Filed FCC Complaint Against Spectrum - limiting streaming channel access to their Internet Service

In case anyone is interested...

Background in a nutshell:

• Spectrum offers a channel through Roku called, yup, the Spectrum Channel.
• The individual channels offered on the Roku Spectrum Channel (RSC) mirror those from the Spectrum Cable Service (S CS space to remove auto hyperlink) EXCEPT, the local channels are grayed out and not accessible through the RSC UNLESS one also subscribes specifically to the Spectrum Internet Service (SIS).
• Spectrum Customer Service, and pop ups when attempting to access these grayed out channels, advise to subscribe to their SIS in order to receive them.
• Researching the internet finds lotsa 'experts' talking about why the local channels are grayed out but nothing I could find on the legalities of it all.

The compliant in a nutshell:

• I looked for statewide agencies and found my recourse was to submit an informal complaint through the FCC.
• In filing the complaint, I asserted:
  • S CS has exclusive rights to provide cable services in this rural area.
  • They force customers to use their SIS in order to have full channel offerings through their RSC.
  • and another way to sum it up - Spectrum does not have exclusive rights to provide Internet Services in this area. Forcing customers to sign up for their SIS to get all channels through the RSC is using their exclusive right to provide cable service to make customer sign up for their SIS.

Contact to date:

• The FCC responded with an email almost immediately and advised on the process:

Thank you for your submission. Based on our review, your Ticket No. ########## was served on your provider on March 18, 2024.

Here's what you can expect from the FCC's informal complaint process:

- Your provider should contact you directly in an effort to resolve your issue.
- The FCC's role in this process is to facilitate a conversation between you and your provider.
- Your provider is required to submit to the FCC a written response regarding your issue no later than 30 days from today.
- The FCC will not contact you until we receive a response from your provider.

You can view a list of frequently asked questions about the informal complaint process at: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/205082880.

• They, Charter/Spectrum, made three attempts (2 calls and an email) yesterday. 3/28/24, for my complaint filed 3/18/24.
• I left a message this morning with a small window of non-availability. They were courteous to call me back outside this window.
• I spoke with a representative. He was knowledgeable about my complaint. He explained the reason for graying out the channels was due to their IP addresses and the need for SIS to carry the IP addresses. I asked for clarification in that how can the hundreds of channels that do come through differ from the ones that don't. He said he didn't know but that he could research and get back to me.
• I then asked for the federal regulation that allows Spectrum to restrict streaming local channels to only their own Internet Service to which he said they would research.
• We concluded that I should hear something back by tomorrow. I said tomorrow was Saturday and he replied they work 24/7.

I'll update here as the process moves along.

 

Good luck. I mean that in a genuine way too.

I'm at a point where I only use Youtube. Because as of now, it's "free".
And the majority of the time, it's watching DIY videos.

Unless someone mentions something to me about the "outside world", I'm oblivious.
It cost too much money to "be informed to the point of total confusion".

I gave up about 5 years ago, No more "TV" for me.

 

Free TV = OTA (Over The Air)

We had a place a few years ago where we had excellent OTA options. The place had an antique but small antenna I hooked up and found a bunch of free OTA channels. No need for cable. The quality was unmatched because you're getting the signal straight from the source. No compression and processing through cable systems. Football games were amazing to the point of counting blades of grass/fake grass...

If you're inclined and in an area that might have reception, check this link out to see what might be available:
https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps

I hate paying for cable and the mandatory set top boxes.. I'm willing to pay for the streaming channels but not their internet service.

 

Contact #2:

• Spectrum called on Sunday to which I did not answer. I left a message this morning commending/giving condolences they had to work on Easter and that I would be available after 5pm EDT.
• Spoke with another representative who read the notes from my first call. Stated the IP address issue was due to Spectrums need to ensure I was at home when viewing the local channels. I informed them my provider can tell if I'm at my address, why couldn't I allow Spectrum to 'read' that same info. He went down some technical tunnel to which I had no response.
• I asked about the regulartory framework that allowed Spectrum to limit full streaming channels to their own internet service and the representative attempted to bring this back to my terms of service with them. I redirected him that I wanted to know about Spectrum's license with the FCC and providing service to rural areas. What regulation allows them to limit all streaming channels to only their internet service. He couldn't speak directly to that and would have some addtional information after researching further.
• During the course of the conversation, I informed him I have several friends who are Spectrum Internet subscribers who pay only for their streaming service for all channels and that I would like to do so too. But can't. Because I'm not a Spectrum Internet subscriber.
• He said he would like to close my ticket and I asked again about the regulatory framework. I can expect another contact...

Yeah, I'm sounding like a crazy person. Stay tuned if interested.