Time Warner has received cable franchises from the state so it can legally serve new customers it has inherited in north Mecklenburg, Davidson and Mooresville, The Charlotte Observer reports this morning (Jan. 10). The paper also reports that cable rates are rising again this year for Time Warner’s Mecklenburg customers. Read the full story

The manager of the new MI-Connection cable system acknowledged Tuesday that callers to customer service and technical support lines are facing longer-than-desired wait times. But he said the company is hiring extra staff to cut delays. He also said the company faced two major “glitches” after MI-Connection took over the system Dec. 19 from Time-Warner Cable: Some Internet customers had trouble getting email and servers controlling digital set-top cable boxes briefly failed. Read the full story

(updated 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007) The local cable TV and internet service officially changed hands Wednesday at 6 p.m., when Time Warner Cable, which had been running the system, handed off to MI-Connection, a new consortium owned by the towns of Davidson and Mooresville. Officials said things went smoothly, though some internet customers saw service disrupted overnight for equipment changes. Read the full story

With college students in the midst of final exams and holiday house parties keeping residents busy, the calendar of public events in town this week is a light one. A few items of note: Santa takes his annual fire engine ride through town Tuesday night (listen for the sirens), residents on the west side face a planned water shutoff overnight Wednesday and the town’s new cable system, MI-Connection, debuts Wednesday. Read the full story

Subscriber numbers higher than expected,
but officials say that means system is healthy

By DAVID BORAKS

Davidson and Mooresville will pay about $50 million – about $10 million more than planned – to buy the local cable television and internet system, Commissioner Evan Webster said at the Town Board work session Tuesday. That’s because the system has more customers than anticipated, said Mr. Webster, who also chairs the board of the planned MI-Connection cable consortium. The bigger pricetag could require additional borrowing, but the higher subscribership also is a sign that the system is healthier than originally believed, he said.
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(updated Nov. 15, 12:09 p.m.) Town officials have released released a wealth of new business, legal and financial documents related to the planned purchase of the local cable TV system. Davidson and Mooresville plan to buy the system Dec. 18, and rename it MI-Connection.

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The Town Board holds its monthly meeting Tuesday with votes or hearings on a long list of issues, from a revised interlocal agreement governing the cable TV system purchase to the proposed 7-story Meeting Place office and retail tower off Exit 30 to a proposed amendment to the planning ordinance that would alter requirements for glass on building exteriors. Also this week, Monday’s Veteran’s Day observance downtown, several concerts including the Carolina Voices Festival Singers next Sunday (photo), and a lecture Wednesday about artist Man Ray. And don’t forget Wednesday’s big basketball game between Davidson and UNC Chapel Hill.

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New and returning leaders chosen by voters in Davidson and Mooresville on Tuesday are likely to maintain support for the town’s controversial purchase of the former Adelphia cable and internet system, The Charlotte Observer reports Thursday.

Also in today’s Observer, a report about voters’ opposition to new land-transfer taxes, which could be a way for counties to raise additional revenue to pay for schools and other growth-related needs. The issue was on the ballot in 16 N.C. counties Tuesday, failing in all.