No High Def: Du Quoin Council Chimes In for Comcast Cable Television Subscribers

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The new generation of high definition televisions are not supported by the local cable system that serves them.

That fact is fostering criticism from mayors and commissioners on Comcast's system between Pinckneyville and Benton.

Du Quoin commissioner Rex Duncan chimed in on the criticism at Monday's city council meeting.

The criticism is constant from Pinckneyville commissioner Augie Kellerman. That town still has six years left on its current franchise contract with Comcast.

Residents in the City of Benton feel the same way and that council recently granted Comcast only a one-year extension of its franchise agreement.

Duncan was airing his concerns over Comcast's own broadcast of the council meeting. That free broadcast is part of Comcast's local franchise agreement.

Duncan told the council and television audience, "I am disappointed in the lack of services like high definition and DVR and the lack of what you would call 'Triple Play'--video, telephone and internet," he said.

Duncan said he is airing repeated criticism from subscribers in Comcast's Du Quoin market.

His remarks targeted Comcast corporate, not the Du Quoin staff, which provides outstanding office and repair service to local customers.

Duncan said Comcast's reply stands on the shoulders of an aging system. "It's old. It's antiquated."

"I'm to the point where we need to work as a governmental system," he said, citing participating communities of Pinckneyville, Du Quoin,Christopher, Buckner, Benton, and villages on either side of that corridor.

Mayor Rednour said he will ask Congressman Jerry Costello to research whether there is any remedy through the Federal Communications Commission with respect to Comcast's need to upgrade its service.

Duncan said he's sees no remedy any time soon. "It's a long way out there."