Competition? 99% Still Rent Cable Box, Pay $231 in Fees Annually → Re: It is next to impossable.

Weirdly enough Canada got this right - it is law that you are able to buy the same standard equipment that your CATV provider uses.

We here in the states will continue paying inflated rental fees. Every provider does it - no escape!

I am honestly amazed Comcast still has a $2.50 HD DTA rental option. Its a basic box, no on-demand, but it has a program guide and outputs an HD picture.

I expect that fee for the cheapest box to keep creeping up. It was $1.99 after the digital transition. Perhaps in a few years it will creep up to $4.99.

Does the HD DTA include the additional HD Technology Fee?

Of course!

But if your cunning enough/able to beg you can get Comcast to waive the HD Technology fee.

In Comcast's billing system, at least in the NE, they have a "HD Technology Fee Promo" that sets it to $0.00. I complained about how absurd it is that they charge for HD like its new technology, so retentions placed that promo on my account for the duration of my new contract.

Though I understand they haven't quite worked out the idea of being able to take the box with you if you move.

You can't use a Rogers box on Shaw, even if both boxes are technically compatible, same manufacturer etc. You'd have to sell the Rogers box to someone before you move and buy a new Shaw box

And they don't do cablecards