One cable TV provider has ruled the market in Auburn and Opelika for 51 years. That's about to change with the coming of Knology of Alabama Inc.
Knology, a cable TV, high-speed Internet and phone provider, will soon be offering its services in both Auburn and Opelika.
Auburn customers can expect to have Knology as an option in October, but Opelika will have to wait until the second quarter of next year.
"Knology's wanted to go into Auburn and Opelika for quite some time," said Royce Ard, regional general manager. "Because of the business atmosphere and the ability to go out and raise money so that we can build the cable plant, it just became apparent that now was a great time to do it."
The first cable company in this area was Lee County TV Cable Company in December 1959, according to a franchise history from the Auburn city manager's office.
Since then, the company has been bought and sold, finally becoming Charter in 2001. There has always been only one cable provider in the Auburn-Opelika area.
"The city never granted monopoly rights to any cable company," said Charlie Duggan, city manager of Auburn. "We're excited that Knology's coming."
Duggan said the reason only one company has ruled the market is the amount of money it costs to set up a cable company.
"It's going to cost millions and millions and millions of dollars for any company to come in and string cable," Duggan said. "And the first thing that's going to happen will be a competition war, which is really good for the customers, but it's difficult for the company."
John Seymour, city administrator of Opelika, said the greatest impact Knology can have in the area will be the economic competition the company will create with Charter.
"I'm hoping that this will lead to improved service by Charter," Seymour said, "that they will be competitive in their prices, that they will improve their quality, that the mere fact that they have an economic competition now will cause both of them to focus on service to customers."
Skip James, Charter Communications government relations director, said they welcome the competition from another cable provider.
"We've always had to compete," said James, citing the competition between Charter and satellite TV providers.
James said Charter already competes with Knology in other markets.
James said offering better services is always a focus at Charter.
"We're always trying to improve customer service and give more products and services to choose from," James said.
Seymour said people have said they are already getting better service from Charter since the decision to allow Knology into the area.
"Citizens in the community have a choice for a change," Seymour said. "I hope that they will actively pursue putting other cable service into many of the neighborhoods which may not even have cable service."
Ard said Knology's advantages over Charter include its customer service as well as the benefits that come with the brand new cable system, like faster Internet speeds and ease in adding additional channels.
"Knology is very well known for the customer service that we provide our customers, whether that's over the phone, or just the way the technician treats the customer in the house," Ard said.
Knology has already been constructing in Auburn for about three months, whereas the franchise agreement was signed Sept. 27 for Opelika, Ard said.
"We've still got to do the mapping, and we've still got to do the engineering," Ard said.
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