FeedsPlan needs turned off
Comcast Cable recently announced a change that will make it more difficult for viewers to access their local government.
It’s a subtle change, but one that has the potential to harm many customers, particularly those on fixed incomes.
In many communities—including Canton Township—officials have indicated that they will switch the local government channel to a number higher than most ‘cable ready’ televisions can access on their own. In Canton’s case, the local government channel will switch from 12 to 915.
That means many residents will need a converter box to watch the meetings and other local events and that means—you guessed it—they’ll have to pay extra for a privilege they once enjoyed for free.
Welcome to the new cable marketplace.
With the state-wide video franchise agreement now in place, there’s nothing communities can do to stop this kind of change. If it hasn’t happened where you live, you can bet that it will sooner or later.
This is particularly vexing to officials in the Canton community, because they have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in their award-winning cable department.
Many communities have local cable franchise agreements that stipulate the requirement to provide local access cable channels, but it cannot dictate where that channel falls on the lineup. The difficulty is that most televisions cannot access channels higher than 99 or 100, which means viewers either need to buy a new television or lease a digital converter box. That will be provided free, at first, but eventually cost up to $4 per month.
It may not sound like much to many of us, but there are some that are unable—or unwilling—to dole out another few dollars for something they shouldn’t have to pay extra for.
Here, the consumer may have some power, though. Get on the phone and express your disappointment. Write letters to the cable company, state legislators, federal legislators—anyone you can think of. In those communities fortunate enough to have competing cable companies, look at other providers.
The statewide legislation was enacted to ensure that cable companies had an equal footing on which to compete. Apparently, the best interests of consumers were lost in that particular lobbying effort.
Let everyone know you’re unhappy about this hidden tax and apparent reversal of community service.
