A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that challenged the fees Portland levies on cable TV service.

Salem attorney Christopher Best filed the suit in November on behalf of a Portland resident, alleging that the local cable authority had improperly commingled fees it collects on Comcast and other cable TV companies, which typically pass the added costs on to consumers. The money supports public-access and educational programing, and telecasts of government meetings.

The lawsuit alleged that Portland, Multnomah County and the four suburbs that constitute the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission had improperly commingled those funds, creating a "slush fund" and spending money on projects beyond their authority.

However, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled earlier this month that the law allows Portland to collect the fees and that the plaintiff failed to show any injury from the alleged misspending.

-- Mike Rogoway; twitter: @rogoway; 503-294-7699