Tci Communications

A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge yesterday certified as a class action a lawsuit against the city's cable television franchise that contends that the company's late-payment fees are a ruse to charge more for cable than regulations allow.Three plaintiffs represented by Washington attorney Philip S. Friedman said TCI Communications of Baltimore charges a $5 late fee if payment is not received within about 10 days of billing. Now that Circuit Judge Gary I. Strausberg has certified the lawsuit as a class action, all subscribers who have paid a late fee since November 1991 are plaintiffs in the suit.

She helped blaze the trail in Tinseltown for many of today's African-American actors. Dorothy Dandridge was the first black woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for best actress, for her starring role in the 1954 film "Carmen Jones." Now her life story is an HBO film. "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" had its Baltimore premiere at the Senator Theatre, with HBO and TCI Communications of Baltimore serving as hosts of the event. Among the 800 people who packed the theater to enjoy a bit of Hollywood history, along with their popcorn, were Lisa Bryant, HBO affiliate relations director; Jean Davis, TCI Communications director; Rose Greene, executive secretary of the Baltimore Film Commission; Michael Johnson, founder of Heritage Shadows of the Silver Screen; Harriette Taylor, Baltimore City deputy comptroller; Debby Haskins, Loyola College assistant professor; Maria Broom, actress and dancer; and Gary Myers, Armani specialist at Saks Fifth Avenue.

She helped blaze the trail in Tinseltown for many of today's African-American actors. Dorothy Dandridge was the first black woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for best actress, for her starring role in the 1954 film "Carmen Jones." Now her life story is an HBO film. "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" had its Baltimore premiere at the Senator Theatre, with HBO and TCI Communications of Baltimore serving as hosts of the event. Among the 800 people who packed the theater to enjoy a bit of Hollywood history, along with their popcorn, were Lisa Bryant, HBO affiliate relations director; Jean Davis, TCI Communications director; Rose Greene, executive secretary of the Baltimore Film Commission; Michael Johnson, founder of Heritage Shadows of the Silver Screen; Harriette Taylor, Baltimore City deputy comptroller; Debby Haskins, Loyola College assistant professor; Maria Broom, actress and dancer; and Gary Myers, Armani specialist at Saks Fifth Avenue.

The swap of cable-television markets between Comcast Corp. and AT&T Corp. stands to revamp the way Baltimore consumers get television, telephone and Internet service.If the deal goes through as planned, it could end TCI Communications' tenure as the city's cable provider. The transaction faces a difficult regulatory review, however.Comcast Corp., the Baltimore area's largest cable company with 300,000 customers in Howard, Harford and Baltimore counties, apparently would take over cable service in the city.

Because of erroneous information provided by TCI Communications of Baltimore, an article in yesterday's editions of The Sun reported an incorrect figure for the city cable system's June 1 rate increase. In fact, the typical TCI customer will pay an additional $2.32 for a package of basic and expanded basic service. The increase will bring the total rate to $24.39.The Sun regrets the error.Pub Date: 3/13/96

Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke yesterday said he wants TCI Communications to justify a proposal to raise rates for cable service by as much as 40 percent for some customers.TCI Communications of Baltimore plans to increase the cost of basic cable service from $8.02 per month to $11.22 -- a change that the cable company said would affect about 3,500 customers who get the company's 24-channel package.Schmoke said the increase concerned him. "This is a significant rate increase for a level of service that has historically been intended to allow access for citizens to the most basic cable services, including local broadcast channels and various community programming," he said in a statement.

Baltimore's Hispanic-Latin American community now has a 24-hour television station (Channel 70 on cable) dedicated to its language, celebrations and customs. And that's reason to throw a party.Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke attended and presented a proclamation to Univision, TCI Communications and the Hispanic-Latin American community, declaring Jan. 21 as Univision Day. Univision is the leading Spanish-language broadcaster in the United States, and its shows are now being carried by TCI, which gave the party at its Baltimore headquarters.

Baltimore's cable company is moving its headquarters from Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello in the northeast section of the city to Seton Business Park in the northwest.Yesterday, the Board of Estimates approved the sale for $409,625 of 5.65 acres in the business park to a limited partnership of principals of Manekin Corp., a development and brokerage firm. The partnership will construct a $3.5 million, 50,000-square-foot facility to be the headquarters of TCI Communications of Baltimore. TCI, now in the 2500 block of Kirk Ave., will lease the building from the partnership for two years, then buy it.The city will receive $10,000 as a down payment on the land and will offer an interest-only mortgage at 8 percent for three years, documents show.

New PositionsGeoffrey Davis moves to TNT LogisticsTNT Logistics, an international logistics and transportation company, appointed Geoffrey B. Davis Jr. vice president for design and development at its U.S. headquarters in Linthicum. He will be responsible for development and design of supply chain distribution systems.A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, with an MBA in management and technology, Davis joins the company from the position of director of quality and customer assurance with Halbart Air Service, where he was also a member of the board.

Little more than a month after the end of federal regulation of cable rates, TCI Communications of Baltimore, the city's cable company, said yesterday it would raise the price for expanded basic service, the most popular choice, 6 percent next month.Customers who receive TCI's expanded basic package will see their bills increase from $28.93 to $30.66 a month, not including premium channels and other charges.TCI also said it would boost the price of basic cable, which includes broadcast network stations and a few additional channels, 2.7 percent, from $11.22 per month to $11.52 a month.

Little more than a month after the end of federal regulation of cable rates, TCI Communications of Baltimore, the city's cable company, said yesterday it would raise the price for expanded basic service, the most popular choice, 6 percent next month.Customers who receive TCI's expanded basic package will see their bills increase from $28.93 to $30.66 a month, not including premium channels and other charges.TCI also said it would boost the price of basic cable, which includes broadcast network stations and a few additional channels, 2.7 percent, from $11.22 per month to $11.52 a month.

Baltimore's Hispanic-Latin American community now has a 24-hour television station (Channel 70 on cable) dedicated to its language, celebrations and customs. And that's reason to throw a party.Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke attended and presented a proclamation to Univision, TCI Communications and the Hispanic-Latin American community, declaring Jan. 21 as Univision Day. Univision is the leading Spanish-language broadcaster in the United States, and its shows are now being carried by TCI, which gave the party at its Baltimore headquarters.

Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke yesterday said he wants TCI Communications to justify a proposal to raise rates for cable service by as much as 40 percent for some customers.TCI Communications of Baltimore plans to increase the cost of basic cable service from $8.02 per month to $11.22 -- a change that the cable company said would affect about 3,500 customers who get the company's 24-channel package.Schmoke said the increase concerned him. "This is a significant rate increase for a level of service that has historically been intended to allow access for citizens to the most basic cable services, including local broadcast channels and various community programming," he said in a statement.

A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge yesterday certified as a class action a lawsuit against the city's cable television franchise that contends that the company's late-payment fees are a ruse to charge more for cable than regulations allow.Three plaintiffs represented by Washington attorney Philip S. Friedman said TCI Communications of Baltimore charges a $5 late fee if payment is not received within about 10 days of billing. Now that Circuit Judge Gary I. Strausberg has certified the lawsuit as a class action, all subscribers who have paid a late fee since November 1991 are plaintiffs in the suit.

City officials and executives of TCI Communications of Baltimore Inc. will break ground today for a new headquarters for the city's cable television provider, a 50,000-square-foot building that will mark the first new construction in the Seton Business Park in six years.The new building, off Northern Parkway and near Liberty Road, will house TCI's management, customer service and repair operations, as well as a new production studio, the company said. It is set to be completed in April.The headquarters will partially replace TCI's current facility on Kirk Avenue in northeast Baltimore.

New PositionsGeoffrey Davis moves to TNT LogisticsTNT Logistics, an international logistics and transportation company, appointed Geoffrey B. Davis Jr. vice president for design and development at its U.S. headquarters in Linthicum. He will be responsible for development and design of supply chain distribution systems.A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, with an MBA in management and technology, Davis joins the company from the position of director of quality and customer assurance with Halbart Air Service, where he was also a member of the board.

Because of erroneous information provided by TCI Communications of Baltimore, an article in yesterday's editions of The Sun reported an incorrect figure for the city cable system's June 1 rate increase. In fact, the typical TCI customer will pay an additional $2.32 for a package of basic and expanded basic service. The increase will bring the total rate to $24.39.The Sun regrets the error.The typical Baltimore cable TV subscriber will have to pay more than 10 percent higher rates for service starting in June, TCI Communications of Baltimore said yesterday.

City officials and executives of TCI Communications of Baltimore Inc. will break ground today for a new headquarters for the city's cable television provider, a 50,000-square-foot building that will mark the first new construction in the Seton Business Park in six years.The new building, off Northern Parkway and near Liberty Road, will house TCI's management, customer service and repair operations, as well as a new production studio, the company said. It is set to be completed in April.The headquarters will partially replace TCI's current facility on Kirk Avenue in northeast Baltimore.

Baltimore's cable company is moving its headquarters from Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello in the northeast section of the city to Seton Business Park in the northwest.Yesterday, the Board of Estimates approved the sale for $409,625 of 5.65 acres in the business park to a limited partnership of principals of Manekin Corp., a development and brokerage firm. The partnership will construct a $3.5 million, 50,000-square-foot facility to be the headquarters of TCI Communications of Baltimore. TCI, now in the 2500 block of Kirk Ave., will lease the building from the partnership for two years, then buy it.The city will receive $10,000 as a down payment on the land and will offer an interest-only mortgage at 8 percent for three years, documents show.

Because of erroneous information provided by TCI Communications of Baltimore, an article in yesterday's editions of The Sun reported an incorrect figure for the city cable system's June 1 rate increase. In fact, the typical TCI customer will pay an additional $2.32 for a package of basic and expanded basic service. The increase will bring the total rate to $24.39.The Sun regrets the error.Pub Date: 3/13/96