News

Cable company mulls Billings HQ

Bresnan Communications, which will soon take over the Billings cable television franchise, is considering Billings for a regional headquarters and service center.

By TOM HOWARD
Of The Gazette Staff

"This is a great opportunity for Billings," said Joe McClure, executive director of Big Sky Economic Development Authority. McClure was among several local officials who met with Bresnan executives last week. McClure said the deal could eventually mean as many as 100 jobs for Billings.

Bresnan officials looked at real estate, visited the Billings office of AT&T Broadband and met with officials from Big Sky EDA and the city of Billings, McClure said.

"When you look at their market, Billings is a great strategic location for their operations because we’re centrally located," said City Administrator Dennis Taylor. "It would make a difference to our business community."

Taylor said a productive work force and good airline connections are some of the benefits that Billings has to offer.

"You have to look at our air transportation, our health care community and the reputation that Billings has for workers who stay around," Taylor said.

Bresnan spokeswoman Maureen Huff said Billings is on a "very short list" of communities being considered for the operations center. She said a decision would be made soon, but she couldn’t be more specific.

Cheyenne, Wyo., is also under consideration, McClure said.

Bresnan Communications, based in White Plains, N.Y., is acquiring cable television systems in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah from Comcast Corp. for $525 million in cash plus preferred and equity interests in Bresnan. AT&T sold its cable operations to Comcast last year.

Bresnan’s purchase of Comcast assets involves 137,000 cable TV subscribers. Montana cable operations that would be affected by the deal include those in Billings, Bozeman, Helena, Great Falls, Kalispell and Missoula. In Wyoming, Bresnan is taking over operations in Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie and Jackson.

A resolution and agreement transferring the city’s cable franchise from AT&T Broadband to Bresnan Communications will be considered at Monday’s City Council meeting.

Tom Howard can be reached at 657-1261 or at thoward@ billingsgazette.com.

Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2003/02/22/build/business/42-cable-company.inc

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