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Comcast Phones Stop Ringing In Michigan
FCC paperwork filed to terminate digital phone service
Comcast made headlines earlier this year when it gained Customer Number Two Million for VoIP services. The lucky woman was a Michigan resident. However, other Comcast customers in Michigan aren’t too happy with the situation there. A little-reported public notice was filed with the FCC, noting that Comcast plans to discontinue some phone service in the state. The news in our forums is that Comcast Digital Phone service is being phased out in favor of Comcast Digital Voice. Services will be discontinued on September 17th, although emergency calls will be possible for users through October 17th. Comments on the issue can be made through August 31st.
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reelbigfish
join:2002-06-06
Boston, MA

reelbigfish

Member

I see no problem here

It is Comcast's network and they should be able to offer the services they want. It doesn't mean people have to buy them. If people don't want CDV they can switch to another provider and voice their opinion with their money. A similar thing is happening with Verizon not letting customers get service over copper after they have fiber installed. I know it isn't the same situation as these customers have a deadline for service shutoff date, but progress is being made and things eventually have to change.
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: I see no problem here

I agree with you EXCEPT on Verizon.

Verizon is the regulated phone provider in an area and granted the copper rights to the city. When they remove a customer from copper for unregulated fiber, you are removing protections from a consumer. If they want to do so, then FiOS should become just as regulated as the copper system is.

Until then, they are living a double standard as telephone loves to do.
Answer Guy
join:2006-07-28
Grass Lake, MI

Answer Guy

Member

Re: I see no problem here

said by fiberguy2:

When they remove a customer from copper for unregulated fiber, you are removing protections from a consumer.
The customer is not forced to switch to FIOS. But even with that fact, what protections does the customer really lose? I just don't see how they are losing something. Yes, there are differences in the products, but the customer does gain a lot when they switch, speed, reliability, and additional services to name a few.
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: I see no problem here

Answer Guy, you failed to help out here.

What I'm getting at is when people switch to Fiber, they are denied return to copper. It doesn't matter if the current home owner or the previous one did, just that someone did.
However, I'd beg to differ on Fios being more reliable.. in fact, it's not. For network? Sure.. maybe.. but as for telephone? No! So long as the service relies on house power and battery back up, the service is still not more reliable than copper.

But I digress as that's not my point - never was.. my POINT, that you quoted was that Fios is a non-regulated service. Since Verizon IS the regulated carrier, when they remove a customer/home from copper for fiber, that house is no longer under protection of a 'regulated telecommunications provider' since fiber is to do as they please.

My point is that Verizon wants to have their cake and eat it too. If they want to get into the unregulated fiber business, then they should sell off the copper plant and go all fiber. However, they, as always, get to skurt consumer protections.

So you have, say, a fiber cut over home, you have the choice of Comcast and Verizon FiOS (for example) for phone providers , who are you going to run to when you need regulatory help? Fios nor comcast phone service (or simply cable phone) is not regulated. SOL bud.

THAT is my point. But, people would sell out themselves because it's golden fiber.

PhoenixDown
FIOS is Awesome
Premium Member
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY

PhoenixDown

Premium Member

What is the difference between the two services?

...?
dn0
join:2005-07-05
USA

dn0

Member

Re: What is the difference between the two services?

Digital Telephone = Old technology switched voice.
Also older and more expensive equipment.

Digital Voice = newer, cheaper technology generally via the already existing DOCSIS network (i.e. VOIP)

To the customer picking up the phone, there should be no difference.

quicknote
@wideopenwest.com

quicknote

Anon

Re: What is the difference between the two services?

said by dn0:

Digital Telephone = Old technology switched voice.
Also older and more expensive equipment.

Digital Voice = newer, cheaper technology generally via the already existing DOCSIS network (i.e. VOIP)

To the customer picking up the phone, there should be no difference.
Well, to some, it is. Especially if they get cut off.

Jodokast96
Stupid people piss me off.
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
NJ

Jodokast96 to dn0

Premium Member

to dn0
said by dn0:

Digital Telephone = Old technology switched voice.
Also older and more expensive equipment.

Digital Voice = newer, cheaper technology generally via the already existing DOCSIS network (i.e. VOIP)

To the customer picking up the phone, there should be no difference.
But are VOIP packages cheaper? Something tells me those switching to VOIP will end up paying more for the same service.
Ickypoopy
join:2004-03-24
Portland, OR

Ickypoopy

Member

Re: What is the difference between the two services?

They are doing the same thing to me. I live in Portland, OR.

I am currently paying $12.25/mo (base price). They say that as of Nov 13th I will have to switch to digital voice service, or be disconnected. The initial letters offered one month free, and 12 months at $19.99 (+$3.00 equipment charge). Now they are offering it with two months free, and 12 months at $22.99 (+$3.00 equipment charge).

Sure the new service has more features (free long distance, calling features, etc...) but I do not want them. I dont want to pay more. Also, after the promo offer, the same service is like $40/mo! Its absolutely ridiculous. Screw comcast, im finally going to get a cell phone.

Jodokast96
Stupid people piss me off.
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
NJ

1 recommendation

Jodokast96

Premium Member

Re: What is the difference between the two services?

It's the same with the companies forcing users with older cellphones to new devices and making them give up their old plans for more expensive ones. Where are the savings from all of this "cheaper" technology? No matter how you look at it, consumers are paying more and more for the same services. The only ones seeing any savings are the companies.

S_engineer
Premium Member
join:2007-05-16
Chicago, IL

S_engineer

Premium Member

Re: What is the difference between the two services?

But on the other hand, we have the fine customer service from "theodore" and "Barbara" in India!
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2 to Ickypoopy

Premium Member

to Ickypoopy
MANY comcast markets are offering a basic local only phone service for $12 a month. If they are offering you a $20 package, take it and enjoy the cheap extra crap. If they don't have the $12 local only phone lines yet, they most likely will in 12 months.

They rolled out the $39 - $54 package up front but as the system gets settled in, they start adding the extra rate plans.
Ickypoopy
join:2004-03-24
Portland, OR

Ickypoopy

Member

Re: What is the difference between the two services?

I have a basic local only phone service for $12.25/mo and I have had it for more than six years. You are telling me they are taking it away just so that they can offer it to me again?
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: What is the difference between the two services?

What?!

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536 to Ickypoopy

Premium Member

to Ickypoopy
said by Ickypoopy:

I have a basic local only phone service for $12.25/mo and I have had it for more than six years. You are telling me they are taking it away just so that they can offer it to me again?
YES!
Only at a higher price!
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: What is the difference between the two services?

What part of my post did you miss?? The part that I said that many markets are now offering a $12.00 (appx) local basic package? or that part that many markets are now offering a $12.00 local basic package?

Chris 313
Because It's Geekier
Premium Member
join:2004-07-18
Houma, LA
·AT&T FTTP
·Comcast XFINITY

Chris 313

Premium Member

Oh, please...just switch and be done with it.

From what I know about this, they are canning CDP for CDV. Our fellow Comcaster, Dadkins had CDP for years and got a notice that they were shutting it off, offering CDV at a intro price and the install was dirt easy for him.

If they're sending out notices to people like these, why are they complaining, just switch and be done with it. You don't lose your number and you may even come out on top.

greendragon
Premium Member
join:2003-09-20
Stewartville, MN

greendragon

Premium Member

Re: Oh, please...just switch and be done with it.

Agreed.

As long as Comcast is not making existing customers of CDP pay a install fee, even if a tech had to come out, then I see no reason for too much complaining.
DMS1
join:2005-04-06
Plano, TX

1 recommendation

DMS1

Member

Re: Oh, please...just switch and be done with it.

Absolutely. They did the same in Texas a year or two ago without any publicity or complaints (that I'm aware of).

Another non news-worthy item.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5 to Chris 313

Premium Member

to Chris 313
Yes, this change has been ongoing for a long time. CDP is being phased out everywhere in favor of CDV.

Here is a discussion on the same topic back in June of this year here at BBR:
»Comcast Digital Voice Is No Longer Optional
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

1 edit

fiberguy2 to Chris 313

Premium Member

to Chris 313
The only problem, for some, is that CDV, in many areas, still only supports two phone lines. MOST of the people, in this area, that have yet to migrate to CDV are those with 3 or more lines. I have seen customers with 2 CDV lines and 1 CDP service at the same place..

The 4 line eMTA is coming soon to a lot of areas... not to mention, Comcast finally started offering CDV business so that should help those people.

But, yes... a lot of people are getting some SWEEET deals to migrate.. My area has yet to send the force letters as of now but I know St Paul will be loosing the switch next year. MPLS (former TWC) has always been on VoIP / Digital Voice ... no problems there.

The funny thing, though, is that you CAN still get CDP here.

Chris 313
Because It's Geekier
Premium Member
join:2004-07-18
Houma, LA
·AT&T FTTP
·Comcast XFINITY

Chris 313

Premium Member

Re: Oh, please...just switch and be done with it.

said by fiberguy2:

The only problem, for some, is that CDV, in many areas, still only supports two phone lines. MOST of the people, in this area, that have yet to migrate to CDV are those with 3 or more lines. I have seen customers with 2 CDV lines and 1 CDP service at the same place..

The 4 line eMTA is coming soon to a lot of areas... not to mention, Comcast finally started offering CDV business so that should help those people.

But, yes... a lot of people are getting some SWEEET deals to migrate.. My area has yet to send the force letters as of now but I know St Paul will be loosing the switch next year. MPLS (former TWC) has always been on VoIP / Digital Voice ... no problems there.

The funny thing, though, is that you CAN still get CDP here.
O_O Let me get this straight...Comcast wants everyone off CDP and onto CDV, only they still offer CDP in your area? Sounds like a mismanaged setup there.

Say I would get CDP, and a week later get a letter saying my service was gonna be shut off and to switch to CDV. I would have to take more time to do this.

I can see why, in that situation people would be very irritated.

Why not just offer CDV and be done with it?
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: Oh, please...just switch and be done with it.

Why? I kinda said it already.. people want more than 2 lines.. so CDP is the answer for that need.

Chris 313
Because It's Geekier
Premium Member
join:2004-07-18
Houma, LA

Chris 313

Premium Member

Re: Oh, please...just switch and be done with it.

O_o Oops, sorry, kinda missed that part. That's what I get for posting with a headache. In that case, I can see why.

Let's hope they get out mutiline CDV soon then ^_^

Homebrew19947
Betzwood Basement Brewery
join:2001-11-15
King Of Prussia, PA

Homebrew19947

Member

Headline seems a bit overblown

I thought I was going to read that CC was exiting the area, like some insurance companies tried to do in NJ years back cause it was not profitable.

They are discontinuing Product X and replacing it with Product Y.

BFD

Fubar16
join:2001-02-20
Phoenix, AZ

Fubar16

Member

Cox is also doing It...

They are changing customers from NIU's (CST) to EMTA's (VoIP).

Not a big deal to me....

I Heard Comcast charges more for the "new" service. Is that true? If so that is stupid. Cox has no rate differential...

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Cox is also doing It...

said by Fubar16:

They are changing customers from NIU's (CST) to EMTA's (VoIP).

Not a big deal to me....

I Heard Comcast charges more for the "new" service. Is that true? If so that is stupid. Cox has no rate differential...
Old service(CDP) prices didn't include unlimited long distance. The new service(CDV) does include unlimited long distance in the price. So comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges.

Fubar16
join:2001-02-20
Phoenix, AZ

Fubar16

Member

Re: Cox is also doing It...

said by FFH5:

said by Fubar16:

They are changing customers from NIU's (CST) to EMTA's (VoIP).

Not a big deal to me....

I Heard Comcast charges more for the "new" service. Is that true? If so that is stupid. Cox has no rate differential...
Old service(CDP) prices didn't include unlimited long distance. The new service(CDV) does include unlimited long distance in the price. So comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges.
I see... but sux now they are forcing everyone to unltd LD

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Cox is also doing It...

said by Fubar16:

I see... but sux now they are forcing everyone to unltd LD
Well, technology marches ever forward, and the old tech gets phased out. No company is going to maintain old technology forever. That's life in the modern world.

And it just isn't technically practical to only allow local calls with VOIP technology.

Jwobot
join:2002-08-14
Sterling Heights, MI

1 edit

Jwobot

Member

Re: Cox is also doing It...

Are you tired of Comcast? Get WOW!

»www1.wowway.com/home/index.aspx

Chris 313
Because It's Geekier
Premium Member
join:2004-07-18
Houma, LA
·AT&T FTTP
·Comcast XFINITY

Chris 313

Premium Member

Re: Cox is also doing It...

said by Jwobot:

Are you tired of Comcast? Get WOW!

»www1.wowway.com/home/index.aspx
That's an idea, but do areas serviced by Comcast and WOW overlap or compete? If not, there's a problem.

BlueArcher
Premium Member
join:2003-03-11
Lexington, KY

BlueArcher

Premium Member

Re: Cox is also doing It...

Yes, WOW is an overbuilder.

Fubar16
join:2001-02-20
Phoenix, AZ

Fubar16 to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

said by Fubar16:

I see... but sux now they are forcing everyone to unltd LD
Well, technology marches ever forward, and the old tech gets phased out. No company is going to maintain old technology forever. That's life in the modern world.

And it just isn't technically practical to only allow local calls with VOIP technology.
Why?

Cox does just that, Why Force Long Distance, A lot of homes don;t want LD at all....

seems like stupid marketing to me....
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2 to Fubar16

Premium Member

to Fubar16
Many comcast areas are offering a local calling plan for $19.99 per month with the features (caller ID, call waiting, voice mail, speed dial [if anyone actually uses that any more] and the other ones) but the offering is still limited at this time. As the product makes its way out into the various markets, the local plans follow.

You should check with your area, especially if you are being forced to migrate, as I bet you that most areas HAVE it, just don't offer it.
fiberguy2

fiberguy2 to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
Actually, yes.. there were the 'Any Distance' packages that were $44.90 a month. Extra lines per month were about $12.00 per month and as long as 1 line had ULD, the others did too. It actually is/was a sweet deal. (Features were extra) I'm still on that plan.. HOWEVER, when CDV came out, they phased out the any distance packages and only offered metered long distance plans.

RARPSL
join:1999-12-08
Suffern, NY

RARPSL to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

said by Fubar16:

They are changing customers from NIU's (CST) to EMTA's (VoIP).

Not a big deal to me....

I Heard Comcast charges more for the "new" service. Is that true? If so that is stupid. Cox has no rate differential...
Old service(CDP) prices didn't include unlimited long distance. The new service(CDV) does include unlimited long distance in the price. So comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges.
So offer the CDP users you are forcing to switch to CDV (or else get disconnected) a CDV plan WITHOUT LD (ie: One with only the services they are currently getting via CDP) at the same rate as their current CDP Plan. If/When they want the full plan then upgrade them at that time. If you are trying to save money by dropping the CDP support, then pass the savings on to them by not charging for or supporting LD if they just want to keep the same level of service (I'm sure that the cost of not providing the with LD support will cover the loss of income once the removal of the need to support CDP is factored in).
BPLSUCKS9
join:2006-04-26
Grand Ledge, MI

BPLSUCKS9

Member

CDV vs CDP

The big difference I saw was that one was line powered and the other was not. Other than that there really is no difference that I saw.

•••••

jaa
Premium Member
join:2000-06-13

jaa

Premium Member

They should not discontinue the old service...

Instead, they should price it profitably - instead of $15/mo, just start charging $150/mo. That way they could let people switch away from the service on their own schedule. And, of course, no new subscribers.

phattieg
join:2001-04-29
Winter Park, FL

phattieg

Member

Wow, some news... DUH!!!

As said before, this is happening everywhere. Who cares if Michigan is not happy. I can say that when it came time to pull the plug in Jacksonville, there was less than 200 people left on CDP. Everyone else was either migrated, or ported out. 95% of the people were SAVING money, the other 5% were folks who were on a slightly cheaper package, and refused to add the service and it's features...

JRH
@umich.edu

JRH

Anon

Re: Wow, some news... DUH!!!

My opinion and one correction:

I was a CDP subscriber for years and was on a grandfathered package that was never supposed to expire. So instead of expiring it, Comcast pulls the plug and gives me no choice. There was nothing wrong with the old technology, or with CDP profits, hence no justification to force the switch. Remember that companies like Comcast are supplying a public good at a profit. For private goods, let them make these changes as fast as they want, but for public goods, where's the good old Public Utility Commission? Regulate the hell out of these boys! I see no advantage to the switch, except to Comcast. For me, the quality of service is exactly the same, only now I get nationwide long distance included in my fee. Why do I need that when I already have a cell phone with nationwide long distance???

I wouldn't mind the change if Comcast passed a portion of the savings from lower cost equipment on to the customer, but they don't, and they never will. Instead, they're going to charge me an extra $15 per month for something I never requested. Comcast is not my friend.

SolarPup
Office365 Rockstar
Premium Member
join:2002-03-07
Windsor, CO

SolarPup

Premium Member

Swap to CDV?

Why don't they just swap them all to CDV? Then give them the option if they dont want it, to find another phone provider by october?

phattieg
join:2001-04-29
Winter Park, FL

phattieg

Member

Re: Swap to CDV?

said by SolarPup:

Why don't they just swap them all to CDV? Then give them the option if they dont want it, to find another phone provider by october?
Because the rates and billing systems are totally different. They are phasing out the billing system that was used for CDP. In order to "swap" them out, they would have to re-enter their service into a new system, and then change their level of service. Basically, CDP charged similar to a land line. You paid for a long distance provider separate, you got charged the per call fee on calls that were outside a certain distance (I forget what they were called, but say for example you lived in Orlando, and you wanted to call St. Cloud, it's not long distance, just 25 cent per call, but CDV does not charge that, because it's unlimited long distance AND local). The calling features are included in CDV, whereas you paid separate charges for each calling service in CDP. Totally different services altogether...

djrobx
Premium Member
join:2000-05-31
Reno, NV

djrobx to SolarPup

Premium Member

to SolarPup
Isn't that more or less what they're doing?