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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Penny St. Romaine - (573) 874-7223

City of Columbia seeks public input regarding current and future cable
service

COLUMBIA, MO (February 14, 2003) --The MediaCom and Charter cable
contracts with the city of Columbia are expiring soon. In preparation
for the negotiation of new contracts, the city is undertaking certain
activities tied to the cable television franchise renewal process. The
city will examine the past performances of MediaCom and Charter cable
systems. It will also undertake certain activities in order to identify
future services that citizens, schools, community groups, businesses and
local government agencies would like to include in a new cable franchise
agreement.

One of the activities that the city is undertaking in order to identify
the future communications needs of the community is a series of focus
group workshops on March 15 and March 16. The workshops will provide a
chance for interested community members to learn about cable franchise
renewal and provide their opinions regarding future services that could
be available through the cable communication systems in Columbia.

These workshops will provide information on: (1) the cable television
franchise renewal process that the city is currently conducting; (2) how
new technologies have greatly expanded the services provided by cable
companies; (3) the ways that community groups and organizations,
schools, businesses, citizens, and government agencies could use a cable
communication system; and (4) some of the outcomes of franchise renewal
in other cities. The workshops are designed to give the participants the
opportunity to provide input through brainstorming and the completion of
a questionnaire that will be distributed during the session.

The workshops will be conducted by Sue Buske and Randy Van Dalsen of
The Buske Group, a cable consulting firm that is assisting the city
during the franchise renewal process. Ms. Buske and Mr. Van Dalsen are
both nationally recognized experts in the fields of cable policy and
community communications. 
The workshops are free of charge. Persons interested in attending
should select the one that is most appropriate and/or convenient and
call Penny St. Romaine at (573) 874-7223 or email Penny at
FocusGroupRSVP at GoColumbiaMo.com.

Local Government Departments and Human/Social Service Organizations, &
Agencies
City Hall - City Council Chambers * 701 E. Broadway
March 15, 2005 * 10 a.m. - Noon

K-12 and Post Secondary Education & Libraries
Hickman High School Commons * 1104 N. Providence
March 15, 2005 * 3:30 p.m. -5:30 p.m.

Arts, Cultural, Heritage OrganizationS & Agencies
City Hall - City Council Chambers * 701 E. Broadway
March 15, 2005 * 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Businesses, Business & Civic Organizations
City Hall - Mezzanine Conference Room * 701 E. Broadway
March 16, 2005 * 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Non-Profit and Community Services Organizations, & General Public
City Hall - Mezzanine Conference Room * 701 E. Broadway
March 16, 2005 * 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

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