My issue with cable (TWC is my only choice) is that they very clearly are gouging customers when they can due to their almost total monopoly. Where I live, OTA and satellite simply isn't available for most (but not all) of the population (middle of NYC). It will be at least 2 years before we can get FIOS TV. KNOWING this, in ALL of 2007, they have added a total of 2 net HD channels.
EXCEPT they DID add 6 MORE HD channels in one area of the city. Not only that, but for the past 4 months, they "gave" that area ONLY a total package discount of 10% (for signing a multi-year agreement).
In most cases, this clear discrimination (by location) would have the government all over them. EXCEPT it seems the agency that SHOULD be all over them is totally quiet. PLUS that same agency seems to be blocking Verizon from getting a franchise agreement (news has broken that the city separately negotiated a secret deal with Verizon to allow them to provide services). Again, pretty damn clear that TWC's lobbyists control the agency that SHOULD be policing them.
Scummy, sleazy certainly refer to their actions. 100% anti-customer and 100% make for multi-million dollar bonuses for execs. So even if they are really failing as the article suggests, what do those execs care, they made out to the tune of millions and millions of dollars... for treating customers like dirt SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY COULD.
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My issue with cable (TWC is my only choice) is that they very clearly are gouging customers when they can due to their almost total monopoly. Where I live, OTA and satellite simply isn't available for most (but not all) of the population (middle of NYC). It will be at least 2 years before we can get FIOS TV. KNOWING this, in ALL of 2007, they have added a total of 2 net HD channels.
EXCEPT they DID add 6 MORE HD channels in one area of the city. Not only that, but for the past 4 months, they "gave" that area ONLY a total package discount of 10% (for signing a multi-year agreement).
In most cases, this clear discrimination (by location) would have the government all over them. EXCEPT it seems the agency that SHOULD be all over them is totally quiet. PLUS that same agency seems to be blocking Verizon from getting a franchise agreement (news has broken that the city separately negotiated a secret deal with Verizon to allow them to provide services). Again, pretty damn clear that TWC's lobbyists control the agency that SHOULD be policing them.
Scummy, sleazy certainly refer to their actions. 100% anti-customer and 100% make for multi-million dollar bonuses for execs. So even if they are really failing as the article suggests, what do those execs care, they made out to the tune of millions and millions of dollars... for treating customers like dirt SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY COULD.