City could fine 'arrogant' cable firms $750 a day

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[I had my cable cut off yesterday. I don't see the point of paying the 7& increase on an already $42 bill for basic and standard channels, most of which I don't watch. I think I should be allowed to have just the standard and not the basic at the rate charged on my bill for that service, but the company won't let me do that. Yes, I shall miss Fox and Trading Spaces but that's about it.]

January 7, 2003

BY FRAN SPIELMAN CITY HALL REPORTER

Two of Chicago's three cable television companies are facing fines as high as $750 a day for thumbing their noses at Mayor Daley's landmark cable bill of rights.

"It's a terrible blow to the consumer--a total disregard for an action taken by the City Council," Cable Administrator Joyce Gallagher said.

"It's high-handed and arrogant," said Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th).

RCN, AT&T Comcast and Wide Open West had until Sunday to mail to every one of their 400,000 subscribers a summary of the ordinance and an appendix detailing the rights and credits available to them.

They include automatic refunds for outages, $25 credits for missed service appointments and the right to select a three-hour appointment window that companies must meet or cancel by 5 p.m. the day before.

The ordinance took effect Nov. 6, and 14 RCN customers have received credits on their December bills. But AT&T Comcast and Wide Open West have yet to comply with the notification requirement.

Monday, Gallagher fired off a "notice of deficiency" to AT&T Comcast and Wide Open West, which together service 330,000 Chicago cable subscribers. If the companies fail to inform customers of their rights by Feb. 3, $750 in daily fines will be imposed and possibly more, given the "flexibility" built into the ordinance, the cable administrator said. more

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2003


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