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F.C.C. Set to End Sole Cable Deals for Apartments - New York Times »

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The Federal Communications Commission, hoping to reduce the rising costs of cable television, is preparing to strike down thousands of contracts this week that gave individual cable companies exclusive rights to provide service to an apartment building, the agency's chairman says.

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engineer

Hi

My background is Biomedical engineering with an MBA As you know from all my comments where I almost stand politically. I have loads of ...

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Comments: 19

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engineer
Oct. 29, 2007, 9:01 a.m.
The new rule could open markets across the country to far-ranging competition. It would also be a huge victory for Verizon Communications and AT&T, which have challenged the cable industry by offering their own video services. The two companies have lobbied aggressively for the provision. They have been supported in their fight by consumer groups, satellite television companies and small rivals to the big cable providers.
Commission officials and consumer groups said the new rule could significantly lower cable prices for millions of subscribers who live in apartment buildings and have had no choice in selecting a company for paid television. Government and private studies show that when a second cable company enters a market, prices can drop as much as 30 percent.
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engineer
Oct. 29, 2007, 9:17 a.m.
It's about time, the cable providers have stolen enough money. In one area, where there is competition, it is half the price of where there is a monopoly.
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GrainOfSand
Oct. 29, 2007, 9:57 a.m.
Yea, they really are a monopoly--and aren't they illegal?
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jovial
Oct. 29, 2007, 10:12 a.m.
What a racket!
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GHOSTWHOWALKS
Oct. 29, 2007, 12:25 p.m.
Cut the cost in half, wow I could really afford to have cable.
palamaComment has been removed: Retracted by user
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cowboygrandpa
Oct. 29, 2007, 3:06 p.m.
Time Warner. Uhhhhh!!!! They suck and so does their service. But with no competiton we are left with no choices. That is completely against the capitalist theory of competition fuels prices by supply and demand. Of course with the politicians not caring about their constituents. What can we expect? Thanks for the story engineer.
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BronxBomber
Oct. 29, 2007, 7:12 p.m.
I for one would like to see an open market to other potential cable companies so that Bronx Cablevision isn't the only one that is trying to hog the limelight. I am paying waaaaaaay too much as it is! I want the option to seek other cable companies with much more reasonable rates that I can afford, and with more bang for my buck$!
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mamasan
Oct. 29, 2007, 7:21 p.m.
unlike the deregulation of the power companies which has been a disaster for places like California and gave rise
the likes of Shwatzenegger,
this bill to reduce the stranglhold the cable companies have will actually benefit the populace.
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BronxBomber
Oct. 29, 2007, 7:40 p.m.
You're such a good dad.
:o)
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puffin
Oct. 30, 2007, 2:52 a.m.
We have one line for just the net, that I'm on now. And another for a tv package that we can all watch separately in our rooms, as I have roommates so a satellite /w a splitter (which we had before) just isn't practical.
We use our pc's for movies in our bedrooms w/ a good program & adapters ... but really, we all chip in for cable for the hockey package, basically.
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ETproductions
Oct. 30, 2007, 3:03 a.m.
Just imagine all the payola that's going to go to waste due to that decision.