[sharktrager]

Where I live, no basic cable, no internet.

Hence, I have no choice.

[Chad Fairbanks]

"It's blatantly unfair," Munn said. "They're using their monopoly position to force people to subscribe to cable."

No, no one is FORCING you to do anything.

"If you're looking for a bundle, it's a great deal," he said. "But what about the person who only wants one service? For some people, this is the difference between being able to get broadband and not being able to get broadband."

Well, if they can't AFFORD it, they shouldn't get it. Pretty simple, really. What next? Ya want the rest of us should subsidize your Broadband connection as a matter of 'fairness'?

[DannyTN]

I won't use comcast for internet because they won't charge me just for the connection. They want to charge me for every computer I have that I connect to my home network.
It's the same mentality of when cable companies used to charge you for every TV in the home.

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

Murray said the bundle could be considered anti-consumer.

So they're going to whine and complain until Comcast raises my rates. Lousy bastards.

[1Old Pro]

Munn said she switched from cable TV to satellite years ago because of problems with her former cable provider, Viacom. She is happy with the satellite service, she said, and has no plans to switch back to cable.

It won't be long until we'll have broadband satellite internet options which will provide ample competition to the high priced cable services. My satellite TV bill is half what the cable would be for the same, if not better, services.

[kevkrom]

Comcast really does try to get people to "bundle". Around my parts, they'll charge you $20/month more for a cable modem with no cable service than if you have cable. Since we have DirecTV, we don't want cable, but we subscribe anyway because basic cable is only $17 -- so it costs us $3/month less to add on a service we don't use.

Of course, Comcast gets to use this to inflate their "number of subscribers" count for advertisers...

[Space Wrangler]

I fired our cable company a year ago and went with DirecTV. Why I waited so long to do it, I'll never know. Satellite is so much more superior than cable, that I don't have any idea why anyone would continue on with the antiquated cable service. The sattelite companies also offer broadband internet via sattelite at a very competetive price. Cable is taking advantage of the ignorance of it's customers and charging exorbitant fees for an inferior service. Cable will be dead in 10 years.

[knews_hound]

I have actually filed a complaint with the FTC regarding this issue.

I have had cable Internet for years, first with Comcast, then AT&T, now back to Comcast.

During the entire time, I have been a Dish user and have had only the Internet function.

My cost has remained the same the entire time.

Until now that is.

Now, I am being told that in order to continue the same service I have had for years, I must pay an additional 15 bucks a month to recieve the same service that I get now, with a Cable TV service I did not ask for nor that I want in order for my rate to stay the same.

It seems that Comcast has simply decided that ALL of their customers must subscribe to both services, which of course is much more profitible for them, while adding no features or benefits to the package. The Cable TV signal is the same one that has always been on the pipe, nothing has been added.

Yet the price goes up 15 bucks a month.

Sweet deal for Comcast.

I and all the other Internet only subscribers get screwed.

I urge anyone else in this same position to do the same, file a complain with the FTC.

The only way that this will change is to make noise.

Cheers,

knews hound

[Revolting cat!]

Monopoly is nice isn't it? It even has its defenders who think they'd be subsidizing those who don't like it. Go figure. A public service, utilizing public streets to string along the cable, monopolized and in cahoots with the politicians. The greatest land on earth in 2003 for you! Free market, yeah!

If they hiked your rates and you don't want cable TV, because who needs the idiot box, call them, protest, and threaten to switch to DSL. They'll give you a rate break for a few months. In fact, it may be an excellent idea to switch once a year or so between DSL and cable, taking advantage of the introductory rates. Screw them before they screw you and let the humourless steam thinking they are subsidizing you! (That alone is about half the fun.)

[BibChr]

I'm one of those unhappy folks. Signed up with AT&T at a decent rate, they sold out, and we're screwed. Their danged cable doesn't even have Sci Fi channel, not sure of Fox. We already have satellite. What a ripoff.

Dan

[ladyinred]

I have both, thank goodness!

[reg45]

Comcast is finally getting around to upgrading our area to cable internet capable wiring. We are too far from the CO for DSL (the limit is about 2.5 miles). So we may have HSI (high speed internet) in about two months. I'll probably put in a router so that we can share the connection.

[mhking]

DSL and satellite are your friends. Comcast is anything but...

[dennisw]

I will be exiting Comcast soon. Broadband is cool, I even bought me own modem, but their pricing is a RIPOFF compared to Verizon/Yahoo campaign to get people aboard their DSL for $30/month. I refuse to be a sucker in an economic down time.

[dennisw]

F Comcast...am with them now. I will give DSL a whirl then go back to 56k. I don't have a compelling need for broad band. I'll do all my bigass downloads then leave.