Windjammer Cable - No CableCards

[mjlaris]

I recently moved and my new cable company, Windjammer Cable, says that they don't offer CableCARDS in this area. My reading of the Telecommunications act of 1996 is that cable companies are required by law to offer CableCards "for a reasonable fee". Has anyone here encountered a similar problem with a cable company?

I argued with them for a couple months and then filed a complaint with the FCC a month ago; the were served with it 2 days ago and, the FCC tells me, they have until July 8 (30 days) in which to respond to both me and the FCC.

Mark

[richard1980]

The only way they can get around not offering a CableCARD is to not encrypt anything (broadcast all content as either analog or ClearQAM). But you did the right thing by complaining to the FCC. I'd be surprised if the cable company didn't have CableCARDs....I'm betting the people you talked to just didn't know anything. Ignorance seems to be fairly common among customer service people.

[makryger]

Heres from their website. http://www.windjammercable.com/customer ... /cablecard
Cost is $1.75, but it does say "not all services available in all areas". But yes, you are right, by law they are required to offer cable cards. In fact, in the next few months, by law, they will be required to either install cablecards for free, or let you pick them up for free.

If hounding them yourself doesn't work, I find that Jeremy Hammer at Ceton can be a very effective person at getting them to give you a card. (They don't call him the Hammer for nothing!)

[Scallica]

Cable providers sometimes use misinformation to avoid dealing with CableCard requests. I'm glad you didn't take the bait and filed a complaint. Please let us know how things work out. Good luck.

[gpatlanta]

So, what happened? Did you get a response?

I just noticed this thread and it is now past your response time.

[rbmorse]

Either he got his cable card or Windjammer sent Vinnie and Butch out to have a "word" with him.