FCC TV regulations

Many rates recharged by cable businesses aren't controlled because of the FCC. Neighborhood franchising authority - the city, county or other government company authorized by the condition to modify cable tv service - may manage the price for "basic" cable solution, however it is not required to take action. The prices you pay for various other cable programming and solutions, such as for instance extended cable channel bundles, premium movie channels and pay-per-view sports events, are set by your cable television provider.

General billing standards

The FCC features criteria directed at improving the quality of customer service supplied by cable companies. Even though requirements were issued because of the FCC, neighborhood franchising authorities enforce all of them. The requirements for payment tend to be:

• Your cable company must supply 30 days notice of every changes in rates, programming solutions or station opportunities, if the change is within the control over the organization. Notice are given written down and through notices from the cable system.
• Cable businesses may itemize in your bill showing any team cost the cable business pays for the right to run a cable system in that area; any charge for general public, academic, and governmental access stations; and any other governmental income tax or charge.
• Refunds should be granted either by your after that payment cycle, or within thirty day period following quality for the request, whichever is earlier. If you should be canceling your solution, your refund flow from whenever you get back the equipment.
• In the event of any credits, the cable organization must use all of them no later on compared to the after that payment pattern.

Your local franchising authority can answer questions about late fees.

Fundamental level service

Cable systems generally must offer a "basic level" of programming which must be included for several readers before they buy any additional programming. The basic service level must include many neighborhood broadcast stations, including any general public, academic and governmental stations required by the franchise agreement amongst the neighborhood franchising authority along with your cable business.

In general, if a cable company increases its rates when it comes to fundamental solution level, the neighborhood franchising expert may review it to verify it precisely reflects increases in cable business's prices that cable providers can move across to customers. The local franchising expert is also authorized to enforce FCC guidelines and tips within the following areas:

• Customer service: complaints about bills, or a cable operator's reaction to questions about alert high quality or service requests (discover more at );
• Franchise fees, which the cable organization pays the neighborhood franchising expert the to access public rights-of-way available cable service.

Additional service tiers

The prices regarding tier of solution beyond the essential tier, including pay-per-channel programming (for example., a premium motion picture station), pay-per-program services (in other words., a pay-per-view recreations occasion) and "a la carte" solutions aren't controlled. Your cable organization determines the rates charged of these services, though it is neither required to offer them, nor prohibited from doing so.

Your cable business cannot require you to buy any service level besides the standard solution tier to get access to pay-per-view activities or advanced networks supplied on an "a la carte" or specific basis.

Complaints and questions

You could contact your cable supplier or your neighborhood franchising expert with grievances or questions regarding customer service, fundamental service level rates or franchise fees.

The local franchising authority’s title, target and contact number ought to be noted on your cable supply bill. Cable companies must make provision for that information, unless your local franchising expert requests so it never be supplied. The name of one's regional franchising authority in addition is into the phone book.

Speak to your cable organization with any complaints about rates for tiers of service other than the fundamental solution level and any pay-per-channel programming and pay-per-program services.

• OTA TV stations
• DTV air channels
• ATSC frequencies
• UHF Reception
• OTA stations