Delegate Wants to Regulate Cable TV

By JAKE STUMP

A state lawmaker has requested an investigation of the cable industry after receiving a slew of complaints from constituents about rates and services.

As a consumer, Delegate Tim Ennis, D-Brooke, said he is frustrated over recent hikes in his cable television fees and the loss of channels from basic lineup packages.

Ennis has asked House Speaker Rick Thompson, D-Wayne, to assign an interim committee to review the cable industry and its practices in the state.

“Last October they took eight channels from us,” Ennis said. “Two weeks ago, they took another channel. They’ve taken a total of nine channels, yet they’ve jacked the cable rates up $3.”

Ennis said he subscribes to the standard cable package from Comcast, which serves the delegate’s area. According to Comcast’s Web site, that package includes about 57 channels for $54 a month.

The channels that were dropped from the package were moved to the more costly digital starter format, Ennis said.

He has personally made phone calls and written letters to Comcast, but to no avail.

“The other day, they dropped my wife’s favorite channel, the Game Show Network, without warning,” Ennis said. “I sent them a letter stating that I saw a trend. Pretty soon, they’ll take Fox News, CNN, TBS, ESPN and put them onto the more expensive digital format.

“I’ve received phone calls from constituents in Brooke County, and they’re outraged,” Ennis added. “There seems to be very little we can do as a state government and federal government. The industry has no regulation. I thought the federal government and the FCC regulated the cable industry, but they do not.”

Ennis wants lawmakers to identify ways the state can regulate the cable industry. If possible, Ennis said he wants the cable industry placed under the authority of the Public Service Commission, much like other utility companies.

Ennis said he thinks cable companies are unfairly taking advantage of next year’s switch to digital signal transmissions. On Feb. 17, 2009, broadcasters will stop transmitting analog signals, meaning rabbit-ear antennas will no longer work for households that use them. Those people will either have to either buy a digital- equipped television or a converter box.

Households that already have cable or satellite TV service won’t be affected.

“There’s a lot of confusion going on about what’s taking effect next February,” Ennis said. “It looks as if some cable companies are going out and encouraging people to switch over to their digital format. But they don’t have to.”

Officials in the Charleston area also have expressed concerns over the cable industry recently.

In 2007, a committee of elected officials negotiated a five-year franchise agreement with Suddenlink to provide city residents with cable services. But last month, Charleston City Councilman Harry Deitzler said members of that committee are fed up with Suddenlink’s fee increases.

Suddenlink raised rates in January on top-tier cable packages by $60 a year. Basic cable went up about $12 a year and expanded basic increased by $30 a year. Prices for other services, such as maintenance and digital receivers, also went up.

“Each of us on the committee are just disgusted with Suddenlink in terms of the increase,” Deitzler stated. “Not based on the fact that inflation or costs warrant or don’t warrant the increase, but based upon the fact that the calls I have received say Suddenlink’s service has been rather dismal.”

It marked the second time Suddenlink has raised its rates since taking over from Charter Communications in 2006.

The company blamed the rate hikes on increases in programming costs, fuel and utilities.

Ennis said clamping down on the industry would be difficult, because simply filing complaints with the Federal Communications Commission wouldn’t likely generate enough attention on the matter.

“You can file a complaint, but it probably goes into a file cabinet somewhere,” Ennis said. “That’s why I want this interim study done, to see if we can put the cable industry under the authority of the Public Service Commission and control it like any other utility.”

Contact writer Jake Stump at jakestump@dailymail.com or 348- 4842.

Originally published by DAILY MAIL CAPITOL REPORTER.

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