GARDEN GROVE : Council Plans to Review Today Quality of Paragon Cable Service

Customers of Paragon Cable will have a chance to tell City Council members whether they are satisfied with the service.

At a public hearing today, council members will evaluate the cable company’s performance over the past three years, including compliance with Federal Communications Commission’s guidelines.

A 1992 federal law gives local governments the authority to set rates for various levels of cable television services and the use of equipment, such as remote controls.

City officials have hired a consultant, Telecommunications Management Corp., to review Paragon’s rates. The consultant’s report will be discussed at the public hearing.

Under the city’s cable ordinance and franchise agreement with Paragon, the cable company’s services will be evaluated five times over 15 months. Today’s hearing will be the fourth of five such evaluations.

City officials said Paragon has complied substantially with the cable ordinance and franchise agreement, including technical and financial requirements.

Among these requirements are that 90% of customer calls are answered within four rings, that about 90% do not have to wait more than 30 seconds to reach a service representative, that an emergency toll-free telephone line be available 24 hours and that repair crews be available for major repairs around the clock.