Senator Griffo and Assemblywoman Destito Ask for Resolution to Smith Media-Time Warner Communications Contract Impasse

Destito, Griffo call the loss of WKTV to many cable customers “an issue of the public interest”

 (UTICA) — State Senator Joseph A. Griffo (R/G-Rome) and Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito (D/WF-Rome) have written to officials at Time-Warner Communications and Smith Media asking them to resolve outstanding contract issues that have led to the loss of WKTV and The CW11 for thousands of Time Warner cable subscribers in Utica and surrounding areas.

 “I regard this as a very serious matter involving the public interest which affects the ability of governmental entities, including area school districts, municipalities, the State Emergency Management Office, and local employers to get information quickly to area residents,” Destito said.

 “I would like to emphasize on behalf of many of my constituents that these companies need to do everything possible to resolve the outstanding issues that have led to these television stations being eliminated for many  cable customers in the Mohawk Valley,” Griffo said.

 Destito and Griffo are urging both companies to resolve the issue in a fair and equitable manner as soon as possible, including entering into arbitration if necessary.

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