A MESSAGE TO COMCAST

Hi All,

Following is a copy of an Email that your Cable Committee has sent to COMCAST HQ in Pennsylvania.
The gloves are off and it's time for Hardball.
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Hi Melissa,
My name is Dave Israel.

I am an administrator of the BLOG “davesblogandchat.blogspot.com”.

Coincidentally, I am also Cable Committee Chair for Century Village (CV) in West Palm Beach, Florida, a Senior Condominium Village consisting of 7854 Condo. Units. (read Customers). All of the BLOG Admins are on the Cable Committee.
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Some years ago, we negotiated a Bulk Cable agreement with Adelphia, consisting of some 74 channels of “enhanced Basic Cable” which in due course of bankruptcy, was acquired by COMCAST.

Our account POC is Christine Saxon who has advised us that we must all acquire a Set-Top-Box, (STB) because COMCAST will be removing selected channels and relocating them in the Digital Starter Tier, or higher tiers.
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We are offered a discounted rate of $3.40 per box, per month, per unit which on the surface seems reasonable, until you consider that in the CV fixed income Demographic; $3.40 can mean a medical prescription not filled. Add to that the issue that many Unit Owners have more than one TV in which case the accumulation of additional fees per STB becomes intolerable.
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The reason for this, of course, is that COMCAST wishes to replace analog channels with digital channels which can be swapped out at a ratio of up to 10 to one depending on whether the swap is to Standard Definition or High Definition.
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Contrary to Christine’s subtle implication that this translocation is integral to the February 2009 Digital Transition, as a matter of technical fact these events are unrelated; and this removal of channels which we are contracted to receive is a COMCAST business decision.
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The recent removal of HBO Signature, one of three HBO channels specifically referenced in our contract, was unconscionable; however the removal of ETWN was direct religious discrimination against our Catholic Unit Owners and cannot be allowed to stand!
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We have lost 7 channels and yet we will receive a 5% increase in cost in 2009! Nice for COMCAST but disdaining of our Unit Owners.
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If you want to help, return the channels taken away as referenced in the BLOG entry that you quoted and stop any further removals.

There is plenty of time to talk about STB before our contract comes up for renewal some two years hence; but in reality, we are seeking a professional negotiator and are seriously seeking alternatives to COMCAST as our provider, someone who will respect our Unit Owners and who is less predatory in regard to their perceived monopolistic position . As you are undoubtedly aware, the FCC is investigating the predatory practice of reduction in service while increasing price.
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It is important that COMCAST understand that there are seniors here in CV who stormed the beaches of Normandy and we will not be bullied into the STB by coercive tactics; in short, this contract is yours to lose!
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I and my Committee stand ready to discuss these specifics with you and your people at any time.

Dave Israel
CV Cable Chair
PHONE: - (561) 686-1222
FAX: - (561) 686-6274
Email: - nsasigint@comcast.net
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REF:
From: Mendoza, Melissa <Melissa_Mendoza@cable.comcast.com>Date: Oct 31, 2008 2:36 PMSubject: Your Comcast ServicesTo: edeveblack@gmail.com
Hello!

I read your blog at http://davesblogandchat.blogspot.com/2008/10/real-cv-comcast-problem_30.html. I'd like to assist in getting you the best offer possible for upgrading to digital cable and getting you back the channels you're missing.


Kind Regards
Melissa Mendoza
Comcast Customer Connect
National Customer Operations
One Comcast Center
1701 JFK Blvd.Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.286.1700