needed to replace aging equipment, will improve network reliability for customers and allow for enhanced service offerings in the future.

FPB Employees Donate Over $16k to United Way of Franklin County

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FPB presents a check to United Way of Franklin County Executive Director Randy Roberts.(Pictured left to right – Randy Roberts, United Way of Franklin County; and 2016 FPB Committee Members Michelle Early, Kim Bayes and Rebecca Wilson.)

FPB presents a check to United Way of Franklin County Executive Director Randy Roberts.(Pictured left to right – Randy Roberts, United Way of Franklin County; and 2016 FPB Committee Members Michelle Early, Kim Bayes and Rebecca Wilson.)

FPB employees are known for their hard work, dedication and ability to provide reliable services to their customers, but FPB is also known for giving back to the community. Whether it is a donation of money or time, FPB employees are always there to lend a hand to the people and organizations of Frankfort, Franklin County and the surrounding areas.

This year FPB employees donated $15,643.02 to the United Way of Franklin County. FPB employees have been making annual contributions to the United Way for many years and have consistently been one of the top corporate contributors to the cause.

Monthly financial contributions are just part of the company’s work for the United Way. Chili cook-offs, raffles and other fund raisers are part of the FPB employee’s contributions each year. The entire FPB contribution for 2015 was $16, 272.82.

FPB General Manager Herbbie Bannister applauds the generosity of the utilities’ employees and hopes FPB’s involvement can inspire others. “FPB encourages everyone to find a charitable organization or cause that you believe in and support it. The money raised and donated comes directly, and voluntarily, from our employees. This is our community, we are dedicated be a positive part of it and in the lives of our customers. Our employees take great pride in our involvement in this incredible community and I am very proud of their annual contribution to the United Way of Franklin County.”

FPB has a United Way committee of staff members that oversee the annual giving campaign. FPB’s 2015 committee included: Trisa Cinnamon, William Lynn and Rebecca Wilson.

FPB Cable-Telecom Planned Maintenance Outages Begin Thursday Morning

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FPB Cable-Telecom crews will begin planned maintenance service interruptions in 15 neighborhoods over the next two months in an effort to upgrade cable TV, Internet and telephone infrastructure. The first two areas will be affected Thursday and Friday morning, December 17 and 18.

Thursday, December 17, 2015 from 5-7am will include: Ridgeview and Arnold Ridge Subdivisions, Bypass Plaza and a small portion of Indian Hills including Teton Trail, Arapaho, Shawnee and Aztec. For a listing of all streets, click here.

Friday, December 18, 2015 from 5-7am will include: South Frankfort – West of Capital Avenue, Tanglewood Subdivision and Taylor Avenue. For a listing of all streets, click here.

Please note not every address on every street will be affected. FPB apologies to its customers for the inconvenience. These upgrades are needed to replace aging equipment, will improve network reliability for customers and allow for enhanced service offerings in the future.

In Depth Look at FPB Cable Rate Increases

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As a cable service provider, FPB is faced with the harsh reality of passing annual cable rate increases through to our customers. FPB, as a not-for-profit municipal utility, strives to avoid large increases. In fact, FPB’s annual increases are primarily a pass-through from programmers, to the utility and on to the customer.

Over the last 13 years, FPB Classic Cable customers have seen rates increase by nearly $40, from $25.50 in 2003 to a proposed rate of $64.50 in 2016. While the increase is substantial, a closer look at what causes the increase reveals an alarming nation-wide trend. “All across the country, cable providers are being hit with higher and higher programming costs,” says Harvey Couch, FPB Marketing and Video Content Coordinator. “These costs have skyrocketed over the past 10-15 years. Looking at the direct impact on FPB and its customers since 2003, the numbers paint a very disturbing picture.”

Couch stated most of the Classic Cable charges leave our community and fund large media conglomerates outside of Kentucky. “Breaking down the FPB Classic Cable bill, most of the rate goes to programming costs. Currently, FPB Classic Cable (including retransmission fees) costs $64.43 per month, per customer. Media companies in cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta who own cable networks and broadcast affiliates receive approximately $48.00 of that charge.”

The remaining amount ($16.46) is the only portion of FPB Cable customers’ bills that stays in Frankfort. Couch says that small amount helps fund FPB Cable’s operational budget, including equipment, personnel, upgrades, and infrastructure maintenance. In 2002, the amount staying in Frankfort was $15.75. While FPB customer rates have unfortunately increased significantly since 2002, the amount that stays in this community has essentially remained the same. FPB has received only $.71 of the $40 increase.”

For more than a decade, the large cable programmers have taken negotiations to a new level. “Our co-op, the NCTC (National Cable Television Cooperate), negotiates with different

programmers every year. While annual increases are expected and budgeted for, how these programmers are doing business with providers is less than optimal.” According to Couch, essentially a few major companies own over 85% of all cable networks. This dynamic gives the programmers incredible leverage on all cable providers, especially small independent operators like FPB. “There are only seven or eight companies who own a vast majority of all cable networks. This allows these networks to force providers like FPB to carry many, if not all, of the channels owned by these large corporations. They force large rate increases, require channel launches and compel lineup demands. The deck is really stacked against the provider and the customer.” In just the last 45 days, FPB was required to launch Oxygen and OWN on Classic Cable by previously executed contracts with NBC/Universal and Discovery Networks respectively.

As we wind down 2015 and look to 2016, Couch says FPB is being forced to pass on another potential Classic Cable rate increase. “We have several contracts up for renewal in the next several months. NBC/Universal, AMC Networks, and Turner Broadcasting are all set for renewal. Staff planned and budgeted for an increase of around $5 per month/per customer, a result of annual rate increases imposed by programmers like Disney/ESPN, Fox, and Viacom. What we didn’t plan for was the astronomical increase and demands from AMC Networks (AMCN).” The proposed increase on Classic Cable is $6.35. At the same time, Preferred Cable is being proposed to decrease by a $1 which is a result of the mandatory re-positioning of less popular channels to Classic Cable. “We would prefer to continue carrying these channels on the Preferred Cable tier and give our customers greater choice,” Couch stated.

As of December 10, there has been no change in AMC Networks’ demands. The NCTC has continued to negotiate in good faith, while AMCN has responded with virtually no concessions. FPB carries AMC on Classic Cable, while IFC, We TV, and BBC America are offered on Preferred Cable. AMCN is demanding FPB move the Preferred Cable networks to Classic Cable (therefore passing on the expense to more subscribers) as well as launch two other AMCN channels (Sundance Channel and BBC World News) on Classic Cable. AMCN is demanding to go from one to six networks on Classic Cable. According to Couch, this should be a customer decision, not one forced on to unwilling subscribers. “Migrating three lightly-viewed channels and launching two brand new channels that customers do not want on Classic Cable doesn’t seem fair to FPB or our customers.”

If FPB accepts these terms, the increase to customers for AMCN programming alone on FPB Classic Cable would be approximately 400% more than the current AMCN contract.

Additionally, AMCN is requesting a 10 year contract. Couch states this is an unprecedented demand from AMCN. “Most cable programming contracts are three to five years. It seems irresponsible to sign a contract of that length, especially not knowing the landscape of the video world in 10 years.”

FPB staff and operators from another 700 NCTC member companies have communicated to AMCN that we are willing to pay a fair increase on AMC and maintain existing distribution for their other channels, but AMCN has continued to make it clear the distribution terms on this deal were going to be an all or nothing situation.

Overall, even with the annual increase, Couch states that FPB’s cable rates are still an exceptional value. “We understand the frustration our customers have with the annual increase. As a not-for-profit cable provider, FPB is dedicated to providing reliable service at the lowest possible rate. It is a responsibility we take great pride in and our rates are still lower than most surrounding communities. We are proud to be a local, municipal provider. We strive to be fair, even if the negotiations with the networks are not. ”

FPB Facing Programming Rate Increase on Classic Cable

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“Migrating three lightly-viewed channels and launching two brand new channels that customers do not want on Classic Cable doesn’t seem fair to FPB or our customers.”

As a not-for-profit cable provider, FPB works to provide reliable service at the lowest possible rate. FPB’s membership in the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC) provides us with leadership, expertise and support during negotiations with large cable networks.

The NCTC is in active negotiations with multiple cable networks, including NBC Universal and AMC Networks (AMCN). Cable programmers ask for increases during every contract negotiation. When agreements are reached, these increases are passed directly through from the programmers to FPB and on to the customer. According to FPB Marketing and Video Content Coordinator Harvey Couch, most of the Classic Cable rate leaves our community and goes to large media conglomerates throughout the US. “Breaking down the FPB Classic Cable bill, most of the rate goes to programming costs. Currently, FPB Classic Cable (including retrans fees) costs $64.43 per month, per customer. Cable programmers and media companies in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta receive approximately $38.00 of that charge. Another portion goes for retransmission consent to national companies that own the network affiliates in Louisville and Lexington. The remaining amount ($16.50) is used by FPB to provide cable service to customers. Equipment, personnel and infrastructure maintenance all are funded by the small portion remaining from the rate structure. In 2002, that amount was $15.75. While our customer rates have unfortunately increased significantly since 2002, the amount that stays in this community has essentially remained the same.”

Currently, FPB carries AMC on Classic Cable and IFC, We TV, and BBC America are offered on Preferred Cable. AMCN is demanding that FPB move the Preferred Cable networks to Classic Cable (therefore passing on that expense to more subscribers) as well as launch two other channels they own (Sundance Channel and BBC World News) on Classic Cable. All told, AMCN wants to go from one to six networks on Classic Cable. According to Couch, this should be a customer decision, not one forced on to unwilling subscribers. “Migrating three lightly-viewed channels and launching two brand new channels that customers do not want on Classic Cable doesn’t seem fair to FPB or our customers.”

If FPB accepts these terms, the increase to customers for the AMCN programming on FPB Classic Cable would be approximately 400%. Additionally, AMCN is requesting a 10 year contract. Couch states that this was an unprecedented demand from AMCN. “Most cable programming contracts are 3-5 years. It seems irresponsible to sign a contract of that length, especially not knowing the landscape of the video world in 10 years.”

FPB staff and operators from another 700 NCTC member companies have communicated to AMCN that we are willing to pay a fair increase on AMC and maintain existing distribution for their other channels, but AMCN has made it clear that the distribution terms on this deal were going to be an all or nothing situation.

FPB has called for a special public meeting to discuss the potential rate increases with our Board and customers. The special meeting will take place Tuesday, December 1 at 5pm at the downtown Farmers Bank location (125 W. Main St, 4th floor).

Couch says this is a huge decision for our customers. “FPB is dedicated to providing reliable service at the lowest possible rate. It is a responsibility we take great pride in. This public hearing will provide valuable input as to how FPB staff and our Board approach this very important decision.”