 RickPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-06
Waterbury, CT | If these prices are correct.... (and care should be taken in assuming that because AT&T hasn't confirmed, nor denied it)
They're just no big whoop for this area.
Reading from Adelphia's rate card which I just obtained over the last few days from them you can get...
everything they've got INCLUDING all the premiums (4 of them) including HBO, Cinemax...Starz..Showtime.
I haven't counted all their channels but it looks like it's probably close to 270 to maybe even 300.
And the price including HSI as well is...
119.65.
This also includes the digital basic..digital plus..and high definition channels as well.
It looks like to get the high definition..you'd also need the hi def receiver that is 7.95 per month.
I guess my feelings are that it's not that AT&T's wouldn't be competitive at the high end..but there's certainly no killer deal there in those prices. And to get customers to switch who are happy with their service..that's something you'd need..especially with a new technology such as this.
The real competitor out there today seems to be DISH satellite.
They have some really good prices and combined with DSL..you can save some good money.
I think if AT&T wants to be successful, they'd need to be priced down in the range that dish now charges.
Lastly, on a slightly different topic, It appears that AT&T has just merrily decided to roll along with their plans, apparently deciding that franchise agreements aren't needed nor important. And, judging from recent news reports..it appears that the powers that be in Ct. agree with them..all except for the Atty General who reportedly is going to try and change this.
AT&T's attitude is in stark contrast to the news reports about Verizon, who judging by news reports i've read, appear to beleive that the law does apply to them and they are negotiating franchise agreements.
As a consumer, I can't help but to wonder, who exactly does AT&T think they are anyway?
Franchise agreements apparently don't matter to them.
Whether or not their competitors in the telco and cable industry are bound by these agreements, or choose to do what is right..don't seem to matter to them.
A city like Geneva IL...who has every right to want to examine this issue a bit more winds up getting sued by them for doing just that...
and lastly, when you read the legal information that I have, namely the types of things that apply directly to whether they SHOULD be bound by franchise agreements or not..any reasonable person can only come away with the feeling that YES..they are and should be bound by them...
they just proceed onwards anyway..without seemingly a care in the world.
I would suggest that YOU..the consumer..should make them start to care..with your hard earned dollars.
And boycott this company who apparently believes that laws shouldn't apply to them.
I can appreciate the fact that we, as consumers, want choice and competition. And ultimately this would hopefully lead to better prices. BUT...if the prices in this article are TRUE..these are NOT better prices.
And so, why use them at all? Where's the benefit to supporting a company like this who really doesn't seem to care whether they play by the rules anyway..while the cable co's and verizon understand that they should..as good corporate citizens.
Franchise agreements protect communities and bring needed revenue to them. They protect the citizens in them...to insure equal access to services that people should have equal access to.
Some have asked why should VOIP have been exempt and not IPTV? The reason is really simple. IPTV is, today anyway..a one way service. And that's what defines what cable tv is...(not whether it's delivered via coax).
And that's what falls under the cable act laws now in existance, and AT&T really doesn't have a leg to stand on and that's why Geneva IL. is telling them they need one.
Instead, AT&T sues and apparently bullies and uses their corporate muscle and might to try and get their way.
This is a big problem and it's one of the leading causes of abuse of monopoly power.
I would feel different about this under one circumstance..and one only.
And that is that Cable co's are ALSO released from their franchise agreements.
And then, let them all have a field day trying to win us as customers.
Thats where the real benefits for consumers will come from AND what would be fair to the cable co's as well.
Until then, I'd suggest that anyone considering project lightspeed tell their AT&T Representative thanks..but no thanks.
~RRR
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