Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyT
These changes affect Comcast subscribers with Comcast Basic (Extended) packages
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In specific areas, at this time. The plan is to upgrade services available all over the country, eventually, but for now, many of us need to wait.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyT
Translated: We're making changes for profitability.
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Companies always work to fulfill their fiduciary responsibility to their owners, but this specific change is also for subscribers... If you must have someone to blame, blame
ME because I want Travel Channel in
HD, and I want DOCSIS 3.0, and the only way for companies to offer more channels in
HD and super-fast Internet is by getting rid of the analog service (which, incidentally, satellite companies and alternative providers like FiOS and U-Verse
don't provide
now -- that's really the most indefensible aspect of the criticisms of the cable companies doing this: The competitors already operate this way... why aren't people condemning the companies that have
never provided analog in-the-clear?)
Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyT
OK, is this right? The bulk of Comcast customers are not basic cable subscribers? I love that sentence because it's tough to prove.
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Actually it is very easy to prove because all cable companies have to provide disclosures regarding box rentals to the
FCC.
As it is, this does not affect basic cable
at all. At least with Comcast, basic cable will not be changed (at least until 2012). This will only affect expanded basic cable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyT
Ah Hah, The cat's out of the bag. They're removing a bunch of analog programming from their basic cable service forcing customers to rent set top boxes.
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They are making room for new services that
I want. I'm willing to pay them more for what I want than you are willing to pay them for analog expanded basic. I win. Wanna make something of it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyT
In other words, rent more set top boxes from Comcast!
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Actually that is not the only option. You can come into the 21st century and buy a CableCARD-capable host devices (televisions and DVRs), and then you won't need set top boxes. If you insist on using antiquated equipment, then you have to pay the price... and (and this is again the most important part) you already have to do this with all the other companies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyT
and now for the most confusing part of the article
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If you have a digital package, you are entitled to 1 STB + 2 DTA, included in your fee.
If you don't have a digital package, you are entitled to 3 DTA, included in your fee.
I have to mention this a third time: Comcast is simply making their service
more like their competitors' and they are doing so because
many of us, their customers, want them to offer us different services from the services that you perhaps want them to offer.
