The Monterey County Herald, Calif., Business Briefs Column.(Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News)

Sep. 29--CABLE PROVIDER TRIMS OPERATIONS: AT&T Broadband, the largest local cable TV service provider, is consolidating its sales services throughout Northern California, centralizing operations in San Jose.

Andrew Johnson, executive director of communications, said the Monterey office will remain open but its sales functions will now be handled by the San Jose office.

Johnson said the move is to help the company "provide better service." It will be more efficient to deal with all sales and billing functions in San Jose, he said.

Johnson could not say how many Monterey employees would be affected by the consolidation. Those affected could choose to …