Toropop
join:2001-11-11
Vancouver, WA
 ·Vonage
| reply to gaforces
Re: now's a great time to use that rural penetration data
said by gaforces  :I want a choice for cable tv operator. I don't want to pay for 20 Spanish channels so their "partners" can advertise/market the illegal aliens. I don't want 20 different sports channels. I don't want reality, soap opera, or cooking channels. Ole` Ala Carte Whilst your comment about "illegal aliens" is completely inappropriate, I do have to agree with you about having to pay for Spanish-language channels.
Por ejemplo, Comcast just did a lineup "enhancement" here in the Portland Metro area. The enhancement included over 25 Spanish-language channels, 3 Filipino networks, a Farsi network, and additional HD channels, which consisted of The Golf Channel (no split with Versus), NFL Network, and some other channel that I can't think of right now. Point being, who the f**k watches that crap. I mean, I know who does, but it's highly unlikely that the 4 million plus subscribers here all prefer additional sports and Spanish-language channels (especially since we have a high Russian-speaking population). So where's the benefit to the customer?
Here's the kicker: did I mention that they jacked up the formerly-known Platinum package approximately $20/month. What used to cost $91 now costs $121. Oh, and HD is a separate package that costs $11.95. They also no longer offer Digital Classic, Digital Plus, Digital Silver, and Digital Gold. Basic has been reduced to 13 channels, and Expanded Basic is now reduced from 72 channels to 65. They also jacked up the price, too.
What's my point? I guess I don't have one and just really needed to vent.
Ain't feelin' so Comcastic now. |
|
GPSrob
join:2007-05-21
1 edit | reply to Camelot One
Camelot One on 2007-11-10 at 19:49:37 said:
That said.....damn, did the FCC Chairman get raped by a cable company employee when he was a kid? Why are they b*tch slapping the cable industry, while caving to telcos at every turn? I'm all for competition, but if you are going to overly-regulate one side, do the same to the other. Get a clue. You obviously have no idea how thoroughly regulated telcos are.
The FCC IS doing, "the same to the other."
It is a shame that the FCC is bringing more regulation to cable companies instead of lessening regulation on telco, but the effect is the same. They're leveling the field. You really ought to consider CLEC (open/UNE telco networks vs cable's closed networks) and provider of last resort (telco must build, cable not so) requirements. Those regulations are very costly in terms of both capital (build out) and market share (competition from CLECs).
Since cable and telco are increasingly competitive with each other it is about time that the regulations are equally beneficial or burdensome. Please note that the recent TV franchise rules enacted have largely been tailored to be of benefit to both CATV and Telco; CATV primarily opposed them (sometimes they didn't) due to the fact that CATV already enjoyed a competitive advantage w/ local franchise agreements already in place. |
|
Ulmo
join:2005-09-22
San Jose, CA
 ·Comcast
 ·SONIC.NET
| reply to Camelot One
said by Camelot One :That said.....damn, did the FCC Chairman get raped by a cable company employee when he was a kid? Why are they b*tch slapping the cable industry, while caving to telcos at every turn? I'm all for competition, but if you are going to overly-regulate one side, do the same to the other. I noticed that as well. Verizon FiOS has been getting some latitude for implementing fiber *and* for not trying to short-circuit the government process *as much as* AT&T (Verizon used to be worse than they are now, but they took a congenial attitude during this rollout, which no doubt was a wise decision). However, Comcast also did a pretty decent fiber rollout recently. FCC has allowed cable companies to go all digital, which I keep advocating and advocating that they (cables) *not* buy any more sub-XVID quality boxes, but other than that I noticed they (cables & FCC) are not on best terms.
I think part of the game being played here is that AT&T charges less for their crap than Comcast does for their comparatively better stuff, so FCC is giving AT&T extra latitude. I think they need to start leveling and equalizing the playing field, though, making rules that are more specific for what they intend rather than rules that are more technical in nature that are only supposed to have certain side effects (made difficult by a variety of different delivery methods). However, that would take accountings: how much gov't and monopoly customer investment went into each network, etc.. If we looked at everything, there'd be some interesting resultant data for who should be doing what.
It seems to me there are a lot of factors, not just garbage politics, but us armchair readers here can really see a lot of shots missing TPC and being shot at the cables.
I'm not quick to assume FCC's shots are entirely wrong, though -- far from it. |
|
gaforces
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA
1 edit | reply to kapil
said by kapil :Yes, because everyone who speaks Spanish is an "illegal alien"  No, mostly the mexican nationals who are here, who dont want to learn english.
I dont want to start or participate in a race war.
I dont care if they want cable channels, I dont want to have to pay for them. |
|
batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to Camelot One
said by Camelot One :I disagree. I used Verizon (and then a VZ line reseller) in Florida, and I was much happier than I am now that I'm stuck with AT&T. That said.....damn, did the FCC Chairman get raped by a cable company employee when he was a kid? Why are they b*tch slapping the cable industry, while caving to telcos at every turn? I'm all for competition, but if you are going to overly-regulate one side, do the same to the other. TPC is the provider of last resort and must provide service to anyone at a government set price. Isn't that a quaint idea? |
|
Camelot One
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Sarasota, FL
clubs:
| reply to batterup
I disagree. I used Verizon (and then a VZ line reseller) in Florida, and I was much happier than I am now that I'm stuck with AT&T.
That said.....damn, did the FCC Chairman get raped by a cable company employee when he was a kid? Why are they b*tch slapping the cable industry, while caving to telcos at every turn? I'm all for competition, but if you are going to overly-regulate one side, do the same to the other.
--
Intel Quad Core QX6700 @3500Mhz/Asus P5N32-E SLI/4x 1024Mb Corsair/WD 74Gb Raptor/PNY 7800GTs SLI/Antec 550 True Control/Custom water cooler |
|
kapil
The Kapil
join:2000-04-26
Chicago, IL | reply to gaforces
Re: now's a great time to use that rural penetration data
Yes, because everyone who speaks Spanish is an "illegal alien" |
|
batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to jimbo2150
said by jimbo2150 : I agree, I would like a choice of cable provider. But I would also like a choice of phone service. Maybe if Verizon were to offer service in AT&T land, AT&T would get off thier asses and start pushing fiber. Hold on there. Verizon must wire me for FIOS before they take on at&t in a money losing situation. |
|
jimbo2150
join:2004-05-10
Youngstown, OH
| reply to gaforces
said by gaforces :I want a choice for cable tv operator. I dont want to pay for 20 spanish channels so thier "partners" can advertise/market the illegal aliens. I dont want 20 different sports channels. I dont want reality, soap opera, or cooking channels. Ole` Ala Carte I agree, I would like a choice of cable provider. But I would also like a choice of phone service. Maybe if Verizon were to offer service in AT&T land, AT&T would get off thier asses and start pushing fiber.
--
- "Techie" Jim |
|
gaforces
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA
| reply to kba4
I want a choice for cable tv operator. I dont want to pay for 20 spanish channels so thier "partners" can advertise/market the illegal aliens.
I dont want 20 different sports channels.
I dont want reality, soap opera, or cooking channels.
Ole` Ala Carte |
|
