RCN - Getting away with Extortion!

Buddyjay

I have had RCN here in Southeastern PA. for 4 years. I have their full package with HD converter box.
As everyone knows, the government has been advertising that in Feb 09, you.........
I already have three digital TV's and RCN is forcing me to get a converter box for ALL TV's, just to receive regular cable channels!
2) - They took away all the digital channels that I was getting through my built-in digital tuner.
3) - They raised my bill $10 for no reason.
4) - They are going to charge me another $10 to keep 4 channels that I already have!

So all-in-all, they are raising my bill $30 per month to keep the same crap I already have.
Has this been the norm with other comapny's?

Loves2Watch

The FCC is looking into that very issue as we speak. Since cable companies are required to have a basic tier of service, they cannot change the prices of that without approval from the local government nor can they require you to purchase/rent a box for that service if your TV has a QAM tuner.

__________________
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Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

Shark2k

Just so you now the February 2009 transition is only for over-the-air signals. It does not affect cable companies, but they will eventually be required to change over. Most of them are just deciding to do this early because it will give them more room for more channels.

You should still at least get CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC, My9TV, CW and Thirteen through the QAM tuners in your TV. Those are required by the FCC to be sent in the clear so Clear QAM tuners can pick them up.

As to the raising the price, all cable companies are doing that, not just RCN. And most seem to be doing about a $10 increase to the service, not including boxes and what not.

Maybe it's time to see if you can switch to another provider to see if you can get a lower rate?

-Shark2k

JPL

As Shark said, this is starting to become common-place. The analog shut-off for RCN has nothing to do with what's happening in Feb 2009. That deadline is for OTA analog shut-off, and has nothing to do with cable. These cable companies are shutting down analog feeds for one reason - space. Digital takes up alot less space than analog. Consumers are demanding more HD channels, and this is the cheapest/easiest way to accomodate them.

Loves2Watch is right in that the FCC prohibits companies from raising prices on basic channels arbitrarily, but that only applies to the most basic tier - which means locals. Other cable channels aren't covered by that. As for other cable companies - they're all doing the same thing. A couple people have already griped that they lost AMC with Comcast analog cable. AMC and Cartoon Network were recently moved onto their digital tier. Comcast is going to get rid of all non-local analogs by the end of this year for 20% of their markets (that's their plan, anyway) and the rest of the markets by 2010.

As for raising costs, again, that's been common. It's just a matter of economics. Consumers demand all these HD channels, so these providers comply. Well, these channels aren't free. So all of these cable companies have to pass on that cost to consumers.

If you are looking to make a move, though, if it's available to you, check out FiOS. They're running really nice bundles right now, and they currently offer 87 HD channels in the Philly area - and on 11/17 that will move up to 102.

zip2play

COMCAST in NJ has done precisely the same thing...encrypting handful by handful all the digital feeds available to QAM tuners for channels that we are already paying for and can receive in crystal clarity...so that you need to rent their boxes. So it's not just RCN that's the villain: it's a collusion among cable providers.

Come February we will need a box for analog sets, a box for DIGITAL sets, or a box for HD sets unless we opt for local over-the-air channels only. Thus there will be no escaping the box rental...this is a well planned scenario to steal another $10 per set from every cable customer in the United States.

Don't count on the on the FCC to take any action until Bush is sent packing back to Texas. The Bush FCC's neglect of its duty is responsible for the current hundred dollar plus cable bills; they have no interest in consumer protection.

Loves2Watch

Cable TV and FiOS price probe under way

Is the pricing of TV services fair to consumers? The FCC is launching a probe to find out whether the wallets of home subscribers are getting corralled in the stampede by Verizon and cable providers to HDTV.

After receiving complaints from TV subscribers and the Consumers Union advocacy group about TV pricing and "channel switching," the FCC sent out a letter on Oct. 30 to eleven major cable providers, along with Verizon, giving the companies two weeks to respond.

Full story here - http://www.betanews.com/article/Cabl...way/1225932636

__________________
Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

Shark2k

Again, the February transition has nothing to do with cable companies. It is only for over the air transmissions, those people that use "rabbit" ears or other non-satellite antennas. Cable companies are going to eventually be required to go all digital (I'm not sure when) but a lot are deciding to start the transition now because it will give them more room for HD channels. Like JPL said, eliminating analogs is the quickest and cheapest way for cable providers to free up space. As far as I know, analog cannot be compressed, which means it is always going to take up more room. Digital can be compressed and will always be able to be smaller than analog.

-Shark2k

JPL

Not that it provides much help right now, eventually we'll go full circle. The cable industry is under the gun to develop alternate technology to eliminate the need for a cable box. Granted, they COULD just carry all their channels in the clear right now, but they don't for a very important reason. Digital gives them the ability to encrypt their channels, which allows them to get rid of a problem that's plagued them since the dawn of the industry - piracy. Analog isn't easy to scramble. Those channels are generally scrambled at your utility pole. But if your pole feeds multiple houses, guess what? If one of those houses gets HBO, they all get HBO. I know more than a few people who had Comcast and were getting all their premiums for free (all those in analog, anyway) just because of that set-up.

Digital is very easy to encrypt, and you can control access to channels at the cable box, which is why the industry loves the device. Recent changes are meant to help cut the cost of said boxes, but eventually, like I said, those boxes will be history. The industry, right now, is working on a technology known as Tru2Way, which would allow you to hook up like you can with analog cable - no box needed. The big downside to this - you need to buy a TV that can support it.

In the interim, a competing format, which is being spearheaded by the likes of Verizon (forget what the format is called) is coming onto the scene too, and while it doesn't have the same flexibilty and control of Tru2Way, it has one big advantage - it doesn't require any special hardware to make it work.

zip2play

That "gun" has been a plastic popgun shooting kiddie corks.

The argument that cable companies need to force-peddle boxes to prevent piracy does NOT explain why people who pay for USA, TNT, AMC in a basic cable connection need to buy a box to see it when the only reason for the box is to remove the ecryption the cable company has added to make sure that QAM tuners cannot receive it. The SOLE purpose of the encryption of these basic channels is to necessitate renting the box.

Shark2k,
As for February and analog reception without boxes...my cable company, COMCAST, has long been sending an inadequate analog signal that can only be cleared up WITH A BOX. So yes, after February, EVERYONE will need a set top box with a presumed built in for digital>>analog.
If you doubt that, or believe the doubletalking half truths of cable advertising, you'll just have to wait and see how many people can get a suitable picture from a cable wire without a box, whether analog, digital or HD next year.

I tried with one analog and one digital (with QAM) for a while...analog was a mess, digital was fine until they started encrypting 5 channels at a time, THAT I AM PAYING FOR, not stealing...now almost all are encrypted. So now I have been forced into one HD box and all is well on the digital set but schmutz is still the rule of the game for the unboxed analog. They want to rent me an analog box. Period!


Thanks for the interesting link, Loves2Watch, especially the comments afterward!

The FCC's "sending a letter" amused me. It reminded me of a frind with a malpractice claim against a doctor. His (terrible) lawyer said, "well, we sent the doctor a letter and he responded that he didn't do anything wrong." THAT was the end of it.

FCC: "Dear Comcast, are you screwing your customers?
Answer: "Why NO"
FCC: "Thanks, we didn't think so."

Sykotic

Cable is a public utility, overseen by a local cable board in each city. Some cities elect officials, some appoint. The MSO(local cable provider) pays franchise fees to the city in exchange for allowing them to control thier cable system. This is where I would take my complaint to for being wrongfully charged.

Alot of MSOs are scrambling the digital channels to help prevent service theft. Alot of money is lost because of this. They still have to offer lifeline cable, basic, to thier customers. FCC rule.

One question I have. Why doesnt local law enforcement get involved in cable theft. For a MSO to prosecute service theft they have to have video proof of the suspect performing the "deed". And then its usually done through the federal level. Since the MSO must pay franchise fees to the local city, fewer paying customers results in less fees collected by the city. If a residence is found to have illegal cable connection more than 2 times, they should be able to be prosecuted. Also most service theft is performed by either a current employee or ex employees and contractors of the MSO.

Shark2k

I don't see how you are not understanding this. The February transition is for OTA only. But cable companies, who are going to have to go all digital in a year or so anyway, have decided to start the process now because it is advantageous for them. It gives them more room for more channels. It has absolutely nothing to do with the February digital transition.

You getting a weak analog signal could very well be that you are near the end of the line or that there are too many people on the line therefore limiting your bandwidth. It is easier to amplify a digital signal and if I am not mistaken, digital signals are able to travel further than analog before degrading (I could just be making that up though ).

Right now, I can get my local channels in HD because I have a ClearQAM tuner in my TV, but those are the only HD channels I get. If I want the rest of the channels, I need to rent an HD box from Verizion (which I plan to do). There is nothing wrong with them wanting to encrypt the channels. If I am not mistaken, all the channels are technically being sent out to customers all the time. If they were encrypted, customers would get all the channels, whether they want them or not. By encrypting them, it allows the companies to create packages to offer certain channels. And it means less theft of channels you aren't subscribed to.

To Sykotic, local law enforcement probably doesn't get involved in this because it would probably take to much of their resources. Remember, they are there to protect and serve the community and this is more intended for accidents, speeders, lost children, break ins, fights and murder which are probably considered more important. That is just a guess though.

-Shark2k

Buddyjay

I 'm afraid that you are missing our point. As I originally posted, RCN is telling everyone it is due to the Feb transition. I know that it involves OTA only BUT the government is telling people that 'if you have cable you are o.k.'. This is a total lie... RCN is forcing people to get a converter box for EVERY TV, JUST TO GET LOCAL CHANELLS. This has nothing to do with HD or extra channels, just regular channels.
I have a TV set that has a QAM tuner and I was getting all channels through it. RCN has now taken that away, which makes my set worthless.
They are forcing me to get a box for every set just to get basic channels.

Loves2Watch

And that, my friend, is against the law.

__________________
Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

Shark2k

Just because RCN is saying that does not make it true. As Loves2Watch said, what they are doing is illegal and you should take it up with the local government (whoever is the one that deals with the giving the company persmission). The government is not lying when they people with cable are ok. They are telling the truth. It is RCN who is lying just to try and sell more boxes and, again, what they are doing is illegal. You can even try and get in touch with the FCC about this, but I think they were already looking into it (could be wrong, don't remember exactly where I read that, might have been Engadget).

You having a QAM tuner in your set would not get you all the channels in your package. If you were subscribed to get HBO and Cinemax, you wouldn't get those through a QAM tuner because those are always gonna be encrypted. You might have gotten TNT, TBS and a few others, you definitely should have received CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC, My9TV, CW and Thirteen (a PBS station I believe). But if you were getting "all" channels (excluding premiums you are subscribed to) it would have been because the analog tuner is picking them up, not the QAM. Yes, what RCN is doing is not legal, but them converting over to digital is to make more room and so that they can easily encrypt channels (not something easily done with analogs). You should be able to get at least CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC, My9TV, CW and Thirteen (a PBS station I believe) through your QAM tuner (and in HD) because that is required by the FCC.

-Shark2k

JPL

That 'gun' is being provided by the FCC. The cable industry isn't willingly doing this (trying to eliminate the STB). They know, though, if they don't voluntarily make moves to eliminate the box, the FCC will step in and force the issue. The industry is trying to prevent that.

You're also missing the point about encrypting even basic cable channels like USA. They were never encrypted while analog because doing such encryption is really difficult. If they could have done it easily from the beginning they would have done so. Why? Again, piracy.

How prevelent were cases where neighbors in an apartment building would glom onto someone else's cable? It used to happen all the time. How often did someone tap into someone else's cable to avoid having to pay for service? This was a real problem for the industry. Now they have a solution for it. THAT'S the reason even basic channels like USA are encrypted. They didn't hold off on encrypting them in the past because they used to be altruistic and now they're SOBs. It's because in the past no real viable measure for performing that encryption existed.