Don’t Thwart Communications

Competition

To the Editor:

While it is absolutely appropriate to examine all safety related issues pursuant to the VRAD Box installations by AT&T in Newtown [“Citing Safety Concerns, Selectmen Want VRAD Box Installation Stopped,” August 22], it would be inappropriate to place unnecessary roadblocks in the path of this project. Communications in today’s world are complicated and the monopoly of cable companies needs to be eliminated.

In response to my inquiry to him regarding lack of appropriate channel offerings from Charter Communications, Attorney General Blumenthal (in a response dated June 2, 2008) indicated the following:

“Unfortunately, a federal law enacted by Congress in 1992 deprived states of all power to protect consumers from abuses in the cable industry’s programming and pricing policies.”

 Attorney General Blumenthal went on to add in his response:

“As a result of this federal law, cable subscribers have been subjected to a constant stream of rate increases, without corresponding improvements in consumer choices and services. Indeed, a recent report of the Federal Communications Commission showed that prices for both cable programming and equipment increased at a rate of 7.5 percent annually, twice the rate of inflation. Unfortunately, the cable companies in Connecticut face little competition. Unless Congress recognizes the facts and changes the law, neither I nor any other state official can act to protect consumers.”

AT&T’s U-Verse would provide much needed competition and an alternative to cable TV and cable Internet service as offered by Charter. In my experiences, I have found Charter to be bereft of appropriate customer service. As examples, Charter offers no clear process for consumer channel requests (try to find it on the website or in the telephone options when you call) and has reconfigured its channel “tier” structure many times to maximize monthly fees. In addition, Charter’s Internet service has recently been proven to have severe security issues. AT&T’s U-Verse would offer Newtown residents a choice in communications options. As long as reasonable safety concerns are addressed by AT&T, competition to Charter Communications should be permitted in Newtown.

This summer, I was ready to trim a few trees and install a Direct TV satellite dish on my roof. I stopped the process because AT&T’s U-Verse is being installed in Newtown and I would like the opportunity to explore that service. I would also prefer not to place a “dish” on my roof. If you think VRAD boxes are unsightly, then imagine a Newtown landscape peppered with satellite dishes. The fact is that I have noticed more and more satellite dishes on roofs, trees, garages, etc, in Newtown as residents enact the only current option to the cable TV monopoly available satellite TV. TV satellite dishes may pop up all over town and trees may be trimmed or cut down so the dish has a full southeast exposure. If U-Verse is halted permanently in Newtown there may be a proliferation of satellite dishes in town. It could get ugly!

Sincerely,

Richard English

3 Curry Drive, Newtown                                               August 24, 2008