The MI-Connection cable system lost more money in the first three months of 2010 than the same period a year ago, but strong sales of its telephone and high-speed internet services helped boost revenues 9.4 percent from a year earlier. The company’s chief told Davidson Town Board members at their monthly work session Tuesday that the company is seeing results from recent marketing campaigns, including a referral rewards program and its “Operation Outreach,” a promotion tied to donations to local nonprofits.

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The MI-Connection communications system board of directors on Thursday confirmed John Kasberger of Mooresville as chair and voted Ken Essex of Davidson to another term as secretary. Meanwhile, in other news about the system, it turns out Mooresville’s payment to cover a shortfall at the system this fiscal year won’t be a loan, as previously described.
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Town board neighborhood chats continue Wednesday & Thursday.

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson Town Board members have been holding neighborhood meetings with residents across town over the past two weeks, discussing everything from streets and sidewalks to trash and recycling to the tight town budget. They’ve also used these informal “Commissioner Chats” to make a pitch for the MI-Connection communications system, imploring residents to take a fresh look at the town-owned TV, telephone and internet service that was upgraded last year.

Growth at MI-Connection has been disappointing since Davidson and Mooresville bought it three years ago. But officials now have a clear goal: selling 4,500 new “triple plays” – a combination of TV, telephone and internet. They say that will help the system break even and keep it from being a drag on the towns’ budgets.

The neighborhood meetings continue this week in River Run and the St. Alban’s neighborhood. (See schedule at the end of this article.) Read the full story

Public radio station WFAE-FM, 90.7, in Charlotte aired a report Wednesday morning that takes a look back and forward at the purchase of the local cable TV system by the towns of Davidson and Mooresville. Read the full story

Davidson’s Town Board will convene Wednesday at The Village Inn downtown for its all-day quarterly retreat that will help plan the 2010-11 town budget. The meeting, which begins at 8:30 a.m., includes a planned 2 1/2 hour closed session to examine “personnel implications” of next year’s budget. Read the full story

Mooresville’s town board on Monday night approved a nearly $400,000 loan to the MI-Connection cable and internet system to help cover a budget shortfall this fiscal year. Read the full story

Updated 2/26/10, 7:53 a.m.
By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

The MI-Connection cable and internet system has built a competitive, state-of-the-art network that can be profitable if its owners – the towns of Mooresville and Davidson – take a hard look at expenses and pricing, a Texas consultant told the MI-Connection board Thursday. Read the full story

The MI-Connection cable system board on Thursday will review a preliminary report by a media consultant and consider whether to hire the firm for a closer study to measure the system’s financial performance against cable industry norms.

The review by consultant Buford Media Group of Tyler, Texas, is on the agenda at the board’s monthly meeting Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at MI-Connection headquarters, 420 S. Academy St., Mooresville. Read the full story