Laserfiche WebLink
77 <br /> <br />individual channels that it does not constitute a realistic set of <br />service choice because subscribers will not have any realistic <br />options other than subscribing to the package. <br /> <br /> The total price for the 31 channels removed from the regulated tiers of service if <br />purchased at the per channel rate would be $15.97. When $15.97 is added to the current <br />basic cable rate of $8.70 the total is $24.67. In addition, a subscriber must lease from <br />Adelphia "a sophisticated piece of electronic equipment locate don the cable line outside" a <br />subscriber's home ("CableSelect Box") if that subscriber wishes to select only a portion of the <br />a la carte channels available. The monthly fee for the CableSelect Box is $6.00. If, however, <br />the subscriber chooses one of the packages (CableValue or CablePlus) of a la carte channels <br />made available by Adelphia, the CableSelect Box is not required thereby eliminating the <br />$6.00 monthly charge. Thus, taking into consideration the entire price paid by a subscriber, <br />including rental of the CableSelect Box, Adelphia's package price represents a deep discount <br />compared to the price of an individual channel. This does not constitute a realistic set of <br />service choice because of the heavy equipment charge which subscribers face if they do not <br />purchase the package. <br /> <br />4. The channels taken from regulated tiers have not traditionally <br /> been marketed "a la carte." <br /> <br /> Prior to April 1, 1993, not one of the non-premium channels currently offered on an "a <br />la carte" basis had ever been marketed separate from a regulated service tier, nor had <br />Adelphia marketed such channels as "a la carte" channels. <br /> <br />5. An entire regulated tier has been eliminated and turned into an <br /> a la carte package. <br /> <br /> As described above, Adelphia has completely eliminated two regulated tiers of service <br />which existed prior to April 1, 1993, and converted each tier into "a la carte" channels, then <br />created packages of those a la carte channels to be marketed to customers. <br /> <br />6. The subscriber must pay a significant equipment charge to purchase <br /> an individual channel in the package. <br /> <br /> As identified in the response to number 3 above, subscribers must pay a monthly fee of <br />$6.00 to obtain a "CableSelect Box" should they choose to purchase an indMdual a la carte <br />channel rather than a package of a la carte channels. <br /> <br />7. The subscriber must pay a "downgrade" charge (an additional charge) <br /> to purchase an individual channel in the package. <br /> <br /> Neither Adelphia's FCC Form 1215 submission to the City nor Adelphia's response to <br />follow up questions provide information in response to question six (6) of Form 1215. <br />Therefore the City has no way of identifying applicable downgrade charges. <br /> <br /> 8. The "a la carte" package includes channels that were removed fi-om <br /> lower tiers of channels, so that subscribers to those lower tiers are <br /> required to buy one or more intermediate tiers in order to receive <br /> the same channels. <br /> Adelphia did not remove any channels from the basis service tier. Rather, Adelphia <br />eliminated the two regulated tiers of service which previously existed above the basis service <br />tier placing the channels from those two tiers in an a la carte format. Therefore, customers <br />which formerly subscribed to one of the two tiers above the basic tier were forced to <br />purchase "a la carte" channels or packages of"a la carte" channels in order to receive the <br />same channels. Since 24,117 system wide customers now subscribe to the CableValue <br />package and 17,742 system wide customers now subscribe to the CablePlus package, it <br />appears subscribers have been required to buy a la carte packages in order to receive the <br />same channels. <br /> <br /> <br />