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Television Communications

FCC Floats Ban on Cable TV 'Junk Fees' That Make It Hard To Ditch Contracts (arstechnica.com) 32

Posted by msmash from the encouraging-feedback dept.
The Federal Communications Commission has taken a step toward prohibiting early termination fees charged by cable and satellite TV providers. From a report: If given final approval, the FCC action would also require cable and satellite providers to provide a prorated credit or rebate to customers who cancel before a billing period ends. The new rules are being floated in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that the FCC voted to approve this week in a 3-2 vote, with both Republicans dissenting. The NPRM seeks public comment on the proposed rules and could lead to a final vote in a few months or so.

"Today's action proposes to adopt customer service protections that prohibit cable operators and DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) providers from imposing a fee for the early termination of a cable or DBS video service contract," the FCC said. "Additionally, the NPRM recommends the adoption of customer service protections to require cable and DBS providers to grant subscribers a prorated credit or rebate for the remaining whole days in a monthly or periodic billing cycle after the subscriber cancels service."

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said, "Consumers are tired of these junk fees. They now have more choices when it comes to video content. But these friction-filled tactics to keep us subscribing to our current providers are aggravating and unfair. So today we kick off a rulemaking to put an end to these practices." Cable lobby group NCTA-The Internet & Television Association opposes the plan and said it will submit comments to support "consumer choice and competitive parity."
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FCC Floats Ban on Cable TV 'Junk Fees' That Make It Hard To Ditch Contracts More

FCC Floats Ban on Cable TV 'Junk Fees' That Make It Hard To Ditch Contracts

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  • Won't someone think of the cable company executives??

    • executives everywhere, big pharma, telecommunications companies, apple, google, microsoft, facebook/meta, etc...

    • Bullshit clickbait (Score:3, Insightful)

      by geekmux ( 1040042 )

      Won't someone think of the cable company executives??

      "could lead to a final vote in a few months or so."

      You could get back to me a few or so flux capacitation moments from now, and we'll see if this amounts to clickbait bullshit, or clickbait bullshit.

    • Re:Oh no (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Kernel Kurtz ( 182424 ) on Thursday December 14, 2023 @05:24PM (#64082523)

      Won't someone think of the cable company executives??

      Apparently the two Republicans on the commission are thinking of them.

    • Yes, we do. Personally I struggle to try and think less of them.

    • So if a cable company agrees to give me a $30 discount if I sign up for a year, with the catch being a fee if I cancel.....

      You don't want discounts with repercussions? I doubt cable companies would just get rid of the fee without reducing the discount. I'd prefer to have a larger discount with the potential termination fee...

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by whitroth ( 9367 )

        Yes. Why should there be "repercussions"? The discount is to get you to buy, period. Do you expect "repercussions" if you buy a shirt on sale, then complain that a button fell off?

  • I know for satellite, you sign a contract.

    Can the FCC void a legal contract?

    • FCC can promote the trade practice and the licence holder can take the blast furnace of the licence holder being at risk. So being in the FCCs good graces keeps you out of reporting by groups that have real sway with the rest of the executive and legislative branches. FCC attorneys file briefs with courts, so judge to judge that could be important. 3/4 of these things that sound so stupid nobody want to be at completive disadvantage doing what in the schema of things is rounding errors on the bala

    • Re:So, the FCC is now voiding contracts? (Score:5, Informative)

      by Local ID10T ( 790134 ) <ID10T.L.USER@gmail.com> on Thursday December 14, 2023 @04:57PM (#64082483) Homepage

      Can the FCC void a legal contract?

      They can declare the terms of the contract to be illegal. Illegal terms in contracts are unenforceable.

    • Personally, I think this WAY oversteps the authority and mandate of the FCC. It seems clearly an FTC matter.

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by sjames ( 1099 )

        Do we still have an FTC? They slept for years, then slipped into a coma. I was pretty sure they went ahead and died in 2019.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by whitroth ( 9367 )

        Geez... so you really like being screwed by service providers, solely and exclusively to provide bonuses to execs.

        What a *sucker*.

        • >"Geez... so you really like being screwed by service providers, solely and exclusively to provide bonuses to execs."

          How would you read that into my saying the FTC, not the FCC, should be handling it?

  • FCC Chairwoman: Cancellation fees are too high! And too many clicks!

    Also FCC Chair: Consumers have lots of choices (none of which have long term contracts), demonstrating market competition is solving this problem.

    <snark>(For both remaining 60+ year olds who still have cable.)</snark>

    Not that I expect the usual "oh noes, big companies bad, I have no influence!" crowd to listen.

  • Are these ... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by PPH ( 736903 ) on Thursday December 14, 2023 @05:03PM (#64082493)

    ... the same cable companies that are beginning to resemble The Night of the Living Dead [slashdot.org]?

  • They need to float a ban on the increased volume level of cable TV commercials too. With predatory commercials that old people watch with their old people TV shows it's criminal IMO. As attention span's dwindle in later years, commercials become mini TV's shows to the viewer. Perfect for nabbing the elderly.
    • Actually the FCC did pass the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act. I'm not sure if this applies to cable companies or "over the air" broadcasts.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by bn-7bc ( 909819 )
      The thing is,according to the standards they are not that buch louder (depends on what program they interrupt ofc),the thing is the standards measure (i'm o expert so I might have this wrong) across the entire audible spectrum at an average of n seconds, but our hearing does not have a flat response and ads are compressed to hell and back to stuff all content where we here best so they seem louder while still complying with the regs. The solution to the problem: update the standards to measure what we actu

  • If you pay monthly and there is no fee for early termination, can it really be called a contract at that point?

    • Yes, insofar that it could also be a commitment from the cableco not to change the package or price for the duration of the contract.

      • Yes, insofar that it could also be a commitment from the cableco not to change the package or price for the duration of the contract.

        Good luck with that one.

        You'll probably either get a month-to-month "contract" with them freely about to price that service as exactly that (kind of like Netflix price increase announcements)...or you'll sign a 12-month+ long commitment which will have some kind of "deposit" that's non-refundable if you quit paying early. And that's only if they need a weasel word to not call it a "termination fee". You're not likely going to be offered the flexibility of month-to-month and fixed price.

  • Internet Fees (Score:5, Insightful)

    by kingbilly ( 993754 ) on Thursday December 14, 2023 @07:45PM (#64082713)
    Now do "Network Access Fees" that an ISP adds to the bill. They throw it on there like it is an optional addon instead of the entire reason you get an internet plan.
  • I played this game so much in school. Run 3 [run3online.pro]
  • They need to get rid of the 'broadcast fees' and 'regional sports fees' first, as you can't avoid them, and is blatant bait-and-switch pricing. Even today I checked on Comcast cable prices. The mid-tier package was $40... plus and additional $42 in broadcast/sports fees, and there are still some other 'taxes and fees' not listed until you get your first bill. Yes, the additional fees are more than the advertised price. It's ridiculous that this continues.
  • Never mind addressing health care, or student loan forgiveness. But at least he can claim one bill that isn't feeding roasted poor people to the wealthy come election time.
  • Cut the cord years ago.....no junk fees or ads !!

  • So if the companies here can't do the junk fees, they'll work it some other way.

    Expect $200-$300 installation fees after this goes into place. Maybe that can be financed over time.

    This might be more transparent, but it will likely not be any cheaper.

  • Then they can go after ticket vendors and airlines.

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