HDTV coming — soon

Charter Communications bringing tomorrow's televisionBy Eric LaRoseSheboygan Press staffAndrew Bubb of Sheboygan has been waiting to see NFL games in high definition on his 42-inch HDTV for 2½ years, but his cable provider — Charter Communications — hasn't offered the service.It looks like Bubb will finally be getting his wish this year."It's exciting," Bubb said. "Maybe I'll be able to watch the Super Bowl in HDTV."Charter Com-munications, the company that provides cable television to the Sheboygan area, recently announced it would be offering high-definition television in the area, soon.
"It will be on no later than the end of the year," company spokeswoman Jessie Hlad said. "We're working hard to get it on. Hopefully we're making everybody happy. That's what we're trying to do."Hlad said Charter customers have been demanding that the company offer HDTV, which has better sound and a higher quality picture, for some time.Bubb, 28, even went as far as complaining to the city and writing letters to the editor of The Sheboygan Press to voice his frustration that HDTV was offered in cities close by, but not in Sheboygan. Mayor Juan Perez later appointed Bubb to its Charter Communication Re-franchising Advisory Committee to look into services provided by Charter and negotiate the next contract with the cable provider.On Wednesday, Bubb said he was happy the wait appears to be over."If they can deliver, I'm glad," Bubb said. "I keep on bringing up the football thing, but having it like you're there, that's pretty appealing."Hlad said Bubb was not alone. Many people have made the investment into a high-definition TV set, which can cost several thousand dollars, and they want to see more HDTV programming."People just want to see that programming so they can enjoy that new technology on their TV set," Hlad said. "If you watch anything in HDTV, it's just beautiful."HDTV has already been available in the area through satellite networks such as Dish Network and DIRECTV and over the air on network television — which already offers some shows in high-definition.The cost of the new service will depend on what level of service the customer subscribes to already, Hlad said. An HDTV receiver will cost $6.95 a month and the HDTV programming tier, a specific HDTV channel lineup including TNT, ESPN, Universal, Discovery Theater HD and others, will be $6.95 a month.Those rates are in addition to normal Charter cable rates, which start at $17.23 for broadcast basic, $47.99 for expanded basic and $54.99 and up for digital cable packages, not including fees and taxes.City officials said they have received numerous complaints from Charter customers angry that HDTV wasn't provided in the area.Gregg Gaylord, 52, of Sheboygan said he bought a high-definition TV set several years ago because Charter said it would be offering the service at that time. Then he waited, and waited. On Wednesday, Gaylord said he's still frustrated that Charter has yet to bring HDTV to Sheboygan."I hope they mean it (this time), I hope they provide it at a reasonable price and I hope they go out of their way to thank their customers for being so patient," Gaylord said.Hlad said offering HDTV was quite an undertaking for Charter. The company had to create a "master digital network" of fiber-optic cables and purchase and install new HDTV equipment and transmitters, Hlad said.Sheboygan Ald. Richard Manny, a member of the advisory committee, said HDTV has been a "big request and a big concern" for subscribers, but the company had told the committee it was trying to bring HDTV to the area for some time."That has always been their intent, but it was held back because of technical issues," Manny said. "It was taking much longer than anticipated because of that technology."Manny said while the announcement is "pleasing," it is not part of any agreement with the city."It simply was understood to be that which was supposed to be in place already," Manny said.Manny and Susan Hart, the city's mayoral administrative officer and a member of the advisory committee, said contract negotiations with Charter are currently at a standstill because pending federal legislation could allow telephone companies to provide video services. Hart said the company is now asking for a temporary extension of its current 10-year contract that will end on Oct. 31.Hart said she's glad Charter will soon begin offering HDTV in Sheboygan.