The way we watch Television is changing. In part, it is changing because of new expectations of consumers. Rather than scheduling time and putting duties aside to watch the season premier of a favorite show, consumers download their favorite show and watch it when they have time, when and where it is convenient for them. The other cause for the change is the outrageous costs associated with traditional cable TV. Since the inception of HCS your Hometown service provider, we have strived to provide outstanding services with outstanding rates. Unfortunately, federal law allows local U.S. broadcast television stations (i.e. Fox 2, CBS, WGN, etc.) to negotiate with cable and satellite providers in order to obtain 'consent' to carry their broadcast signals (Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992). As a direct result, broadcast fees have become bloated and are passed on to HCS.
We are making adjustments to address both of these drastic changes.
First, we are in the process of developing a new Television Product designed for your convenience. The new product, called VTV or Victory TV, does not require a set top box and is delivered to you over wireless
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connectivity. The application based product is also downloadable on some Smart TVs and mobile devices allowing for ease of watching. DVR and on demand will be included in VTV. We hope to provide the first peak of this product sometime in early to mid summer. Watch for updates on the HCS news page to learn what you can do in advance of the launch to prepare for this new product.
Because this product will reduce the cost of providing TV content to you, we are able to keep our operationg costs to a minimum and absorb the extra fees passed down from the broadcasters. We will continue to do this until it becomes a hardship.
This is where YOU CAN HELP!
1) Go Green: Please sign up to receive your HCS bills via email and pay on line. This further reduces the costs associated with procuring paper, the labor associated with printing and mailing and opening and entering payments. Please call us at 654-1519 or stop in to City Hall if you have questions about going green.
2) While there is little more that HCS or the City of Highland can be done to control the fees passed down to us, you, as a vote, can help.
Below is a memo that you can print and send to your congressperson. Let them know you want broadcast carriage reform.
For more information about the rising cost of cable TV service.
The Honorable Tammy Duckworth
United States Senate
8 South Old State
Capitol Plaza Springfield, IL 62701
Dear Senator Duckworth:
I am a subscriber to television service and I am upset that broadcasters continue to increase the charges for free over-the-air television signals.
Recently, broadcasters in my area have significantly increased the charges to my service provider for the carriage of their signal that is a free service supported by advertising. My service provider has informed me that these charges are causing a hardship. In many of the cases, I cannot receive the broadcast station with an antenna and have received those signals via the service provider. Simply put, the carriage by the service provider instead of my own antenna should not give broadcasters the right to charge a fee for free over-the-air television.
Please help reform broadcast carriage rules so that I as a consumer am not unfairly charged excessive, discriminatory fees.
Sincerely,
Your Name Your Address City, State Zip
Phone and/or Email Address
