A cable watchdog group and Connecticut's attorney general are fighting to get Cablevision Systems Corp to hand out more free digital converters when it digitizes the public access channels for all its franchises this year.
The Area 9 Cable Council, which represents customers in 10 Fairfield County communities, including Westport, Norwalk, Stamford and Easton, wants the state Department of Public Utility Control to review Cablevision's plan for digitizing what are called public, education and government channels on Oct. 16. This would affect all Cablevision franchises; the company serves customers from Greenwich to Orange and in some parts of Litchfield County.
The company said it will provide one free converter to its basic and analog cable customers when the signal becomes digital. But Area 9 said this move will mean multi-set households won't be able to get the signal on other TVs unless the customers rent extra converter boxes at $6.50 per box, per month.
Basic customers pay between $15.70 and $16.72 per month for the network stations and the PEGs, depending on which franchise territory they're in. Analog family cable customers pay about $49.95 a month for 60 cable channels.....
.....The cable companies are required by Connecticut law to provide the PEG channels as part of every package, and Area 9 and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal are concerned limiting access to one TV might violate the spirit of that law.
Earlier this month, Blumenthal made his most recent request that DPUC to open an investigation of the matter; the DPUC has not yet answered that request.
Patrick MacElroy, a Cablevision spokesman, said in an e-mail that 89 percent of the company's customers already have digital service, so won't be affected. The free boxes will allow those who are affected to continue watching the PEGs.
Area 9 and Cablevision recommended customers call 1-800-353-9821, and select option 3, to get the free converter.
Full Story: Connecticut Post
Comment:
Cablevisions service comes in via a wire (coax) which is insulated wire, not over the air so the packets are tight. Currently if you do not have a cable box you can get service from cablevision, you still receive a good signal/ clear picture but are limited to not getting HD or some premium channels.
The reality is Cablevision can continue to service without requiring (additional) boxes in the home. The infrastrucutre is in place and they have been operating like this for many years.
Just another way to get $$$$...
This is a tactic.. you let in a little (the box).. pretty soon people begin to suscribe to more preimum channels/packages, ordering movies.. all equaling to more $$$...
Turning on digital has nothing to do with getting another box. They are just restricting what they've been offering. The average home has 2.5 tvs. So let's esitmate each home has a lest 1 cable box. Going foward in order to get service you'll be charged $12+ for the 1.5 tvs in your home.
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