I Don’t Pay for Cable

(A note about this post.  It was delayed two days due to the fact I had no internet access because of the Broadstripe “high speed” internet outage)

Why is Seattle – a center for information technology and digital media – serviced by a third-rate cable company like Broadstripe?

The past five years I have been underserved and absolutely frustrated by Brownstripe (formerly Millennium) Cable.  Their prices are outrageous, their service pathetic, their product outdated.  Broadcrap sucks.

They are so bad, all customers I know that have Browncrap, actually wish they had Comcast.  Brownstripe is the worst service provider PERIOD.

Last week the FCC pulled the plug on analog broadcast.  Someone should tell Brownstripe.  Barely outpacing over-the-air broadcast, Broadcrap now offers a grand total of 32 stations in HD – that’s if the HD channels work, which is infrequent at best.  The NOT in HD channel listing includes such standards as HBO, CNN, Bravo, Travel Channel, and Comedy Central.

I am writing this post because I am advocating for the City of Seattle to nullify its agreement with Browncrap Cable.  For this to happen, Broadcrap customers do need to become vocal. . . and there is incentive for doing this.  You see, I haven’t paid for cable in 3 months.

Brownstripe’s service is so poor and their outages so consistent, that the company has no choice but to provide full months of credit.  I have enlisted the help of the City of Seattle Office of Cable Communications and provide regular updates via email to Councilmember Bruce Harrell and the Cable Office.  The Cable Office in turn advocates for me in accordance to the Cable Customer Bill of Rights and makes sure I receive the credits I deserve as specified in the bill.  Over the past 3 months, these issues have equated to full credit . . . meaning no charge.

So if you are subject to Brownstripe’s crap service, you too may be entitled to free cable.

For years cable providers had been able to operate as monopolies, providing them opportunity for artificially inflated profits.  Yet, Broadcrap is so incompetent, in an environment that practically guarantees success, the company had to file bankruptcy.

What most people don’t know is these monopolies no longer exist in Seattle. Previously, cable companies bought licenses that allowed them to be the sole provider of cable to a specific area of the city.  However, according to Michael Jerrett, Staff Member for City Councilmember Bruce Harrell, a few years back Seattle ended all such cable monopolies.  The issue is these monopolies created a legacy effect, establishing a barrier to a true open market and customer choice.  The two primary issues are:

1. Competing cable companies do not own infrastructure to deliver service in the same areas.
2. Building managers, believing that their property were subject to service by a monopoly service provider, signed long-term non-compete contracts.

Where does this leave the consumer?  In my opinion with opportunity and incentive to make change.

Incentive – by simply providing updates about the piss poor service of Browncrap Cable to the appropriate people, you could receive free cable until Browncrap is forced out of town.

Opportunity – since Seattle no longer permits cable monopolies, Broadcrap must perform at levels as defined in their service level agreements (SLAs) found in the various agreements with building managers.  If they don’t, the non-compete may be legally terminated, opening the opportunity for competition.  Additionally, Tony Perez, the Director of the Office of Cable Communications, informed me that each year the city does an audit of each provider.  If it is found that a provider continually violates the Bill of Rights, the city could severe its contract with the provider.

This week, my building manager sent a letter to Brownstripe outlining several violations of the SLA with our building.  They have 60 days to fix these issues or the agreement is nullified.  One primary issue is the SLA states that Broadcrap Cable is to provide 24 x 7 technical assistant.  Its difficult to provide round the clock technical service when your offices actually close.  At 7PM PST M – F, 5PM PST Saturday, and all day Sunday, Broadcrap is closed.  During these hours, a customer’s only option is to leave a message with an answering service.  My bet is on Brownstripe not being able to implement 24 x 7 technical assistance within the next 60 days.

Once the non-compete is severed, Comcast has stated they are willing to make the infrastructure investment to bring service to our building.

If you don’t want to be held hostage by Browncrap Cable, if you are interested in potentially not having to pay a cable bill for a few months, if you simply want to have your rights, as a consumer, to choice in service providers, follow this four-step program:

1. Anytime you have an issue, you need to log it at Broadcrap’s tech assistance: 800-829-2225.
2. Once logged, immediately communicate the issue to the Seattle Office of Cable Communications.  You will need to email Brenda Tate, Customer Advocate, and cc Tony Perez, Director.  Additionally, you should cc Bruce Harrell, the City Councilmember responsible for the Browncrap agreement with the city (ironically, if I had won the City Council seat, I would’ve owned the agreement.
3. Contact your building manager.  Detail the issues you have with Broadcrap and ask if the building has a non-compete signed with Brownstripe.  If they do, see if they will advocate on your behalf regarding their inability to meet their SLA.
4. Contact Comcast.  They need to make sure there is an ROI for any capital outlay of bringing the cable to the building, so the more they hear from potential subscribers, the better.  The best contacts are John Harvey Commercial Sales Manager and Gary Maisel Director of New Business

Repeat this program every time there is an issue (which is often).

Good luck.  With a few phone calls, some follow-up emails, and, possibly, a few months of free cable, Seattle could be removed from the tyranny of Browncrap Cable.