[mythtv-users] Cox Communications has turned off Firewire output

[Brian Wood]

David Brodbeck wrote:
> On Aug 27, 2007, at 8:22 PM, Daniel Kristjansson wrote:
> 
>> On Mon, 2007-08-27 at 17:03 -0700, Tom Greer wrote:
>>> Cox Communications in Orange County, CA has disabled the IEEE1394
>>> output on all of their cable boxes.
>>>
>>> I promptly informed him that I was going to file a complaint with the
>>> FCC - and immediately start the process of switching my telephone,
>>> internet provider and cable TV service elsewhere.
>> Don't drop them yet, you may lose standing. Also the FCC isn't really
>> keen on enforcing any law against cable companies or broadcasters,
>> they file complaints by non-multi-million dollar donors, not about
>> an exposed breast, in the circular file. Orange County probably has
>> a Public Service Commission, contact them and also contact the
>> California PSC. The PSC's have the ability to forbid Cox from  
>> operating
>> in Orange County or California, resp. And these local entities are
>> often not in the pocket of the cable operator and will often get
>> brazenly illegal policies such as this reversed in a matter of hours.
> 
> Seconded.
> 
> The thing to keep in mind is that, while the FCC has a lot of power  
> over broadcast media, their power over media that goes over private  
> infrastructure is relatively weak.  Your local public service  
> commission probably has more influence over your local cable  
> company.  In smaller towns it may be the city council itself you want  
> to talk to.  Either way, some entity has signed a franchise agreement  
> with the cable company allowing them to operate as a monopoly in your  
> area.  Often these agreements contain requirements the cable company  
> has to meet, like providing low-cost basic service or funding a  
> public access channel.  Firewire access is probably too new an issue  
> to be included, but if you talk to the right people and educate them,  
> maybe you can get them to push for it next time the agreement is  
> renewed.

A lot of franchise agreements have clauses requiring "all applicable FCC
regulations" to be adhered to, so that should cover firewire even
without a specific reference in the agreement.

BEWW