Consumer Groups Laud FCC's Channel Choice Recommendation, Urge Congress to Take Action

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0427-06.htm

Consumer Groups Laud FCC's Channel Choice Recommendation, Urge Congress to Take Action
Channel Choice Gives Consumers Ability to Select and Pay for Channels They Want


WASHINGTON - April 27 - Consumer, public interest, and labor groups today lauded a recommendation by a Federal Communications Commission report on television violence, released last night, that Congress consider legislation giving consumers the ability to select and pay for only those cable channels they want. Channel choice gives consumers greater choice over the channels they buy, preventing them from subsidizing channels they object to, provides them with more control over the cost of their cable bills, and promotes enhanced diversity in cable programming, the groups said.

"Letting consumers, not Congress, the FCC or cable companies, decide which programming is right for their families is an appropriate, market-based response to growing concerns about violence and other objectionable programming on cable television," said Gene Kimmelman, vice president for federal and international affairs at Consumers Union. "Consumers should neither have to take extraordinary steps to block programming they don't watch and don't want to receive, nor pay for channels they find offensive or otherwise inappropriate."

The FCC, in a report issued late last night, found that research indicates exposure to violence in the media can increase aggressive behavior in children and that current parental control tools offered by cable companies are ineffective in protecting children from violence. The report suggested that the cable industry adopt voluntary standards to reduce violent programming, and that Congress could adopt restrictions limiting the times violent programming could air on cable, or requirements that cable companies give consumers the ability to opt in or out of the channels offered.

Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, Communications Workers of America, and Free Press urged Congress, in a letter today, to take steps to give consumers the ability to pick and pay for only the channels they actually want to purchase. Cable companies currently offer channels in only large, costly bundles, known as the extended basic package. Consumers are not allowed to select programming on a channel by channel basis despite 2006 AP survey findings that more than three-quarters of consumers want the ability to tailor their own packages and recent Nielsen Media Research findings that consumers watch, on average, fewer than 16 channels of the more than 100 offered.

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[dragonlady]

1. We've wanted this for a long time

The cable bill keeps rising, and it really rankles because we could get along on about a dozen channels but have to pay for so many more.

[jonkronz2003]

2. Yeah, a great idea

I definatly don't want to pay for all those religous channels. They are turning me violent. I want to harm all the other religions.

[neverforget]

3. About bloody time! I hate paying for channels I NEVER watch.

But, you know the cable companies will find a new way to screw us.......

[TahitiNut]

4. If they'd be honest about this, I'd be more enthusiastic.

For example ... folks would rightfully have to pay if they want QVC or HSN removed from their feed. Such channels are totally commercial and, in a fair and equitable marketplace, should be paying the cable operator to feed them into subscriber homes.

Once upon a time, various broadcasters petitioned the FCC with vigor in order to make massive investments in their broadcasting facilities an increase their signal strength to reach more homes - homes that paid NOTHING to the broadcasters. The 'market' was clear - advertisers, who were legally limited in the amount of advertising time available in any hour, paid generously to gain access to households. Then came cable TV ... and these scam artists sold the consumer something they already had for free. They sold ice cubes to the Eskimos ... in effect. To add insult on top of injury, the FCC relaxed it's limits on commercial content ... to the point that the market 'value' of each minute dropped like a stone. The impact? It shifted the costs to the consumer - BUT THE CONSUMER supposedly OWNS the regulatory authority. The head chickens allied with Colonel Sanders.

[malachi]

5. Comcast's profit soars 80 percent

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/business/20070427_Comcasts_profit_soars_80_percent.html

Enough said. This has as much chance of passing as the monkey gaining a brain.