Bell

The Bell-Cudahy Cable Television Commission last week selected Masada Corp., based in Birmingham, Ala., as the leading contender for a franchise for both communities.

The commission will now negotiate exclusively with Masada on the terms of the franchise, said Byron Woosley, executive director of the commission and the city administrator of Bell. Two other companies are seeking the franchise, Heritage Cablevision, based in Des Moines, Iowa, and Marsh-Media Cable TV, based in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

If an agreement is reached with Masada, it will be presented to the commission for approval in late December or early January, Woosley said, at which time the commission could award the franchise. If Masada and the staff for the commission cannot reach an agreement, the commission will select one of the other two companies for negotiation.