FCC Orders Comcast To Stop Labeling Equipment Rental a Service Fee 97
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:The box is pretty much mandatory (Score:3, Informative)
I hate to defend Comcast, but I had to get a CableCard from them for my HDHomeRun Prime tuner and it was very easy. I went to the local Comcast office, handed over my DVRs, and told them I wanted a CableCard. They verified that I was looking for an "M" card (some older Tivo models only support "S" cards apparently, so they keep both on hand), then gave me a card and updated my account/billing information. When I got home I plugged the card into my tuner, called Comcast support, and in under 30 minutes had everything working perfectly fine.
Re:Greedy Corporate Assholes (Score:3, Informative)
THis isn't the only thing the FCC has ignored, while they claim Comcast shouldn't applying fess to equipment that you can go out and buy since the conversion to digital. The fact remains under FCC law, if they apply a rental fee to any equipment a consumer has every right to by that equipment themselves. However since Concast has monopolized the equipment manufactures the manufactures refuse to sell that equipment, and as far I could tell/find no one else is allowed to make the equipment, so unless by chance you come across another manufacture, before Concast or Motorola files court complaint, your stuck. And yet the FCC in which I sent a letter, and copy of their regulations, over a thousand times refuse to do anything, they won't even direct it to the other Fed Agencies that are suppose to handle this type of crap.
But I can buy the equipment for DirecTV without any problems.