choosing a cable provider

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 5:21pm

just wondering... why aren't you allowed to choose a cable provider? how come you can choose direct tv vs. dish network, but you are forced to go with a cable provider depending on where you live? doesn't this also apply for landlines as well? just wondering

[Plum]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 5:44pm

I think that localities give franchises to cable companies. In exchange for that all-important franchise and the lack of competition that comes with it, the towns get really big concessions from the cable companies. It's about the money.

Sometimes you're lucky and get a halfway decent company. And sometimes you get Comcast. *growl*
Updated On: 1/1/10 at 05:44 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 6:10pm

We have a choice here in Denver. Comcast, Dish and another Dish network. Smaller apartment building with no balconies can only have Comcast as they don't allow the dishes on the roofs. Comcast out here is very good. When we had AT&T, they laid down all of the underground digital fiber optic cable before Comcast bought them out. We never have any problems with our cable service or high speed internet going out. I would never use dish service. I did a stint taking consumer complaint calls for the state and 40% of the calls were complaints about the dish companies.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 1/2/10 at 9:49am

I've always hated that ... though I think we are starting to see competition from phone companies now. In our area (Seattle) we now have the choice of Verizon Vios. Personally, we are getting rid of it all since we have a computer hooked up to our new tv.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/2/10 at 3:07pm

VERY few areas are limited to phone companies anymore...once the lines are in just about every company can utilize them.

As far as cable: more and more communities have choices....but it's still slim pickings.

[Jenna Maroney]

Posted: 1/2/10 at 3:50pm

I hope to buy a home this year, and among my top five criteria: that it's not in a Cablevision zone.

I've always had a beef with Crappyvision (the fact that they take years to add new channels, the lameness of News 12...). But now they yanked Food Network. Yes, FN is a shadow of its old self, but it's one of those things that's nice to have around.

I'm seriously jealous of people with Comcast.