Ruling Opens Cable Lines

[kskiska]

Internet Access Choices May Grow

Tuesday, October 7, 2003; Page A01

Cable companies would be required to open their networks to rival high-speed Internet service providers under a federal appeals court ruling yesterday that could lead to more choices for consumers and subject the industry to the same competitive pressures roiling the telephone market.

The ruling by the San Francisco-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit bars the Federal Communications Commission from following through with plans to allow cable companies to exclude rivals from selling competing brands of Internet service over their lines.

The FCC adopted its deregulatory approach last year, betting that it would give the cable industry an incentive to continue investing in sophisticated fiber-optic networks. But the court said the agency must continue to classify cable's Internet offerings as a telecommunications service, subjecting it to the same regulations governing high-speed Internet service provided by telephone companies.

(snip)

FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell vowed to appeal the decision. In a brief statement, Powell quoted from the judge's comments: "Unfortunately, as noted by Judge O'Scannlain, the ruling 'effectively stops a vitally important policy debate in its tracks,' producing 'a strange result' which will throw a monkey wrench into the FCC's efforts to develop a vitally important national broadband policy."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52839-2003Oct6.html

[oxycontinrush]

1. Good... I can get cable bradband from local provider

Then again... I might get broadband instead of bradband.

I have avoided getting broadband because I didn't want to get it from Comcast. Now I won't have to. I can go with my excellent local provider who already does DSL.

[Jim Sagle]

2. I just signed up for Comcast DSL. What's wrong with them?

:shrug:

[Dogmudgeon]

3. Comcast

Well, for one, I was charged for five months of cable modem service when all during that time, the thing didn't work (and the TV reception sucked, too) because one of their technicians installed the cable wrong. Then when I moved, I found the tech had also crimped the screw-on cable connector to my $300 VCR, destroying the RF modulator/tuner assembly, which was $90 for parts, and another $60 for labor.

Five months times $50 = $250; plus the $150 repair job, and I'm out $400. And Comcast told me to go f**k myself, AND they are still dunning me for the bill!

Now, I have ... Comcast. It's the only game in town. But as soon as some other company offers DSL or cable service, I'll switch.

There needs to be some serious corporation-bashing on Comcast.

--bkl

[Jim Sagle]

4. In my town, Comcast replaced Multimedia.

It's been a big improvment. YMMV.

[depakid]

6. A littany of horrors

Since Comcast took over ATTBI:

My cable service has been subject to repeated and often days long interruptions;

My home e-mail- which I never give out to anyone other than family and friends has had a dramatic increase in spam (of the business offer variety);

Comcast unilaterally changed (i.e. substantially weakened) its privacy policy;

Comcast forced me install cable TV or have my rates increase by 25% (a clear violation of the Clayton Anti-trust Act, for which Comcast is being sued in California). Three months later, Comcast altered its agreement, and cut almost all of the channels out of its cable package.

I have had my phone service cut off without the required legal notice (purportedly because they didn't receive a check in time- which is bullshit). The customer service rep promised me that I wouldn't be charged a reconnect fee- but of course I was, and that has yet to be resolved after nearly 4 months.

EVERY single piece of correspondence that I have from them has been backdated, typically about 10 days or so- though since their mail now comes without a postmark, it's hard to tell, except that I know it doesn't take two weeks for mail to get here from Boulder, Colorado;

Mystery calls appear on my bill every single month, usually in small amounts that require a 10-20 minute wait after wading through their phone tree to resolve. This is extremely irritating, because after they took over ATT, they raised their rates (in fine print) to 12 cents a minute, I NEVER use their long distance service.

I had ATTBI for over a year, and it was great. I never had a single problem with them. All that changed when Comcast took over.

Comcast is the poster child for abusive monopolies and a one company argument for universal access. Comcast didn't invest or build any of these cable lines, they simply bought them and are dishonestly maximizing their profits at the expense of quality customer and community service.

[cprise]

5. Mikey just doesn't quit

I'm so glad congress for once stopped HIM in his tracks last month.

[NJCher]

7. comcast refused to run anti-war ads

They are indeed the poster child for abusive monopolies. I can't wait to get rid of them. I hate them hate them hate them hate them. My only choice would be DSL from Verizon.


Cher