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W-B to see competitor for cable TVPLAINS TWP., Jan 08, 2011 (The Times Leader - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- For half a century, Service Electric Cable has been the sole cable service provider for residents in Wilkes-Barre. That could soon change. RCN Telecom Services LLC , the company that could soon offer competition to Service Electric, is also looking to add up to 85 positions at its existing local call center this year and will hold an employment open house next week to interview potential employees. RCN is in the process of installing cable lines in South Wilkes-Barre and has city authorization to offer cable services for the next decade. "In May 2010 the city of Wilkes-Barre granted RCN a video franchise to offer cable TV service. In the near future, RCN intends to be a Triple Play provider in the city, providing cable television, high-speed Internet and phone product," said RCN spokeswoman Joanne Guerriero. But no definitive timeline has been announced. Larry Shewack, general manager for Service Electric's Wilkes-Barre's operations, said he has been aware of RCN's progress but isn't overly concerned. "Naturally, we have some concerns, but they're not that serious. We are well established and well liked in the neighborhood," Shewack said. "We're ready for the competition. ... Bring it on. We have a good operation. We have a good service." He said RCN "has a ways to go" before it has enough infrastructure installed to begin offering citywide service, but a year or two out is possible. While RCN is keeping somewhat tightlipped about details on its cable provider plans, it is making headway with increasing positions at its Plains Township customer service center. Job fair next week RCN will hold a job fair at its offices, located at100 Baltimore Drive, from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday. Before attending the open house, interested candidates should visit www.rcn.com/careers and register online for the event. Interviews, testing and job offers for customer service personnel will be made on the spot. Employment seekers should bring a current resume and expect to spend one to three hours during the interview process. According to Guerriero, 30 positions will be filled in the first quarter of this year and an additional 55 will be hired throughout 2011. The company was sold in August and became a privately held company. "The new management team's first priority is to further improve each customer's interaction with us when they call," said William Shelley, RCN's vice president of customer service. He added that "we want to satisfy customer needs quickly and effectively. "Adding more trained representatives to answer phone calls in Wilkes-Barre will help accomplish that goal." Shelley said 331 people already work at the Plains Township call center with an average of 8.52 years of experience among them. He said "the area continues to offer a strong candidate pool. We are proud to bring additional jobs to the region." The center was originally in Dallas and moved to Plains Township in 2000. RCN's primary service areas include Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, New York, Boston and Chicago. Competitive market Shewack said satellite cable companies have entered the market in recent years but have not made much headway. He said Service Electric cannot stop RCN from joining the fray because the federal Telecommunications Act no longer permits exclusive franchise agreements. But, he said, his company will continue to improve service, increase options and listen to customers to ensure it continues to be the leading cable operator in the city. To see more of The Times Leader, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesleader.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |