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Cable TV offerings may soon expand
firms say they'll offer multiple services on fiber-optic networks if council OKs permit.
By David Eggert
Indianapolis Star
August 2, 2000
Two companies that want to begin offering cable TV service in Indianapolis said their arrival will provide
customers with more choice and hold down rates. Philadelphia-based Digital Access Inc. and TotaLink of
Indiana presented their franchise applications before the City-County Council's Rules and Public Policy Committee on
Tuesday night. Both companies would introduce area customers to the concept of "bundling" -- packaging local and long-distance phone service, high-speed Internet access and cable television across a fiber-optic network.
Bill Roberts, vice president of business development for TotaLink, which already runs a fiber-optic cable system in
Evansville with more than 12,000 subscribers, said the added competition will benefit consumers.
The only two cable providers in Indianapolis now are Comcast and Time Warner, and each serves an exclusive
territory. "We don't intend to be a low-cost provider. We should be priced about the same as the others," Roberts said.
But, he explained, TotaLink offers its Evansville customers significant discounts if they sign up for more than
one of its four services. For example, if someone signs up for cable and Internet, he obtains a 10 percent discount. If that person takes on cable, Internet and phone service, he gets 20 percent off. The full City-County Council is expected to approve the franchise applications as early as Aug. 28. Digital Access would invest $250 million to put down more than 3,000 miles of lines. TotaLink would invest $300 million to lay 3,900 miles of lines. The companies might begin service in parts of
Indianapolis by next year. The entire city would not receive service from the companies until 2005.
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