Local News in Brief : Cable Firm May Be Ousted

Following a public outcry over poor service, the West Hollywood City Council has moved a step closer to pulling the plug on Century Communications Corp., which supplies cable television to 12,000 city households.

After listening to 20 angry subscribers and an impassioned plea from a Century executive, the council, by a 5-0 vote Monday, called on its staff to prepare a resolution to be considered next week that would revoke the company’s franchise unless its problems are resolved in six months.

Barring reconciliation with city officials, Century is expected to wage a legal battle to protect the franchise it assumed in January, 1987, which industry sources estimate is worth at least $24 million.