Coudersport Still Respect the Rigases

Since December, Adelphia Communications NW PA general manager Thomas Carey has had a side job: overseeing the system in Coudersport, the central Pennsylvania city where John Rigas founded Adelphia.

Under a post-bankruptcy agreement, control of the system will switch from Adelphia to the Rigas family. Coudersport has slightly more than 5,000 customers, and the deal includes ownership of systems reaching households in nearby Port Allegany and Emporium.

The immediate challenge for Carey is to make the regime change in Coudersport smooth for customers and Adelphia employees. Of 9 employees based in Coudersport, 8 will stay when the Rigases assume control.

It was on Adelphia area VP Tom Haywood's recommendation that Coudersport was added to Carey's load last December. Prior to that, Adelphia's Olean, N.Y., system GM Darlene Lake was the overseer. When Lake's role was expanded to include regional supervision of dispatch operations (system employees assigned to install and service calls), Haywood turned over Coudersport to Carey, even though the distance between Erie County and Coudersport is more than 100 miles. "He knows the state and was more than willing to take over, so it made sense," Haywood says.

Carey travels to Coudersport at least once a month, and says employee morale is solid. "It's a Main Street, U.S.A., town where everybody knows your name and you can talk to anyone in a quaint, friendly atmosphere," Carey says. "The employees there, in spite of everything, still have a level of respect for the Rigas family. They are willing to give whoever in the family will run that system a chance."

At this point, there's no indication of who that will be. The employees there "are happy they have a job, and they will do a wonderful job for whoever's in charge," Haywood predicts.

I being a resident of this general "Coudersport" area, fully
believe it would be crazy for Time Warner to shut down the
offices in Coudersport. We have hardworkers who live in
this area and they are very dedicated to this community
and the company which John Rigas built. Sure, there are
a few very bitter folks, but not everyone feels that way. I
think it would be a wise move for Time Warner to just
keep things going in this area. Now if they would just
expand on their services to the rest of the customers in
this area. I live within one mile of established cable
service, currently being provided by ZitoMedia who
originally was Adelphia. I hope that they will get the rest
of the folks in this area connected so that we too can enjoy
cable service for our internets. This would truly open up
so many more opportunities for myself personally and others
as well. It's frustrating to me, living so darn close to existing
service. I say expand, expand!! We need more employment
opportunities in this area and cable is what I'm hoping will
be my "ticket" to allowing me to take better care of myself
and child. I've been waiting for 5 years now and I say it's
about time to send the crews out and lay that cable.