Cable Service

Although the Christmas specials just keep on coming (including some new ones, such as tonight's "The Wish That Changed Christmas" at 8:30 on Channel 11), the inevitable end-of-year review shows are also beginning to appear.A pair of cable considerations get a jump on the New Year tonight.* At 10 p.m. on Arts & Entertainment, for example, the excellent weekly "Revue" series is a combined Christmas/year-end special.Robert Klein hosts, and singer Patti LaBelle is a guest, who sings from her album of Christmas songs.

About 1,350 Howard County residents avoided the risk of prosecution by calling Howard Cable Television before Sunday's amnesty deadline to report that they were receiving cable service illegally, a company spokesman said.Those who are discovered through an audit of the system to be receiving cable service without paying for it are at risk of prosecution within the next 30 to 45 days, said David H. Nevins, spokesman for Howard Cable TV.Lawyers for the company will review documentation of cable theft and decide which cases should be forwarded to the Howard County state's attorney's office.

A preliminary decision by federal regulators on cable modem franchise fees could deny local governments millions of dollars in revenue that was used to pay for schools, trash collection and other services. Comcast, the cable giant that serves 800,000 customers in Maryland, told county governments recently that it will no longer collect franchise fees from cable modem customers after a March 14 announcement by the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC said the fees were meant to be collected on cable television service, not on information utilities such as cable Internet connections.

On the matter of Howard County fining Mid-Atlantic Cable Co. for the firm's extended foot-dragging over extending service into western Howard, we could not have said it any better than Council Chairwoman Shane Pendergrass."

ON AND OFF THE AIR:* When Media Monitor solicited some opinions last summer on favorite old television shows viewers would like to see again, "The Bob Newhart Show" on CBS from 1972-78 was among the top vote-getters.Good news this week, then, for cable viewers: The TBS basic service began reruns of the series last night, and it can be seen nightly at 7:35.You remember the show, of course. Before he was inn-keeper Dick Louden, Newhart was psychologist Bob Hartley, married to Emily (Suzanne Pleshette)

The Westminster Common Council voted last night to extend Prestige Cable's franchise agreement for six months. The current deal expires Saturday. The cable company and local governments -- the county and seven of its eight incorporated towns -- haven't reached an agreement on renewal of the 15-year contract and need the extension to continue service during negotiations. Although Prestige is too small for governmental bodies to regulate its prices, several council members complained of high rates before approving the extension.

North Arundel Cable TV is raising its basic rate for the second time this year, boosting the price for its 42-channel service to $17.90 a month.But even with the latest $3 increase, company officials boast the service still is the best bargain in town because the basic package includes Home Team Sports.Neighborhood rival Jones Intercable Co. offers 60 channels for $16.95 a month, but charges extra for the popular sports network, which shows Baltimore Oriole and Washington Capital games.Determined to keep sports fans happy and add at least one new channel by next February, North Arundel CATV was forced to raise its rate, said Robert J. Salem, vice president of Acton Corp.

Glen Burnie, Maryland City and Russett would gain an unheard-of fourth option for cable service if the Anne Arundel County Council endorses a deal with Virginia-based Cavalier Telephone Corp. Cavalier's seven-year proposal is the latest in a flurry of cable proposals to come before the council during the past 16 months. During that time, Comcast Corp. and Millennium Digital Media Services renewed long-term agreements to provide service in Anne Arundel, and Verizon Communications inked its own deal to establish a cable franchise here.

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court, stepping into the midst of the competition over cable TV programming, agreed yesterday to decide whether local telephone companies have a constitutional right to offer cable service to their customers.If the court finds such a right, the seven regional "Baby Bell" companies could prepare their own cable-TV programs -- or have subsidiaries do so -- and transmit them to homes and businesses over local phone lines.That would provide direct competition with existing cable TV operators, the kind of challenge that the National Cable Television Association and its member companies have resisted for years.