The town is planning a series of focus group workshops as it prepares to renew its cable television franchise agreements with AT&T.

AT&T has, for the past few decades, been responsible for household cable service and the public access television station KCAT, as well as linking various town facilities technologically with each other. Its franchise agreement with Los Gatos ends March 20, 2003, and the town is required by federal law to enlist public input in the negotiation process.

According to Los Gatos administrative analyst Jenny Haruyama, the town acts as a landlord, giving right of way to AT&T. The cable company does not pay the town to operate, though monetary stipulations—such as offering grants or funding specific projects—may be included in their agreement.

Six focus groups will be held on Sept. 10, 11, 12 and 13. Those groups are separated into the categories of government agencies; community and civic organizations; schools and educational institutions; human service organizations; arts, culture and heritage organizations; and businesses and business organizations.

Haruyama said that each workshop will have information specific to the kinds of organizations participating, but that at each of the workshops, consultant Susan Buske and the town will present general information about the agreements that will appeal to a broad audience. "We wanted to make sure we can stretch our hands out and touch everybody," said Haruyama.

For example, at the arts, culture and heritage organizations workshop, attendees will learn that they can ask for specific services from the town and AT&T through television. Haruyama said that schools will learn that they can request their own public access channel at the education-geared workshop.

"There are a lot of technological opportunities people don't know they can get through the renewal process," Haruyama said.

The agreement will be for as little as five years or as many as 15 years, most likely the latter, Haruyama said.

For more information or to sign up for the workshops, contact Haruyama at 408.399.5768.