From: andy@cmptrc.lonestar.org (Andy Hart)
Subject: Re: Cablevision lies
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 05:35:05 GMT
Distribution: USA
Organization: CompuTrac Inc., Richardson TX

  First of all, I would like to apologize to any innocent bystanders who
  may have been offended by some of the language in my last post.  I should
  have made my response via email.  I don't apologize to those flamers who
  feel that it's OK to make unprovoked personal attacks in order to get their
  jollies and I stand by my psychological (and scatalogical) assessment of
  you.  Oh, and thank you Mr. Reimer for the garbage post.  Maybe I should 
  spend my vacation writing a shell script to respond in kind and in great
  and unending volume.  I'll wait and see.

  'nuff said.

  The purpose of my original post before I spontaneously degenerated into 
  anti-cable invective was to inquire about the details of the "re-regulation"
  of the cable industry that I've heard about.

  Yes, it's true that poorly hooked up equipment can degrade the cable 
  signal strength.  I DO think that the extent to which this actually happens
  is exagerrated by cable companies.  I DO think it's fair for "power" users
  to pay for the cost of additional equipment AND for installation unless
  the user is capable of successfully doing it themselves.  It's been my 
  experience, however, that if your cabling is good with no signal leaks 
  it's generally not necessary to install video signal amplifiers.

  The real problem, as I see it, is that franchised monopolies have no 
  real incentive to worry about customer service.  Sure, they're going to
  soak the market for all it will bear.  That doesn't mean I have to like it,
  or think that they're giving me my money's worth.  Every time it rains 
  (and it has rained alot this year) my cable reception goes sour for 
  several days.  This Texas clay soaks it up and gets into their underground
  cable.  I've raised hell with them over and over and it's marginally 
  acceptable, but it sure wasn't easy.  It's very frustrating to invest
  in a quality system and to get that kind of cable signal for that amount
  of money.  When I have the room for a dish, you bet I'll get one.

  Until then, I'll put up with cable.  Those who responded and said "Yeah,
  but you're paying for it!"  are absolutely right.  The price hasn't 
  reached that point where I'm ready to have them take it out.  That doesn't
  mean that I'm getting my money's worth.  It just means that I have the 
  disposable income to bear it.  I feel sorry for the guy working down at
  the What-a-burger making dirt wages.


  -- Andy 

  Disclaimer:  My opinions are my own.  If you don't care for them, pls 
	       feel free to disagree.  If you can't do that without being
	       a bonehead, pls disagree somewhere else.

-- 
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
|   Andrew Hart                   |  CompuTrac, Inc.                 |
|   (214) 234-4241                |  222 Municipal Drive             |
|   andy@cmptrc.lonestar.org      |  Richardson, TX  75080           |
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Xref: sparky rec.video.cable-tv:1439 misc.consumers:16602 alt.cable-tv.re-regulate:302