FCC Orders Comcast To Stop Labeling Equipment Rental a Service Fee

An anonymous reader writes "The FCC denied an appeal by Comcast, which argued that its practice of charging customers separately for a DTA (digital terminal adapter) -- a converter box that allows cable subscribers with older televisions to receive digital channels, which the company said would be provided at no charge -- is not subject to rate regulation, because it is a service fee. The ruling was issued on March 19." Also from the article: "In an e-mail last week to the Star Tribune, Comcast vice president of corporate affairs Mary Beth Schubert said the case “involved a relatively minor dispute about the way certain items are presented on the rate card but has no effect on overall pricing.” But, [Michael Bradley, an attorney whose firm represented Minneapolis-area franchising authorities in the dispute] argued the FCC’s decision sets a strong precedent for transparency within the cable industry."

Re:A simple solution

[Kryptonian Jor-El]

Live Sports. The only reason I keep cable is to watch live sports. Until the pirates figure out a way to stream live sports in high quality, I'll be sticking to cable. Beyond that, I don't need it

Re:A simple solution

[SeaFox]

Oh...you want to *watch* live sports.

He could also play live sports. That would be entertaining and a lot healthier than sitting on the couch listening to how someone else runs around with the ball.

As a guy from Europe

[InsultsByThePound]

I'm never ceased to be surprised by your guys prices never match the advertised price. Surcharges/Fees/Taxes/Tips flying everywhere. About the only time I paid the price adverted was buying gas. And it's not like it's predictable "Oh, things will be 10% over the price", nope every industry from hotels to airlines to cellphones has it's own rules and offsets. Why hasn't there been a consumer revolt yet?

Re:A simple solution

[Bengie]

Using pure logic is a slippery slope because "fun" is not "logical". While we're on the subject, ethics aren't logical either. Nutshell, don't bring logic into an argument about entertainment. If someone wants something, that's all that matters. He wants to watch sports, then don't sarcastically point out that he could just listen.

Re:A simple solution

[GrumpySteen]

We would end up watching complete and total crap, because we were paying for it and felt obligated to watch it.

That says more about you than it does about television.

Do you have an unlimited plan for your cell phone? Do you feel obligated to use it constantly and feel guilty about not using it? Probably not.

Do you have unlimited internet? Do you download large files constantly in order to maximize your usage? Probably not.

Do you go to all-you-can-eat buffets and eat as much as you possibly can and make yourself sick? Probably not.

If you get out of the "gotta get my money's worth!" mindset and you'll find that a lot of things are more enjoyable, but you'll never escape that mindset until you stop blaming everything else and accept that the problem is your mindset.