AfterDawn: News

FCC looks to deregulate cable companies further

In a recent move by the Federal Communications Commission things could begin to look up for cable subscribers. A new regulation that could take effect soon looks to make large cable providers like Comcast and Time Warner to slash the prices they charge for smaller television programmers to lease space on spare cable channels. This move, could then trickle to the consumer by way of allowing a wider variety of shows to choose from as independent broadcasters have an easier means in which to get their product out there.

In addition, their deregulation attempts could limit cable companies from having any more than 30 percent of subscribers in a given area. This proposal comes as a result of the FCC's annual review of competition in the video industry.



FCC Chairman Kevin Martin stated, "In every other industry regulated by the FCC, there have been significant decreases in the price of services, such as in long-distance rates and wireless rates. But the one exception to that is cable rates, which have gone up almost 100 percent."

Source:
Washington Post



Written by: Dave Horvath @ 12 Nov 2007 13:22

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• 10 comments

• AUTiger89

  Got to love that little thing called "competition".

  12.11.2007 13:56 #1

• spydah

  Keep smacking companies like Comcast they deserve it. They have been abusing customers with extremely high prices on top of charging you for the month you havent even gotten in to. I hope more news like this comes in the future in the favor of consumers.

  12.11.2007 15:08 #2

• ZippyDSM

  the only problem is comcast is buying out the lil guys left and right and then have near complete control over their rates,its still 40$ to have complete basic cable 0-o

  12.11.2007 15:44 #3

• spydah

  Originally posted by ZippyDSM: the only problem is comcast is buying out the lil guys left and right and then have near complete control over their rates,its still 40$ to have complete basic cable 0-oIn my area its $65 - 75 for basic and standard without a box no premiums at all. Its crazy they can mark their poor services up like that but when you have the money and control its easy to do so.

  12.11.2007 15:55 #4

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Originally posted by ZippyDSM: the only problem is comcast is buying out the lil guys left and right and then have near complete control over their rates,its still 40$ to have complete basic cable 0-oIn my area its $65 - 75 for basic and standard without a box no premiums at all. Its crazy they can mark their poor services up like that but when you have the money and control its easy to do so.I am not surprised really,they changed the service here a while back so in order to get all the basic channels you need a box with tax and what not its almost 47 with the net tis almost 100 a month, really is there a need for such profftering?
  
  
  At least I can understand why my rural area phone/cable co op charges me 80 a month for 200KBS DSL and phone but the big city conglomerate's do not need to charge such high rates.

  12.11.2007 16:03 #5

• jimbo70

  I really don't understand why people don't count the dish companies as competition and for the places that have it, Fios?

  12.11.2007 16:17 #6

• M4DHATT3R

  Originally posted by ZippyDSM: the only problem is comcast is buying out the lil guys left and right and then have near complete control over their rates,its still 40$ to have complete basic cable 0-oThis is true. Adelphia use to be the main cable company in my area [Northern/Mid Virginia] and then Comcast bought them out (although I think that had something to do with Adelphia going bankrupt b/c the CEO & embezzlement). But I believe at the time Adelphia was the 5th largest cable provider. Service went down hill as soon as Comcast came in so as soon as Fios was availble in my area I switched over and I couldn't be happier with the service that Verizon provides.

  12.11.2007 16:46 #7

• jemaric

  it's a joke anytime a new law comes around the consumer ends up paying more

  12.11.2007 17:30 #8

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Originally posted by ZippyDSM: the only problem is comcast is buying out the lil guys left and right and then have near complete control over their rates,its still 40$ to have complete basic cable 0-oThis is true. Adelphia use to be the main cable company in my area [Northern/Mid Virginia] and then Comcast bought them out (although I think that had something to do with Adelphia going bankrupt b/c the CEO & embezzlement). But I believe at the time Adelphia was the 5th largest cable provider. Service went down hill as soon as Comcast came in so as soon as Fios was availble in my area I switched over and I couldn't be happier with the service that Verizon provides.you'd think hey could handle switch over faster/better now.
  
  are you getting TV with that deal?

  12.11.2007 23:29 #9

• borhan9

  Originally posted by AUTiger89: Got to love that little thing called "competition".100% agreed.

  2.12.2007 18:11 #10