Dear Editor: We have heard much in recent years about the coming “information super highway.” I want to announce that in Jersey City, the future is now. Our new RCN Cable and Telecommunications Franchise Agreement will connect residents with state of the art cable TV, long distance phone service and high-speed Internet access. Miles of fiber optic cables are being installed under our streets that will give Jersey City residents a choice of providers for each of the above services, and will provide many other benefits to our community as well. For instance, RCN will provide free fiber optic installation and basic service in every school, police station and fire station in the city with three dedicated access channels for local government, educational and public access purposes. RCN will also host an Internet site for Jersey City, provide fiber optic connections between schools and municipal buildings, produce 150 hours of public programming each month, contribute $8000 per year to a student internship, and will pay the City a 2% franchise fee for all sales of its basic services and 3% for sales of its premium services. A service oriented business office will be established in Jersey City which will serve residents by phone from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Competition among phone, cable and Internet providers will likely lower rates and improve provider service while contributing new non-tax revenues to the City. Hence, the RCN Agreement assures that Jersey City will become an even better, more affordable community in which to live and work! Bret Schundler Mayor