By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- City councilors unanimously approved a three-year franchise agreement with Time Warner Cable to provide cable television service for city residents.

The contract was prepared with help from consultants and was intended to last for 15 years, but city councilors agreed that was too long for any deal with the cable television provider.

City Councilors voted unanimously to reduce the term to three years after Michael Morley, Dan Skamperle and William Hosmer said the term should was too long.

"I won't support anything more than three years," Hosmer said.

City Manager John Pinkerton said the contract aims to maximize the revenue the city can get from Time Warner.

He said this included obtaining fees that were less obvious such as fees secured through home shopping networks.

Under the agreement the city will collect a 5 percent franchise fee from Time Warner Cable subscribers.

Mayor William Nelson noted the contract was not an exclusivity deal between the city and Time Warner. He also informed councilors that the company can operate without a contract renewal according to federal law.

Although the contract does not exclude other providers Nelson said it was unlikely a new provider would come into the area due to the high cost of installing cable.

"From what we have heard it just isn't cost effective," he said.

Morley said he was sick of the "terrible" service offered by the company and complained of downtime, distorted pictures and poor customer service.

In September city officials met with a franchise negotiator from Time Warner Cable.

City councilors were hopeful they could negotiate internet for city government including the police station and Dobisky Center.

However TWC franchise negotiator David Whalen told officials that franchise agreements are restricted to television service and that internet service cannot legally be included in franchise agreements.

Although internet service cannot be provided to the city government as part of the franchise agreement, Whalen said TWC is developing a program that offers municipalities and non-profits reduced rates. He said he would check on the program’s status and report back to the city.

City manager John Pinkerton said that possibility is still being discussed, although it was not included in the contract.