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September 11, 2014
SouthPlatteIndependent.net
A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O A publication of
Cable rivalry brewing in city
SIZZLIN’ IN LITTLETON
Competition from CenturyLink could give Comcast a run for its money By Jennifer Smith
jsmith @coloradocommunitymedia.com
Rhianna Knezevich of The Sandy-Bear Shack shows off her bacon during the Alferd Packer Bacon, Bands and Beer event on Sept. 6.
P O W E R E D
B Y
ShopLocal Colorado.com F IND AL L OF OU R ADV ERTIS ER S O NL INE
Littleton Rotary brought home the bacon Sept. 6 with its annual Alferd Packer Bacon, Bands and Beer party, held at Reinke Bros. Halloween and Costume Store in downtown Littleton. The event supports Rotary’s many good deeds, including polio eradication, Books for Babies, Littleton Free Clinic, Breakfast with Santa, Flower Power, Hands Across Littleton and scholarships for students, just to name a few. Littleton Rotary turned 90 last year, and is always looking for fresh faces. For more information, visit www.clubrunner.ca/ littleton/ or call 720-468-0478.
PHOTOS BY JENNIFER SMITH
CenturyLink continues on Page 11
Gubernatorial foes trade jabs
P L E AS E S UPPORT OUR LOCAL ADVE RTI SER S FOR T HE I R CONTR IBUTION TO K EE PI NG OU R C OMMUNIT Y CONNECTED
G ET SOCIAL WITH US
Hickenlooper, Beauprez meet on Western Slope LEFT: Greg Shoffner really got into the meat of things at the Alferd Packer Bacon, Bands and Beer party, an annual fundraiser for Littleton Rotary. ABOVE: Aspen Hourglass performs at the event, held at Reinke Bros. in downtown Littleton on Sept. 6.
P LE AS E R ECYCLE T HIS COPY
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Move over Comcast, there could be a new cable provider in town. Littleton City Council on Sept. 2 approved on first reading a franchise agreement with CenturyLink. If the vote stands on second reading Sept. 16, it will mark the first time in Littleton’s history of cable television that Comcast has had competition from another landline-based source. “The FCC is trying to push this so we don’t have exclusive agreements anymore,” City Attorney Ken Fellman told council on Aug. 26. Comcast’s current 10-year contract is up next year. It’s been the only company, in various incarnations, allowed to lay cable in the city. Historically it’s been difficult for competition to emerge, said Fellman, because they’d have to install their own infrastructure from scratch. But technology has changed, and so have the governing laws, making it more feasible. “As the second entrant in the market, CenturyLink will not have the same buildout requirements in its franchise as Comcast, but CenturyLink has also agreed to a
Brenna Deutchman of Blue Jasmine Studios demonstrates her skill with a sewing needle during Littleton Rotary’s Alferd Packer Bacon, Bands and Beer event at Reinke Bros. on Sept. 6.
By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com Gov. John Hickenlooper and former Congressman Bob Beauprez swapped barbs during a lively debate in Grand Junction on Aug. 6, marking the first time the two gubernatorial rivals squared off this fall. On almost every debate topic — ranging from hydraulic fracturing to the death penalty and the state of the economy — the two traded jabs over who would be the better man to lead the state over the next four Beauprez years. The debate’s energy was aided by a lively audience that often interrupted the candidates with cheers and boos. That was especially the case toward the end of the debate, when Hickenlooper and Beauprez were Hickenlooper given the opportunity to ask each other a series of direct questions. Debate continues on Page 11