By Karen Middleton
West Point, Ga.-based Knology, Inc., is in talks with PCL Cable owner Bobby White to purchase the Athens company, according to a source who asked to remain anonymous.
White did not respond to repeated requests for comment Friday. Also, a message left for
Knology Division Manager Jerry Strasser in Huntsville was not returned.
Employees in PCL’s Athens office said they had “no comment” on the rumored sale. One employee, who did not give his name, said that if negotiations are underway, an agreement has not been reached to anyone’s knowledge.
“You know as much as we do,” he said.
PCL was granted a franchise renewal on Oct. 26 from the Athens City Council.
PCL Cable has provided cable TV service to Athens since early 1995. The company launched High Speed Cable Modem service known as PCLNET in the summer of 1998. PCL Cable expanded its service area to include Decatur in recent years.
Athens Mayor Dan Williams said he believes that if Knology is buying PCL, the company will have to come to the council for approval of transferring the franchise.
“PCL has been a good system,” said Williams. “I would hope that if Knology is buying the company they would give the same service and prices. Bobby White has done a good job operating PCL.
“I, personally, have had no complaints. I cut the cable a couple of times digging up flower beds and they came right out and fixed it.”
Knology, Inc., traces its roots back to 1896 and the Interstate and Valley Telephone Company. In 1994, the company began using fiber-optic technology to deliver cable TV, telephone and Internet services from a single source.
The company was formed by ITC Holding Company, Inc., a telecommunications holding company in West Point, Ga., that also founded Interstate Valley Telephone Company, Powertel, ITC DeltaCom, Mindspring and InterCall.
In 2003, Knology began as a publicly traded company on the Nasdaq Global Market. In
2007, Knology purchased the assets of PrairieWave Communications, adding the Rapid City, South Dakota, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, markets.
In 2008, the company completed the acquisition of Graceba Total Communications Group in Dothan.
Today, Knology offers more than 200 channels of digital cable TV, local and long distance digital telephone service with enhanced voice messaging features and high-speed Internet access.
