Demand more from Time Warner on the renewal contract

Plea to the selectmen of the five cable-connected towns: Don’t allow the five-town cable contract to be implemented with Time Warner (TW) without a thorough reading and a public hearing in each community.

Linda Miller, former chair of the cable group, is appearing before the five towns of Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge, Great Barrington and Sheffield to gain the selectmen’s support prior to a review by attorneys and a public hearing in each community.

Ms. Miller argues that she and her group have put together a contract worthy of 10 years commitment. The Berkshire Beacon disagrees and believes the selectmen should not give tacit approval.

Just for the record, the original contract said that anyone in a community served by cable was to be installed FREE or for a minimum fee of $35. It did not matter on the distance from the road to the house. For any cable company, some installations are free and easy and others are costly depending on density of an area. It all comes out in the wash.

The new contract calls for installation up to 250 feet.

The Beacon believes TW is not meeting the customers’ needs in its rural areas.

-Bad remote control for TV even with upgraded service digital service. We should demand a better remote to change channels.

-Cutting off WCVB-TV, Channel 5 programming. We are not part of the Albany market.

Thus, we as Massachusetts residents should demand Channel 5 be fully transmitted 24 hours a day. Market share does not influence votes or impinge on commonwealth rights. This is not an FCC issue despite what TW says:

NOTE: This should not be broadcast on Channel 5: This program has been deleted per FCC syndicated Exclusivity rules. We apologize for the inconvenience this individual program has been deleted per FCC rules. Please view ABC on Channel 10 or 1810-Thank you.

Ms. Miller notes that she will tackle the Channel 5 issue after the contract is signed. What would motivate TW to help? Certainly not a signed contract.

We would prefer it resolved prior to any contract signing.

Also, the cable commission disavows any benefit of prepay for a 13th month free. (I prepay because I don’t want their literature coming to me with a bill in the mail.)

TW is going through a transition and they are squeezing their customers by taking away programs at the lower end of the channel and putting them on the higher, costly, digital end.

And while TW provides internet, there does not seem to be any authority in place to review, argue or deny any increases.

The cable company, with its added on telephone service, should be under the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, as well as its internet service. For some strange reason, cable should not be under FCC, but under DPU regulations.

The customer would have a better chance to have his/her case resolved. For the most part, I want Ms. Miller in my corner, but not until these and other issues are fully resolved.

See The View for more information.

Posted by George C. Jordan III on March 28, 2013. Filed under Editorials,Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry