WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2008 News WWW.KANSAN.COM THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
》 LAWRENCE
9
Cable provider gets upgrade
BY KRISTIN HOPPA
khoppa@kansan.com
Lawrence residents with Sunflower Broadband began seeing changes to their favorite TV channels early Monday.
Sunflower Broadband made its digital transition complete, now providing 247 channels of digital, premium and high-definition quality to customers. However, not all transitions have been smooth.
"We have been absolutely trying everything to work with our apartments over the past few months to accommodate the transition," said Patrick Knorr, Sunflower Broadband general manager. "We are a bit stuck right now. Not everyone is happy with the options."
Residents must have either a digital TV or digital cable transition box in order to view the new digital cable channels and may need to upgrade cable services from limited basic cable to expanded basic cable.
Apartment complexes around Lawrence that provide tenants with cable specials have been working with Sunflower Broadband to continue to provide cable service to residents in light of the transition.
Cable subscribers who do not have digital capabilities will still be able to view 37 channels that Sunflower provides in analog format. However, some channels residents previously had may no longer be available.
While Knorr estimates only about 10 percent of their customers are
unsatisfied with the new options, local apartment complexes like The Reserve, 2511 W. 31st St., whose cable service is included in tenants' rent, are still in negotiations with the cable company.
"Part of the process we are going through is in an effort to make sure that we provide residents with quality cable service that meets and hopefully exceeds their needs," said Kelli Scheuerman, community manager at The Reserve.
Sunflower Broadband installed optional digital cable boxes to The Reserve residents last August. For those apartment complexes who did not receive digital boxes, Sunflower will provide one digital converter box for free for 12 months. Additional boxes must be rented from Sunflower. Negotiations will continue for about another month.
"We are viewing this as an opportunity to explore what is the best option for our residents whether that service continues to be through Sunflower or not," Scheuerman said.
Meadowbrook Apartments and Townhomes, 2601 Dover Sq., offers special cable packages for residents who pay Meadowbrook directly for expanded cable. New special rates will apply for residents but they may still need to pick up a digital transition box or rent more for additional TVs.
Brianne Koester, Hoisington senior and Meadowbrook resident, went to pick up her digital cable transition box from Sunflower before the June 2 deadline, but was
disappointed that residents receive only one box for free.
"My roommate would have to pay more for another box to get the same channels we get in our living room," Koester said. "I think it would be more customer-friendly if they would give us more than one."
Knorr said that Sunflower's digital cable boxes were more expensive than other satellite providers. In spite of the cost, Knorr said they provided a high-quality of channel service to cable subscribers.
Lawrence residents are not the only ones who are being affected by the digital transition era. According to the Federal Communication Commission Web site, by February 2009, broadcasters such as ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and PBS must stop distributing their signal in an analog format. The FCC has strongly encouraged cable TV operators to transition to all-digital distribution.
Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
BY MANDY EARLES
MEARLES@KANSAN.COM
Students for Environmental Action at Kansas State started Recycalusa four years ago, after forming a coalition with KU Environs. Since the program's start, 25,000 pounds of recycling has been diverted from landfills. This year's goal is to collect 10,000 pounds, 2,000 more pounds than last year.
Prizes for trash
By getting everyone involved, Ortiz hopes people will become more aware of recycling and where they can recycle in their own communities. Clark also said this program encouraged people to do the right thing, and made them think about recycling even when they home.
Recycalusa volunteers will hand out recycling bags to festival goers. If concert attendees fill up their bag, they can turn it into the Recycalusa booth, receive free merchandise and enter in a raffle to win a motorcycle and free tickets to next week's festival.
Becky Clark and Ryan Ortiz, Kansas State University alumni, will run Reccalusa, and lead its 140 volunteers.
Environmentally conscious music fanatics can win concert tickets by participating in Recycalusa, a program that collects trash at Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival.
A Recycalusa booth will be set up where local businesses and bands can also donate merchandise, like CDs and posters.
Ryan Callihan, Lenexa senior, said this would be his second year volunteering for Recycalusa.
"The best part is the feeling of accomplishment," Callihan said.
Volunteers come from around the nation, but many are returning from Kansas State and the University.
》 WAKARUSA
Ashley Ferguson, Overland Park senior, said it was Calihan who introduced her to the program, and recruited her to work as a volunteer.
"They [the volunteers] are really driven and they really want to help," Ferguson said.
Edited by Gretchen Gier