FCC's Martin fines nine carriers on his way out the door
By Steven Kim 
posted January 21st 2009 6:09PM
posted January 21st 2009 6:09PM
On the eve of his resignation, now-former FCC chairman Kevin Martin got in one last shot against nine of the biggest cable companies -- including Comcast, Time Warner, Cox and Charter -- to the tune of $25,000 each. Citing the MSOs (Multiple System Operators) for failing to respond to the FCC's investigation of how they moved channels from analog to digital tiers, additional fines were then added on, bringing the total damages to all nine companies to a cool $510,000. Top honors go to Time Warner, which racked up a $137,000 bill. Wielding his poisoned pen, Martin wrote that the actions of the MSOs "... exhibits contempt for the FCC's authority," and by forcing customers to pay for digital set-top boxes, "... customers have been receiving less from the cable companies but paying the same price." Strong words, but would we wouldn't expect anything less from the FCC chairman who oversaw some of the biggest changes in telco this country's seen.[Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
I hate to say it, but he's right. Most MSOs are getting away with murder with how they treat their customers. But I know we will pay for these fines one way or another.
Why not force them to do something instead of making them pay fines? Such as more HD channels? Or NOT RIP ME OFF
exactly. They should risk losing their franchise in a city when they keep ripping off customers and ignoring the FCC/laws.
He is my hero. Good job Mr. Martin!
Great, fine them...so they increase our rates to pay for said fines, yet again driving up costs. We have to pay for set-tops, get less channels, and now pay the fines because of that...where does it stop?
Good thing I get HD/DVR DirecTV every month!
I despise cable! Garbage equipment, retard techs, and slack programming!
If they hike the rate cost of those fine, I say ditch them.