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Massena Town Council to hire law group as consultant to examine proposed Time Warner Cable agreement

Posted 9/20/14

By ANDY GARDNER MASSENA -- The Town Council will spend $11,970 on hiring Choen Law Group, a Pittsburgh-based consultant who will examine a proposed franchise agreement with Time Warner Cable. The …

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Massena Town Council to hire law group as consultant to examine proposed Time Warner Cable agreement

Posted

By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- The Town Council will spend $11,970 on hiring Choen Law Group, a Pittsburgh-based consultant who will examine a proposed franchise agreement with Time Warner Cable. The firm will look at the deal to ensure the town is getting all of the money to which they are legally entitled.

Gray said the firm specializes in cable franchise law.

"They … said 'We think that there's money out there you're not receiving," Town Supervisor Joseph Gray said. "(Attorney Dan) Cohen said there's a 90 percent chance we will receive greater benefit than our cost."

The town's franchise deal with Time Warner Cable expired a couple of years ago and they have been going day-to-day since.

Gray said the negotiations may not land the town a whale of a deal, but could be enough put some extra funds in their coffers.

"The town's rights with cable franchises, they're very limited, mind you. Federal laws don't give local communities a whole lot of say in the matter," Gray said.

He says he is looking forward to the outcome.

"I'm kind of excited about what may come out of this," he said. "I think it's good business every now and then to bring in an objective third party."