What is with the local cable companies monopolizing areas?
540706
Someone else mentioned there is competition. Now there is, sort of. Cables have a basic monopoly that is guaranteed to them through some byzantine laws. So what they do is carve up the regions. If the cable companies had competition from other cable companies in the same local market then satellite, television over fiber, television over power lines, probably would not have been created or even thought of.
1035345
what cable company do u have?
453361
That sounds like a DSL speed which should not be dependent on other users in your area unlike cable. The internet is busier on nights and weekends so just slower in general depending on which sites you visit.
291687
I live in a rural area as well, no cable or dsl ever coming this way, so I invested in high speed satellite internet.\nDirectway satellite provides this service, contact them to get you in touch with an installer.\n\nIt'a about $100.00 a month for 15 months, and then it drops down to $60.00 or so. I forget how much the Installation fee was, I have had satellite for 1 1/2 years now. It's been pretty good as far as reception, just like the tv, when it's HEAVILY snowing or raining reception goes out (sometimes) until it clears up,and that is not very often, can count on one hand, but other than that, wonderful! You can download music, watch clips, anything that dsl does, satellite does, maybe it takes a couple of seconds longer to upload the info but it's the only choice I had!I am very happy with my choice.
1055624
Look at other local competition's prices and the type of service that they offer as well.
1023995
Cable TV is regulated under different sets of standards than broadcast. Why? Because broadcast is just that -- goes over the airwaves and is available to anyone with an antenna.\n\nCable is subscription only, and just about every cable setup comes with the ability to block certain channels, or block certain ratings. Or just not get cable service at all. Nothing is forcing you to receive cable, certainly not in the same way that broadcast signals exist.\n\nBecause cable is subscription only, that means the government has less authority to control the content. Which is a good thing.\n\nIf you don't like something, you can choose not to watch. If the government doesn't like something, and if we allow them to control everything, then we've lost.
799463
It depents on rights taken by the channels.\nyou can switch to starsports, ESPN, Ten sports, Fox sprots
426865
The first place you should go to would be the cable company. I'm sure someone there would be more than willing to help you.
64833
You're pretty much limited to whatever cable companies provide service to your area.\n\nFor example: Time Warner Cable might have a great package deal, but if you're not in their area, you're out of luck.
916149
Basic cable where I live is $59.00 a month
1090882
Because it is "blacked out" in your particular area. Meaning, some commercial outlet has purchased the exclusive rights to broadcast the highlights in your area.
1041872
contact the cable company. only they know why
872923
Your neighborhood could have just been given more bandwidth.  When I had Comcast in Denver, over two years it increased from 1.5Mb to 3.0Mb to 7Mb.  \n\nSometimes they will send new firmwares out to the cable modems to grant them more bandwidth.\n\nAlso could be the site you are using or a new server added to a website that u use a lot.\n\nMikeC
787095
try dsl- it is almost as fast. i still prefer cable but in my area there are a lot of promotions so the price is still right.
1183420
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/charges.html\n\nThis sums it up:\n(Federal) Subscriber Line Charge – This charge covers the costs of the local phone network. This charge may appear as “FCC Charge for Network Access,” “Federal Line Cost Charge,” “Interstate Access Charge,” “Federal Access Charge,” “Interstate Single Line Charge,” “Customer Line Charge” or “FCC-Approved Customer Line Charge.” The FCC sets the maximum allowable Federal Subscriber Line Charge. This is not a government charge or tax, and it does not end up in the U.S. treasury.\n\n********\n\nBasically, the Federal Subscriber Line Charge is a direct subsidy to local phone carriers for the cost of operating their networks in local markets.  Everyone has to pay it, and it is partly responsible for the deployment of phone service (and other data services) to rural areas, and other network upgrades.
24516
The FCC has evolved over the past almost seventy years as much as the industries it regulates has.  I have spent my career in an industry under its purview.\n\nWhile much of the deregulation I have seen over the years has been necessary, the relaxation of broadcast ownership limits has had a disastrous effect on the industry and the public.  It has created one 800 pound gorilla in Clear Channel, and a handful of slightly smaller ones.  It has made competition all but a joke, and has limited or eliminated the whole concept of single-station ownership.  And that is just broadcast readio.  Even that is next to nothing when compared to the Commsiion's record on obscenity--or should I say censorship.  The current effort to hold cable operators to the same content standards as broacast could have a dangerous chilling effect on the media in general.\n\nHowever, it is because of the political nature of the FCC that much of this has happened.  It remains in many ways an important watchdog in the increasingly complicated communications landscape.  If you want to see the FCC made over, keep it in mind in 2008.
1015759
If the lease doesn't mention cable fees and they charge you money for cable, then you have the option of opting out on the service and not being charged $30/mo. \n\nFor example, I can't lease my place out and then come back to my tennants and say, "Oh by the way, now that you're moved in, I require you to pay $300/mo for gardening service."\n\nRegards