Consumers for Cable Choice Urges Californians to Speak Up and Calls for Lawmakers to Encourage Competition in Cable Television Industry

Consumers for Cable Choice Urges Californians to Speak Up and Calls for Lawmakers to Encourage Competition in Cable Television Industry

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers for Cable Choice called on Californians today to tell lawmakers and policymakers that they want competition in the cable television industry. The national advocacy group said competition will give residential and business customers better rates, better customer service and innovative technological options.

Representatives of Consumers for Cable Choice are in San Diego to attend the Fourth Annual Telco TV Conference and Expo. The conference begins Tuesday with workshops and runs through Thursday. It brings together companies that are currently at odds over allowing American customers the right to choose their cable television service provider.

"Our recent poll shows that 87 percent of Americans want competition in the cable television industry because they believe it will bring down rates and improve both customer service and technology options," said Jim Conran, executive director of Consumers for Cable Choice and an Orinda, Calif. resident. "Recent experience shows that they are right. Faced with competition in Keller, Texas, the local cable company immediately dropped its rates by 25 percent."

Conran added that Californians who want the same type of competitive choice now available in Keller should speak up either on their own or through the Consumers for Cable Choice Web sites, http://www.consumers4choice.org/ and http://www.mycablenightmare.com/ .

Congress and some state legislatures are expected to debate bills next year to reform antiquated laws that have allowed the cable television industry to realize enormous profits at the expense of their customers, who have little or no choice over their cable TV provider. According to the Federal Communications Commission, cable rates nationwide have increased by 86 percent in the past 10 years while cable profits have soared. At the same time, cable customer service has consistently ranked among the worst of any industry while technology and programming have stagnated. The U.S. has fallen to 16th worldwide in broadband deployment -- the technology that allows interactive communication in homes and small businesses.

Conran said the benefits of competition go far beyond rates and customer service. A recent study commissioned by the California Small Business Education Foundation and Consumers for Cable Choice shows that America's small businesses would benefit greatly if the cable television market were opened to competition and providers began marketing services to small business.

"Traditional cable companies have never offered innovative service to small business even though the business applications of broadband technology are virtually unlimited," said Dr. Esteban Soriano, the study's author and a retired University of California professor. "Real-time and interactive video could be extremely useful tools that would give American businesses a global reach. Small businesses in other parts of the world are already using these tools."

Interactive video service could enable small businesses to save money and vastly increase their services. Examples of how this technology could be used include holding on-demand video conferencing for attorney-client discussions and doctor-patient visits. Additionally, businesses could share graphic images across long distances, offer on-demand training and continuing education seminars for staff, and collaborate on-line with clients, customers and suppliers.

About Consumers for Cable Choice, Inc.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind. Consumers for Cable Choice, Inc. is a national alliance of consumer advocacy groups, private citizens and others who are committed to promoting maximum choice for consumers in cable, video and broadband services. Consumers for Cable Choice uses a combination of education and grassroots advocacy to impact change, which will result in a deregulated and pro-consumer market that stimulates fair price, more choices and better service options in the cable television industry. Executive Director Jim Conran has been advocating for policies that benefit residential and small business consumers for more than 20 years. To learn more, visit http://www.consumers4choice.org/ or http://www.mycablenightmare.com/ .

Source: Consumers for Cable Choice

CONTACT: Cheryl Reed, +1-317-205-9690, cherylreed@synergy-mg.com , for
Consumers for Cable Choice

Web site: http://www.consumers4choice.org/
http://www.mycablenightmare.com/

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