TO REGULATE CABLE TV OR NOT...WHAT'S THE BEEF?: LESS IS MORE...

Roger Harms, General Manager of T.C.I. Cablevision of Missouri, was interviewed recently about his perspective on cable television.

Missourian: The columns that have been received at the Southeast Missourian for this Perspective deal more with regulation and technology and their impact on content than content itself. This is certainly an important issue, even if it wasn't the original intent of this particular Perspective. What's your feelings or concerns about the current movement towards re-regulating the cable industry?

Harms: First of all, we believe that we have a basic economy service that is a reasonably priced service. If you check back to 1984 before programming was deregulated, you'll find that we've maintained a comparable basic service at nearly the same price. At the same time, since then we've been able to expand and give our customers more programming and better service.

And the cable industry has constructed thousands and thousands of miles for cable lines in this country. I'm not sure that if regulation were in place, all of this would have happened.

Missourian: So you're not much of a fan of regulation?

Harms: I'm a firm believer that the less regulation there is, the better off we all are. How would you like it if the content and cost of your newspaper were decided by government? I'm just a businessman, trying to listen to my customers and give them what they want and like, while doing the best I can for my company.

Missourian: I understand what you say about business. But isn't cable television an extraordinary business, which can have a profound impact upon the fabric and functioning of a community? For example, you mention newspapers. Newspapers have oftentimes been called the "Fourth Estate." Inherent in this idea is a greater responsibility that newspapers have to the public than just profit-making. This idea has been developed over two centuries, perhaps some criticism of cable has come from the fact that it hasn't developed its responsibilities yet?

Harms: I'm just trying to be a good businessman, listen to my customers, give them what they like at a price that can be afforded. Any business will listen to what its customers are saying. It's the purpose of a good business.

There's some other things we're doing that maybe don't get noticed, however. Discovery and C-SPAN, for example, cable makes these channels a reality. And retransmission is one of the major issues we are hedging on as a cable industry. We feel we are doing the broadcasters a favor by carrying their service to a wider audience with a better picture.

Missourian: One common component of the various cable regulation bills working through Washington is the redefinition of an "effective competitive market." If this redefinition ...

Harms: Cable is already in a competitive situation. Like your newspaper, just because there aren't any other newspapers in town, it doesn't mean you don't have any competition. There's television, radio, different magazines, the St. Louis newspaper, flyers, etc. That's how it is with cable, too. Anything in the entertainment field is viewed as our competition. This includes movie rentals and this includes you.

Missourian: But what sort of impact would a new definition have specifically on Cape, where a competitive market is redefined from a minimum of three over-the-air broadcast signals to six?

Harms: We feel Cape Girardeau wouldn't be impacted. It already has an alternative service out there to cable, including WSIU-Carbondale, KBSI, KFVS, WPSD, WSIL and the Carbondale religious station and other services, like satellite tv. True, we don't have another cable system in town, but T.C.I. doesn't have an exclusive franchise either.

Missourian: To switch the subject just a little, two weeks ago in Morganton, N.C., the community voted by more than 2-1 to let the city own and operate the local cable system, a decision that some observers say could lead to more municipally run systems across the country. Do you have any comments about this?

Harms: Well, I just don't believe a municipally owned system will be able to provide for improved programming, more programming. And I'm hesitant to say how much a municipality will invest in new technologies. It takes money and the cable industry has been historically dedicating themselves to improving television systems.

It's not that simple, that municipalities can just take a system over. There's fiber optical television, HDTV (high definition television), interactive tv, there's so much new coming everyday.

Besides, if there's a problem with trash pick-up, can you imagine what will happen with television? It would be wishy-washy all over the place.

Missourian: Your contention is, then, that private enterprise is the best way to deliver television?

Harms: I believe we're doing a good job as a system, and we'll only improve. Already, the city can regulate us on things like billing, dealing with power outages, public service and other technical points. They've been able to regulate this under the 1984 cable act, and I believe we've done very well, doing what we're supposed to be doing.

Missourian: Does T.C.I. have any plans for expanding service here?

Harms: We are getting prepared to launch DMX, which stands for Digital Music Express. It'll be commercial free, with a diversity of formats: jazz, contemporary music, pop, rock, classical, etc. We'll put it on the system here at an additional charge, including installation. The music is comparable to CD, and you can choose the format.

Missourian: You and the city are in the middle of franchise negotiations. Where are we in the process?

Harms: They're gathering information, and I will present our case when they ask for it. I'd love to get it over with, but I understand it takes a little time.

Anytime a company is going to invest millions of dollars in a project, however, there has to be a long term commitment in order to get the proper financing and do what is best. I'd love to see T.C.I. get that kind of commitment.