sale will not jeopardize Cablevue employees -- many of whom have punched the Morton company timeclock for more than 25 years. "They are a big company made up of smaller companies who bring family values to their communities. I have a good feeling about Cogeco and the way they do business," she said. "They have acquired our employees along with our business. They have a good record of keeping staff as much they can," said Porter. "We view them (workers) as very good employees and believe a new company will also see these qualities." Porter said she will stay on through the transition period but couldn't say if she will remain when the buyer assumes full ownership. Louis Audet, president and chief executive officer of Cogeco Cable couldn't be reached at press time but in a statement from Montreal offices, "They're trying to establish a he said the Cablevue purchase will presence along the Highway 401 cor- boost its total customer base in ridor," said Porter. "This was tha Ontario to 640,000 customers. Across missing piece of the puzzle. It hap- Canada, the company services pened relatively quickly, but I'm not 909,000 basic cable customers. at liberty to discuss it." Audet said the latest acquisition The sale will become final pend- will mirror other smaller cable ing due diligence measures by Coge- providers just brought into the Cogeco and full approval by the Canadian co fold "with a view of benefiting Radio and Telecommunications from synergies and offering services Commission (CRTC). to customers that are The news late yestercompetitive in terms of day marks a major quality diversity and departure for a family price." empire started by In addition to the Myles Morton in 1966 basic cable services, as when the first line of part of the deal, Cogeco cable wires contrasted will also purchase the Belleville skyline, Cablevue's QuinteNet high-speed broadband bringing nine channels to city homes, said Internet service, an Porter. Trenton soon expanding IT market followed in the late Cogeco has also been 1960s. working to meet. Today, Cablevue In Kingston, earlier offers 68 channels. this year, Cogeco Porter said she and family mem- launched its high-speed Internet bers wrestled with mixed feelings access. Cablevue launched its highabout the sale of a community busi- speed Internet service in July The use of coaxial cable networkness that has grown with a family long connected with local media, ing already in place throughout including the dissemination of cable Quinte, Internet service enables custelevision signals, radio and at one tomers to download in seconds, not time The Intelligencer, now owned minutes/without blocking use of the by Hollinger Inc. phone. Porter said she has no idea when Cablevue customer service representatives, community program- the agreement will be finalized given mers, technicians and those in pending scheduling dates before the administration were informed about CRTC. the acquisition Thursday at their Cogeco has subscribers in QueBelleville and Trenton offices. bec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta Porter said she is confident the and British Columbia. ,Q5|OQ"p.i