Harrison Seeking $135K From Cablevision

The Town of Harrison is joining seven other Westchester municipalities in an effort to force Cablevision to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars investigators believe is owed by the the media company.

The municipalities have been investigating the issue for months, according to Harrison officials, and have found a total of $800,000 in payments they feel are owed as part of Cablevision's franchise agreements with the municipalities. Harrison's share would be about $135,000, the second largest total of the towns involved.

Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh said the debate involves payments for DVR services provided by Cablevision to Harrison customers. According to the franchise agreement between the two sides, the town receives a share of the revenue Cablevision earns from local subscribers. Municipalities say they should receive a share of the revenue from DVR services, Cablevision says otherwise.

"What it comes down to is the DVR programs," said Walsh. "They say they don't owe anything."

The municipalities involved—Walsh did not specify the names of the towns—decided to investigate the manner at a luncheon for local mayors and supervisors earlier this year. Although each municipality has a separate contract with Cablevision, officials decided to band together to reduce cost.

"We will be working as a group, and as a group we will be retaining this law firm to represent us before Cablevision," said Harrison Village Attorney Robert Paladino.

The Town/Village Board approved a payment of $1,397 to cable consultants Best Best and Krieger during the Sept. 2 public hearing. The board also capped the cost of the consultants at $10,000 for 2011.

Walsh said the disputed payments from Cablevision, which has long held a franchise agreement with Harrison, date back at least five years.

"We want the back payments," Walsh said. "But it is clearly understood we would want the revenue in the future also."

All money paid to Harrison as a result of the dispute would be added to the town's general fund, Walsh said.

Cablevision is the only telecommunications and media company holding a franchise agreement with the Town/Village of Harrison. Negotiations to add Verizon FIOS as an option in Harrison fell through two years ago, when Walsh said FIOS backed out of negotiations with the town.

Walsh said Harrison is almost completely wired for FIOS, but said the company has not showed an interest in bringing their service to Harrison.

"They will not negotiate again until they complete fully-wired towns with signed franchises," Walsh said.