A cable television industry group contends Ameritech Corp. is illegally trying to enter the cable TV market. The Cable Television & Communications Association of Illinois gave state regulators a copy of a letter from an Ameritech official to Wheaton’s city manager, outlining Ameritech’s plans to enter the cable industry in several Chicago suburbs, including Wheaton. Such a letter is prohibited by the Illinois Public Utilities Act and the federal Communications Act of 1934, Gary J. Maher, president of the cable group, told the Illinois Commerce Commission. But the letter used the word “cable” loosely, said Ameritech spokesman Geoff Potter. “It was shorthand for describing interactive video services. Actually, we plan to offer something far beyond the contemporary cable systems,” Potter said.
