This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There will be competition in the cable TV business in Salt Lake City. On Thursday night, the City Council granted Qwest Communications a franchise to provide cable service, competing with the existing and to-date sole provider, Comcast. "We have a great opportunity to be one of 2 percent of cities in the country to have this head-to-head competition," said Councilman Dave Buhler. Where there is competition, rates are 15 percent less, according to Qwest. Comcast protested the decision. Officials said they welcome competition, but feel Qwest will gain an unfair advantage because Qwest won't have to offer cable throughout the city. "Some competition is better than no competition," said Councilwoman Jill Remington Love.
Qwest's Utah president Jerry Fenn said he didn't know when cable service would begin - but sometime sooner than a couple of years - or in which neighborhoods it would start.
Service would include a minimum of 175 channels.
- Heather May
