FCC bans cable TV industry’s favorite trick for hiding full cost of service
FCC bans cable TV industry’s favorite trick for hiding full cost of service
arstechnica.com
FCC bans cable TV industry’s favorite trick for hiding full cost of service
94 comments
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Quick! Someone tell us why this isn't a good thing because the government did it! Surely there's some secret corruption at work!
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Whatever it is It will only come down to costing companies with deep lobby pockets money and how the conservative new agencies are spinning it.
I'd like to see everything priced on the rim and out the door. Taxes, registration, fees, shipping all on the line. I'd like the price on the shelf/invoice/website/advertisement/cash register and bank statement to all match.
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The lobbying group for cable companies said that it would hurt their highly competitive market(I'm sure they weren't able to type that without laughing) and it makes it harder for them to advertise one price since the cost of the sports and local bundles are regional (though they have no problems getting those prices correct on the bills.)
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Umm uhhhh they'll have to increase the total price to make up the difference in processing more numbers which will cause the employee budget to decrease hurting the local economy which means less taxes to fund fire department and your babies will burn in a fire caused by the unqualified cable tech they had to hire to offset the loss in profits.
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Only complaint I have is they waited till the shit is dying to step in and do something. But hey, still a win yo
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Usually here it's not a good thing because nothing is allowed to be good. Was the same on a lot of Reddit, too. Like, the upliftingnews subreddit comments were the worst for it.
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Nice job, FCC, and only 20 years late!
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Solving yesterday's problems, tomorrow!
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Right? Like why the fuck did it take so long? Ohhh right. Ashit Pie.
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...micromanagement of advertising in today's hyper-competitive marketplace...
WTF are they on about? Cable TV is the least competitive market out there. I've never lived anywhere with more than two options.
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Whoever Joe Brandon appointed to the FCC seems to be a real one.
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It’s more so that anyone was appointed. They didn’t have enough members to vote before afaik.
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In case you were wondering the Republicans on the FCC both dissent claiming that the FCC has no jurisdiction to ban lying because people being marketed too aren't cable subscribers yet and therefore outside of the FCC's purview. What a load of horse-hockey. Their next argument will be that the FCC has no right to regulate cable at all because the consumer hasn't been screwed until they give the cable company their money at which point it's too late.
As much of a free-market-enjoyer that I am, this is what you get when you vote Republican (or stay home).
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I nominate Jessica Rosenworcel for President. And, uh, Supreme Court too.
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Nah. Better stay where they are; they can do more there.
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My family hasn't been subscribed a satellite/cable tv service in almost 16 years... 8 if you include streaming services.
Their shitty services, comercials, deceptive pricing, arbitrary limitations, and lack of content drove me away long ago. 🏴☠️
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Haven't had cable nor streaming services my entire life, and I'm 35. Though I do pay for YouTube Premium. Then again, I watch media reviewers and longform film and game essayists. And speedruns. I buy or pirate all my shows. I "own" a number of shows on Google Play, but the last several years has made me stop buying there too. Physical or piracy, baby.
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woah what’s with all these comments being removed?
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It's a spam bot.
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This. For people wanting to clean up their interface, if you select "block user" on any of those spammer posts, it removes them entirely leaving only real posters.
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a really weird one too with some strange picture of jacked zapp branagin with a poorly photoshopped meme in the ass crack.
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It’s just a spammer
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Prepare the nipples for tweaking!
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"How bummed would you be if we told you the real cost?"
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Media Contact: Office of Media Relations MediaRelations@fcc.gov For Immediate Release FCC VOTES TO REQUIRE CABLE AND SATELLITE TV PRICING TRANSPARENCY New ‘All-In’ Pricing Rules Will Address Consumers’ Confusion on Hidden Fees in Cable and Satellite TV Billing
WASHINGTON, March 14, 2024—The Federal Communications Commission today adopted new rules requiring cable and satellite TV providers to specify the “all-in” price clearly and prominently for video programming service in their promotional materials and on subscribers’ bills. The FCC aims to eliminate the misleading practice of describing video programming costs as a tax, fee, or surcharge. This updated “all-in” pricing format allows consumers to make informed choices, including the ability to comparison shop among competitors and to compare programming costs against alternative programming providers, including streaming services. TV providers often use deceptive junk fees to hide the real price of their services. The FCC is putting an end to this form of price masking, increasing competition, and reducing confusion among consumers. These new rules require cable operators and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers to state the total cost of video programming service clearly and prominently, including broadcast retransmission consent, regional sports programming, and other programming-related fees, as a prominent single line item on subscribers’ bills and in promotional materials. The record demonstrates that charges and fees for video programming provided by cable and DBS providers are often obscured in misleading promotional materials and bills, which causes significant and costly confusion for consumers. These new rules continue a series of consumer-focused proposals to combat junk fees and support transparency for consumers. In addition to this “all-in” pricing, the Commission is preparing to upcoming launch of the mandatory Broadband Consumer Labels and has proposed to eliminate early termination fees from cable and satellite TV providers. Action by the Commission March 14, 2024 by Report and Order (FCC 24-29). Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Starks and Gomez approving. Commissioners Carr and Simington dissenting. Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Carr, Starks, and Simington issuing separate statements. MB Docket No. 23-203
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Cable is antiquated.
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Love it
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Remoded by ved
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GUCCI LOAFERS I CAN'T CHUCK'S JANNY FANCY GERMAN CAR DILATE FLOYD SEETHE SNEED'S FUCK AND FANCY GERMAN CAR CHUCK'S AND FUCK SNEED I CAN'T JANNIES COPE SEED HOT POCKETS CLEAN IT UP CLEAN IT UP CHUCK'S SNEED'S CLEAN IT UP FUCK SNEED'S AND COPE SEETHE ON LEMMY SEETHE COPE FOR FREE FOR FREE AND SNEED FEED I CAN'T HOT POCKETS JANNY HOT POCKETS SEED FEED ON LEMMY CITY SLICKER CITY SLICKER SNEED CHUCK'S
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CHUCK DILATE CLEAN IT UP SEED SEED I CAN'T FLOYD FUCK CHUCK'S SUCK AND SEETHE CLEAN IT UP DILATE PARK AVENUE MANICURE FEED CLEAN IT UP SNEED'S GUCCI LOAFERS HOT POCKETS FUCK FLOYD SEETHE GUCCI LOAFERS JANNY HOT POCKETS SEETHE FEED DILATE ON LEMMY CITY SLICKER CITY SLICKER GUCCI LOAFERS FUCK SEED AND HOT POCKETS SUCK SUCK SNEED FUCK COPE COPE SNEED SNEED SUCK CITY SLICKER SNEED'S I CAN'T FLOYD
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FANCY GERMAN CAR HOT POCKETS FEED SNEED'S I CAN'T CITY SLICKER HOT POCKETS CHUCK FUCK CHUCK'S DILATE AND FLOYD SNEED'S PARK AVENUE MANICURE JANNIES FUCK AND JANNY SNEED'S SNEED FLOYD SUCK FANCY GERMAN CAR HOT POCKETS FANCY GERMAN CAR SEETHE SUCK CHUCK'S I CAN'T FLOYD CHUCK SNEED'S FEED JANNY SEETHE FUCK ON LEMMY FUCK SNEED'S FANCY GERMAN CAR FLOYD CITY SLICKER JANNY GUCCI LOAFERS SEETHE FOR FREE JANNIES JANNY SEED
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CLEAN IT UP SNEED'S CLEAN IT UP CHUCK PARK AVENUE MANICURE CITY SLICKER COPE SEETHE CLEAN IT UP SEED I CAN'T JANNIES AND CLEAN IT UP CITY SLICKER SEETHE FLOYD AND CHUCK'S PARK AVENUE MANICURE COPE FOR FREE PARK AVENUE MANICURE CLEAN IT UP PARK AVENUE MANICURE SUCK CHUCK HOT POCKETS AND CITY SLICKER FEED SNEED'S SEETHE FANCY GERMAN CAR PARK AVENUE MANICURE I CAN'T ON LEMMY FEED CITY SLICKER GUCCI LOAFERS FANCY GERMAN CAR HOT POCKETS FEED FANCY GERMAN CAR SNEED'S COPE JANNY SEED COPE I CAN'T
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DILATE SEED CLEAN IT UP JANNIES FOR FREE FANCY GERMAN CAR FOR FREE CITY SLICKER I CAN'T SEETHE GUCCI LOAFERS CHUCK FUCK CITY SLICKER AND SUCK ON LEMMY FUCK JANNY JANNIES FUCK I CAN'T SNEED'S FUCK FOR FREE SEETHE SUCK JANNY SEED GUCCI LOAFERS CITY SLICKER CHUCK JANNIES CHUCK DILATE COPE JANNY SEED ON LEMMY SEED SNEED CHUCK SNEED SNEED JANNIES DILATE CITY SLICKER SEETHE CITY SLICKER CLEAN IT UP
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AND GUCCI LOAFERS SUCK FEED FANCY GERMAN CAR SNEED JANNIES SEED JANNIES SEETHE FLOYD HOT POCKETS SEETHE CITY SLICKER GUCCI LOAFERS FUCK AND SEED SNEED JANNY JANNY GUCCI LOAFERS FEED SUCK CHUCK'S DILATE CLEAN IT UP FANCY GERMAN CAR HOT POCKETS COPE GUCCI LOAFERS SEED AND ON LEMMY FOR FREE SNEED CITY SLICKER SNEED ON LEMMY FANCY GERMAN CAR FOR FREE CITY SLICKER PARK AVENUE MANICURE FLOYD GUCCI LOAFERS SNEED SNEED JANNIES CLEAN IT UP COPE
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CHUCK'S CLEAN IT UP AND ON LEMMY FOR FREE FOR FREE SEETHE CITY SLICKER SUCK SEED I CAN'T CLEAN IT UP SNEED CHUCK'S SUCK FLOYD FUCK HOT POCKETS I CAN'T FUCK CHUCK AND HOT POCKETS FUCK CITY SLICKER FOR FREE PARK AVENUE MANICURE FUCK FEED I CAN'T CLEAN IT UP CLEAN IT UP CITY SLICKER DILATE CITY SLICKER FUCK CITY SLICKER FUCK SNEED'S CLEAN IT UP CITY SLICKER HOT POCKETS PARK AVENUE MANICURE CITY SLICKER JANNIES FUCK PARK AVENUE MANICURE JANNY DILATE SNEED
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HOT POCKETS AND CHUCK SNEED'S AND DILATE GUCCI LOAFERS FOR FREE JANNY PARK AVENUE MANICURE SEED SUCK CLEAN IT UP DILATE DILATE FANCY GERMAN CAR SUCK FEED FLOYD JANNIES AND PARK AVENUE MANICURE CITY SLICKER COPE SEED DILATE GUCCI LOAFERS ON LEMMY CHUCK'S AND FANCY GERMAN CAR FLOYD COPE HOT POCKETS FANCY GERMAN CAR SEETHE CHUCK FLOYD FLOYD JANNY FUCK PARK AVENUE MANICURE CHUCK'S SUCK AND COPE JANNY SEETHE COPE AND
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CHUCK'S JANNIES GUCCI LOAFERS SEETHE SEETHE CITY SLICKER PARK AVENUE MANICURE ON LEMMY SEED COPE FOR FREE PARK AVENUE MANICURE GUCCI LOAFERS CLEAN IT UP SEETHE SNEED'S CITY SLICKER CLEAN IT UP JANNY I CAN'T SNEED FUCK ON LEMMY PARK AVENUE MANICURE FLOYD CHUCK'S JANNIES CHUCK CITY SLICKER COPE HOT POCKETS CITY SLICKER CITY SLICKER AND CITY SLICKER HOT POCKETS CITY SLICKER FUCK FOR FREE SEED CHUCK'S JANNIES CITY SLICKER CLEAN IT UP JANNY JANNY COPE GUCCI LOAFERS FLOYD SEETHE
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FANCY GERMAN CAR FANCY GERMAN CAR SEETHE GUCCI LOAFERS JANNIES CHUCK'S HOT POCKETS CHUCK CITY SLICKER SEED FANCY GERMAN CAR SNEED'S FANCY GERMAN CAR HOT POCKETS FEED AND SNEED CITY SLICKER AND AND FANCY GERMAN CAR SUCK FUCK SNEED'S ON LEMMY JANNY SUCK CLEAN IT UP CLEAN IT UP CITY SLICKER DILATE CLEAN IT UP SEETHE SNEED SEED SEED CHUCK'S PARK AVENUE MANICURE CHUCK CHUCK'S FANCY GERMAN CAR JANNY SUCK HOT POCKETS FANCY GERMAN CAR AND FUCK DILATE FLOYD SEETHE
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ON LEMMY SUCK FOR FREE AND GUCCI LOAFERS FLOYD SNEED'S FUCK SNEED'S CHUCK'S FOR FREE PARK AVENUE MANICURE JANNY FOR FREE FOR FREE COPE I CAN'T DILATE ON LEMMY FUCK FANCY GERMAN CAR DILATE ON LEMMY SNEED JANNY JANNIES GUCCI LOAFERS HOT POCKETS SNEED FANCY GERMAN CAR SEED COPE GUCCI LOAFERS SEED HOT POCKETS CHUCK'S SNEED'S CLEAN IT UP HOT POCKETS COPE COPE AND I CAN'T CHUCK'S COPE SUCK JANNY FANCY GERMAN CAR FUCK CHUCK'S
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CITY SLICKER I CAN'T ON LEMMY CHUCK'S DILATE SUCK JANNY AND SUCK SUCK ON LEMMY ON LEMMY SNEED I CAN'T ON LEMMY SEED SUCK CLEAN IT UP HOT POCKETS SEED SEETHE AND FANCY GERMAN CAR CHUCK SEED COPE CLEAN IT UP JANNY FOR FREE HOT POCKETS FOR FREE FEED FEED GUCCI LOAFERS CLEAN IT UP SEETHE SNEED'S FUCK SEETHE CHUCK FANCY GERMAN CAR I CAN'T CITY SLICKER FANCY GERMAN CAR SUCK AND SEETHE GUCCI LOAFERS FANCY GERMAN CAR HOT POCKETS
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CHUCK COPE SEETHE FEED SEED I CAN'T FLOYD SNEED SEED SNEED FOR FREE FLOYD CLEAN IT UP FOR FREE ON LEMMY FOR FREE ON LEMMY SNEED COPE FOR FREE SEED CLEAN IT UP CHUCK AND CHUCK'S FANCY GERMAN CAR FOR FREE JANNY DILATE FLOYD SEETHE PARK AVENUE MANICURE GUCCI LOAFERS PARK AVENUE MANICURE FANCY GERMAN CAR CHUCK SNEED FANCY GERMAN CAR ON LEMMY HOT POCKETS COPE HOT POCKETS CHUCK'S SEED FLOYD FUCK HOT POCKETS PARK AVENUE MANICURE CLEAN IT UP FEED
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SNEED'S SNEED HOT POCKETS JANNY SEETHE HOT POCKETS HOT POCKETS SNEED'S CHUCK'S JANNY FEED SNEED'S PARK AVENUE MANICURE SUCK CITY SLICKER ON LEMMY SEETHE CHUCK'S SEED CHUCK FEED SNEED'S DILATE CLEAN IT UP GUCCI LOAFERS FANCY GERMAN CAR AND SEETHE CLEAN IT UP FLOYD HOT POCKETS AND SUCK ON LEMMY FEED COPE FANCY GERMAN CAR PARK AVENUE MANICURE FOR FREE ON LEMMY ON LEMMY SUCK SUCK JANNIES CHUCK'S JANNY HOT POCKETS SNEED SEED HOT POCKETS
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CITY SLICKER ON LEMMY FOR FREE SEETHE I CAN'T CITY SLICKER FUCK CLEAN IT UP SUCK FEED CLEAN IT UP HOT POCKETS CITY SLICKER JANNIES CITY SLICKER I CAN'T JANNY CHUCK'S DILATE CLEAN IT UP SNEED'S SNEED JANNIES ON LEMMY SNEED DILATE HOT POCKETS FEED FUCK SEETHE I CAN'T FUCK ON LEMMY SUCK HOT POCKETS ON LEMMY I CAN'T CLEAN IT UP JANNY CHUCK'S FOR FREE FOR FREE FOR FREE CLEAN IT UP HOT POCKETS CITY SLICKER FLOYD FOR FREE CITY SLICKER FOR FREE
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What the fuck?
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Looks like a prolific spammer. Banned account now.
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94 comments
Or, you know, you could just tell the truth.
Ah yes, when I think of "hyper competitive" I think of the one and only one cable provider who services my neighborhood.
Comcast calls me all the time trying to sell me on their
Trojan horsestreaming box or their cell service. I’m polite to the caller cause I know it’s just a gig for them but I always calmly tell them I only have Comcast as I have no other choice and I’d rather peel off my finger nails than give them any other business. It speaks to how bad things are that I’m dying for Verizon of all companies to come “save” me. Hyper-competitive, fucking lol.I would hope this would also apply to the live TV streaming services like Hulu+live tv, Fubo, YouTube TV, etc. I looked into some of them, and the added fees took the monthly bill from like $83 a month to over $100 a month, but you don’t know that unless you read the disclaimers since they advertised it at $83 a month.
And the thing about regulation like this is that it just resets the bar height for everyone. It's not like this doesn't apply to all competitors.
Unless we mean non-cable competition, i.e. streaming. Maybe that's not under the jurisdiction of FCC? If not, though, then I have to wonder why this has to be an FCC thing in the first place. This is about truth in advertising, in general.
Whoa whoa whoa, have you been playing too many online games recently? Because your views are sounding a little bit extreme there...
As an autist who doesn't always catch sarcasm, I have to ask: what alien robot downvoted you?
What competition?
Isnt there like..only two cities in the whole country where cable companies actually have to compete with each other? (and consequently the customers see the lowest prices in the country.. weird how that works?)
The proliferation of home cell internet and Starlink's internet has had a nice downward pressure in many markets. Both are often surprisingly good, even for heavy internet users. They are something worth checking out in your area.
Edit: Note, if you look into satellite internet, Starlink is pretty much the only one that doesn't suck. This is due to the satellites being in low earth orbit (fairly close) rather than way, way off in geostationary orbit.
So I have to actually do research instead of being baited in? That's fine too.
Nothing better than Verizon advertising $65 a month, which is already too much, then when you actually try to sign up it's not just more; they straight up refuse to tell you what it will be (yes, I tried asking).
I know that's not cable but they both play the same games. No, it's not impossible for you to just tell a customer what you're going to charge them.
Well good news: any competitors have the same restrictions so I don't see the relevance.