Northwoods cable customers have plug pulled, as final rent payments remain unpaid

Customers of Northwoods Cable Inc. (Liberty Communications) of Onaway, Millersburg, Tower, Black Lake, Canada Creek Ranch, Atlanta, Hillman, and Indian River were into their third day without cable service late Wednesday after Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-op interrupted the cable companies service lines.

According to a spokesman from PIE & G, Northwoods Cable, which is now calling itself Liberty Communications, has rented space on power poles owned by the cooperative for years.

“Unfortunately, they have failed to pay their rent over the last several years,” the spokesman said.

PIE & G filed a lawsuit for payment and obtained a judgment in September 2004.

Northwoods then filed a petition in Bankruptcy Court but was ordered by the judge to get current on its obligation with PIE & G, but has failed to do so, the spokesman said.

The amount Northwoods owed PIE & G was $57,000, but according to a message left for customers at the local office in Onaway, a little more than half was paid.

Attempts to contact Northwoods officials were unsuccessful as a voice mailbox was full.

The answering machine message calls the situation with PIE & G a “disagreement” and that their “attorneys are in court trying to get Presque Isle Electric to restore the cable service immediately.”

MILDRED LEACH of Millersburg, who has been a Northwoods customer since cable service was established in the area, misses watching her religious programs.

Leach was under the impression that the service would be back on by Tuesday, based on a message from the company earlier this week.

“I was told the dispute is over money,” Leach said.

Leach, who just sent in her last bill, knows satellite receivers are an option.

“The kids want to get it for me,” she said. For now, Mildred has decided to stay with cable. She did say that if the service isn’t restored, she won’t be sending in the next bill.

THE SPOKESMAN from PIE & G said Northwoods has defaulted on two court orders issued in 53rd Circuit Court of Presque Isle County.

The first was the payment of the $57,000, w

hile the other was for Northwoods to remove its system from the PIE & G power poles.

Since defaulting on both orders, PIE & G says, after “months of consideration and negotiation, PIE & G has decided to remove Northwood’s system.”

Hence, the lack of service to cable subscribers. “While we regret any inconvenience to the portion of our members who take service from Northwoods, PIE & G feels it has a duty to all of its members to make sure companies or individuals who owe money to the Cooperative fulfill their obligations,” the spokesman said.

The phone message from Northwoods also apologized for the interruption of service.

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