Cable Tv Rights In Jeopardy

[MyMomsBox]

Figured I'd post it here since cable and internet are so closely tied together these days.

http://redtape.msnbc.com/2006/06/quietly_your_ri.html

[Sinn Fein]

I call bravo-sierra. The individual cable franchises are a load of dogshit. These cable advisory boards in each town were created initially to keep the cable companies in check. Now, they have turned the corner and the ONLY thing they do is worry about their franchise fees. These have become a moneymaker for the towns so now they don't give a flying fuck what the rates are that we are paying since they now get a cut of the action. Lower rates mean their take goes down and they certainly do not want that to happen. The cost of basic cable has nearly tripled around here and they keep taking channels off to force people to the higher-tier digital subscriptions. It's a disgrace.

In my area, Verizon is rolling out FIOS fiber-optic internet which also provides television service. I have had FIOS internet since September and due to the horseshit of Verizon having to go deal with each of these little towns and pay their extortion (franchise) fees, there is no timeline for when they will be able to offer television service. They offer 180 channels for $39.95 a month which fucking SMOKES Comcast's offering and have things like on-demand, etc.

Things are further complicated because our fat load of shit govenor is in Comcast's back pocket. He gave them a 15-year tax break to build their HQ in Philly. This is a company with billions in cash lying around. One of their executive VP's is Rendell's former chief-of-staff. It fucking stinks. Comcast has a monopoly here because it's basically pay-to-play with the whole cable franchising deal and they have been paying a long time. RCN and other companies tried coming in but it never worked out with the individual towns and their fucking cable advisory boards that are supposed to be looking out for the interests of the citizen/taxpayers. THEY DO NOT DO A FUCKING THING EXCEPT COLLECT THEIR PIECE OF THE PIE. One of my best friends was on the alleged "cable advisory board" and left when things changed.

There is currently a bill in the Pennsylvania state legislature to dismantle this nonsense and allow companies to work statewide without having to negotiate with each town. New Jersey has already done it.

I want to print that article just so I can go upstairs and take a shit and use the pages to wipe my ass.

[Mindriot]

I call bravo-sierra. The individual cable franchises are a load of dogshit. These cable advisory boards in each town were created initially to keep the cable companies in check. Now, they have turned the corner and the ONLY thing they do is worry about their franchise fees. These have become a moneymaker for the towns so now they don't give a flying fuck what the rates are that we are paying since they now get a cut of the action. Lower rates mean their take goes down and they certainly do not want that to happen. The cost of basic cable has nearly tripled around here and they keep taking channels off to force people to the higher-tier digital subscriptions. It's a disgrace.

In my area, Verizon is rolling out FIOS fiber-optic internet which also provides television service. I have had FIOS internet since September and due to the horseshit of Verizon having to go deal with each of these little towns and pay their extortion (franchise) fees, there is no timeline for when they will be able to offer television service. They offer 180 channels for $39.95 a month which fucking SMOKES Comcast's offering and have things like on-demand, etc.

Things are further complicated because our fat load of shit govenor is in Comcast's back pocket. He gave them a 15-year tax break to build their HQ in Philly. This is a company with billions in cash lying around. One of their executive VP's is Rendell's former chief-of-staff. It fucking stinks. Comcast has a monopoly here because it's basically pay-to-play with the whole cable franchising deal and they have been paying a long time. RCN and other companies tried coming in but it never worked out with the individual towns and their fucking cable advisory boards that are supposed to be looking out for the interests of the citizen/taxpayers. THEY DO NOT DO A FUCKING THING EXCEPT COLLECT THEIR PIECE OF THE PIE. One of my best friends was on the alleged "cable advisory board" and left when things changed.

There is currently a bill in the Pennsylvania state legislature to dismantle this nonsense and allow companies to work statewide without having to negotiate with each town. New Jersey has already done it.

I want to print that article just so I can go upstairs and take a shit and use the pages to wipe my ass.
I live in PA as well and all I have to say to that is Bravo! :clap::clap:

[MilitantRabbit]

I live in NJ, and our governor Corzine has said he's in favor of competition. The Senate and Assembly have passed similar bills. The Senate's gotta do a customary vote to pass the exact bill the Assembly passed. If it does pass, it goes to Corzine, which he MAY sign.

I'm sick of Cablevision. They're freaking out, running annoying commercials saying they're gonna choose which towns get the service. IT'S CALLED A ROLL-OUT, YOU FUCKS!

[HumpX]

I don't see Cable companies going off the handle and suddenly start fucking people over. As long as there is competition from DSL and satellite TV they'll mind their own business.

[MyMomsBox]

I don't see Cable companies going off the handle and suddenly start fucking people over.

Because they've already been doing it for years. But I agree with you. I knew they had these local govt centers, I just had no clue you could get personal issues with the company resolved through them. I've got DirecTV and have been more than happy with them. Any time I had a reason to complain, they just give me 6 free months of whatever additional channel package I want. I doubt they do that just to keep me from going to town hall and bitching at them.

[HumpX]

Because they've already been doing it for years. But I agree with you. I knew they had these local govt centers, I just had no clue you could get personal issues with the company resolved through them. I've got DirecTV and have been more than happy with them. Any time I had a reason to complain, they just give me 6 free months of whatever additional channel package I want. I doubt they do that just to keep me from going to town hall and bitching at them.

The only thing I knew about the local govt and cable was that the community makes a stipulation that the CATV company in their town has to provide free service to schools, libraries and other municipal entities. Oh and a local access channel (which has provided years of offbeat entertainment around the country :icon_wink )