DTV Transition
Dear Gary:
I am turning to you as a champion of the consumer, as I am so disappointed with the recent change to digital transmission. After noticing on June 13, 2009 that none of my channels included in my basic cable subscription were digital, I contacted the FCC to complain. The customer service provided by COMCAST is so abysmal, I did not bother taking that route. To my surprise, here is how the FCC responded: 1. The digital (DTV) transition applies only to full-power TV broadcast stations. 2. The DTV transition does not require cable companies to switch their cable systems digital and, 3. For voluntary business reasons, your cable company may decide to move some cable channels from its analog tier to their digital tier. This is not required by the government.
I now found out that if I want to get digital transmission from COMCAST, I would have to open a subscription to one of their digital packages. The problem is, my homeowner’s association has a contract with COMCAST for their basic package. The amount charged to me is included in my quarterly association fee, and I cannot be released from that obligation. Therefore, if I open a subscription for a digital package, I end up paying COMCAST twice for the same channels, one set digital, the other analog.
This is basically unfair to consumers like myself. I thought that with the transition to digital, cable companies would be required to pass through both an analog and digital feed so that subscribers with HDTVs could take advantage of this upgrade. Now my house is full of HDTVs showing fuzzy analog channels except for the digital over-the-air receptions, as a result of the built-in QAM antennae. Thank God for Blu-ray. Is there anything on the horizon to help me—what are my alternatives?
Earl Pratt, Plantation Florida
editorgary@widescreenreview.com
Contributing Editor Charles Wood Comments:
I can understand your frustrations. The FCC has fallen short on a number of issues over the years, with the result being detrimental to the marketplace. Unfortunately, from the get-go, the digital transition was only required of full-power over-the-air broadcasters. Low-power analog repeater/translator stations are still operating in many parts of the country. As you may know, the original digital transition was designed to free up television broadcast spectrum space for the use of emergency services and the mobile phone industry, and was auctioned off to the highest bidders, and did not affect cable operators. Both DIRECTV and DISH Network have been operating digitally since their inception.
I believe you have the following options:
1. Petition the board of directors of your homeowner’s association to renegotiate the contract with COMCAST to include the digital tier of channels or, alternatively, to allow existing homeowners to have their monthly association fees reduced accordingly if they wish to
subscribe separately.
2. Consider the possibility of acting with other homeowners in the same situation as you to pursue possible legal action against your homeowner's association if they do not want to renegotiate with COMCAST, or alternatively, direct action against COMCAST. Legal action is, in my opinion, the last resort.
3. The final alternative would be to consider either DIRECTV or DISH satellite service in lieu of COMCAST digital service. The FCC has ruled that homeowner associations cannot stop homeowners from owning a small satellite dish. DIRECTV and DISH have attractive packages that are extremely competitive with cable, and both will often waive installation fees along with a substantial period of reduced monthly fees.
Your letter wasn't clear regarding your local over-the-air channels. I assume you are receiving some over-the-air digital channels from some type of antenna system. QAM is the modulation method used by cable systems to distribute digital channels while 8VSB (Vestigal Side Band) is the modulation scheme used by over-the-air digital broadcasters.
Finally, you may wish to write or email your state and federal government officials. COMCAST is operating with a franchise. If enough viewers in the same situation as you complained to your local county/city officials, they could possibly put pressure enough on COMCAST for them to reconsider their business practices that in essence requires you to pay twice for service.
You can E-mail Widescreen Review @ editorgary@widescreenreview.com