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Blog 'catv' » Comcast cuts a deal with cable thieves

»washington.bizjournals.c ··· y5.html

Comcast Cable is cracking down on cable theft in the Washington area again, but it's also giving those getting cable for free a chance to turn themselves in first.

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newview
Ex .. Ex .. Exactly
Premium Member
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD

newview

Premium Member

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

Floppy
join:2002-07-03

Floppy

Member

Re: The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

said by newview:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
They can do the following without ever setting foot in the house.

After June 15, Comcast says it will begin house-by-house electronic monitoring of its cable systems to ferret out cable thieves. Comcast says it will aggressively pursue legal action against homeowners and businesses it catches stealing its signals.

JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium Member
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD

JTRockville

Premium Member

Re: The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

I sure hope you're right Floppy. But I'm a little suspicious, given the recent event in Colorado:
Comcast cable guy ruins family's Seder

Floppy
join:2002-07-03

Floppy

Member

Re: The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

said by JTRockville:
I sure hope you're right Floppy. But I'm a little suspicious, given the recent event in Colorado:
Comcast cable guy ruins family's Seder
Oh yeah I read that story. IMO that tech was just being an spiteful jackass because they denied him access to verify if an illegal box was in place. Second it wouldn't have matter anyway, they weren't even cable subscribers; all he had to do was to verify if the traps were in placed at the pole. There was no reason for him to even go in their house. I really feel bad for the family.

newview
Ex .. Ex .. Exactly
Premium Member
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD

newview

Premium Member

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

So any "vindictive jackass" can visit »www.cabletheft.com/ , type in anybody's name that they may have a grudge against, and that gives the cable company the right to call the cops and enter your home without a warrant? This is exactly what the Fourth Amendment was written to prevent.

ergibbs
To Be Free

join:2001-03-07
on the ocean

ergibbs to newview

to newview
Learn the laws before spouting the Constitution. The cable company owns the cable up to the ground block on a building; that gives them the right to inspect it at any time. They don't have to step foot in someone's house to verify whether or not the occupants are stealing cable; they can do it by inspecting the cable outside.

imrf
Premium Member
join:2002-06-06
Utica, MI

imrf

Premium Member

Re: The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

said by ergibbs:
The cable company owns the cable up to the ground block on a building; that gives them the right to inspect it at any time.
Actually no they dont.anything in or above your yard is considered yours.the cable companies only have lawful access to your easement which is a 3 foot radius around a electrical pole and/or ped box.i used to do auditing.they must gain permission by a homeowner BEFORE stepping foot onto your property,because then that said person is liable for anything they may happen to the property,i.e house coincidently burns down 5 minutes after he leaves,that person can be sued for trespassing.

ergibbs
To Be Free

join:2001-03-07
on the ocean

ergibbs

Re: The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

As the former supervisor in the Audit department for a cable company, I can assure you that I, too, have done plenty of auditing. The company does not have to receive permission from the owner of the property prior to gaining access. The easement is the line that separates two properties; it is not the 3 foot radius around the pole or ped. Any equipment under the auspices of the cable company (or the electric company or the phone company) has to have an area of 3' clear at all times and the company can even remove any growth or vegetation that encroaches upon that area. The FCC mandates that the utility companies (although the cable company is not technically a utility, for the purposes of maintaining its equipment, it is granted special circumstances under the guidelines) is to have uninhibited 24 a day access to its equipment. It has the right - and obligation - to be able to inspect its equipment, including the cable up to and including the ground block, at any time.

imrf
Premium Member
join:2002-06-06
Utica, MI

imrf

Premium Member

Re: The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

yes but in order to get access to the easement they MUST have permission to walk into your backyard,or you neighbors.trust me, myself and friend have had the cops called on us for ,according to you, right of way into their yards.the police said that we do not have any right going into yards without permission.

ergibbs
To Be Free

join:2001-03-07
on the ocean

ergibbs

Re: The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Unless there is a local franchise agreement prohibiting access, any utility company can access its equipment at any time without receiving permission.

JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium Member
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD

JTRockville

Premium Member

Re: The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

In the case of the ruined Seder, the family had no drop. No ground block. No CPE.

They have a dish.

ergibbs
To Be Free

join:2001-03-07
on the ocean

ergibbs

Re: The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

You're right - and with anything, you will always have someone take it to an extreme. I would bet money that he's no longer auditing cable. Life happens.

Smokey
I'd rather be skiing
Premium Member
join:2003-05-20
Wild West

1 recommendation

Smokey to newview

Premium Member

to newview
I must agree with the statement above that u must under stand the laws better. the 4th amendment only applies to the government it dose not apply to ANYONE else, other laws provide your privacy from the public, i.e. Trespassing

panth1
The Coyote
join:2000-12-11
Port Saint Lucie, FL

panth1

Member

Good reporting...

"Anyone using a cable box not provided by Comcast will also have the opportunity to turn it over to Comcast in exchange for a legal box."
Let me help you out Jeff...

Anyone using a cable box (to steal cable tv signals they do not subscribed to) not provided by Comcast will also have the opportunity to turn it over to Comcast in exchange for a legal box

JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium Member
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD

JTRockville

Premium Member

Comcast Auditing Central VA Too

Paying for cable?

Smokey
I'd rather be skiing
Premium Member
join:2003-05-20
Wild West

Smokey

Premium Member

Whats the Big Deal????

Lets remember that these people are STEALING cable!!!!! I have no love loss for thieves. I pay $140.00 a month for my service, and I'm sick of paying to subsidies those who think they don’t have to pay for the goods they want in life!!! (get them good Comcast!!!!!)

JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium Member
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD

JTRockville

Premium Member

Re: Whats the Big Deal????

Is everyone who lives in Comcast country, with or without a drop, going to be considered guilty until proven innocent?

While I don't have much faith in Comcast's accounting systems, the Comcast Legal Department is surely a formidable opponent.

Smokey
I'd rather be skiing
Premium Member
join:2003-05-20
Wild West

Smokey

Premium Member

Re: Whats the Big Deal????

what I meant this as was that there quest to stop the theft of there service is good. I don’t necessarily support how they do that