Franchise Transfers Go Slowly

Operators are experiencing delays in their attempts to transfer ownership of Adelphia Communications Inc. systems to Time Warner Cable in California, where regulators say they need more information before approving the transactions. Local officials use the transfer process to resolve lingering operating issues and Adelphia has a lot of baggage. For example: Fern Taylor, chief of telecommunications franchising for Los Angeles County, which has 13 sizable Adelphia franchises, said officials there want to conclude negotiations over franchise-fee audits before approving a transfer to another operator.
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