Time Warner and Greensboro’s lobbyist

Time Warner's HBO fee upsets customers

 

Time Warner Cable has notified HBO subscribers in the Triad that beginning Sept. 30 they will need a digital cable box for each television set to view the premium movie channel.

 

The cable company says that by moving HBO from its analog roster to its digital channel list, it is freeing up more cable space to add high-definition channels.

 

But some subscribers say it’s a way to force them to pay $8.95 a month to rent a box for each TV in the house.

 

After Sept. 30, the only way [customers will] be able to watch HBO on other TV sets is to have a cable box for each set.

 

Time Warner said the move is not intended to inflict hardship on customers.

 

Richard M. Barron

Greensboro News and Record, August 13, 2009

 

On July 2, 2009, George Hartzman asked:

 

How can Greensboro’s City Council justify the continued employment of a lobbyist who represents a monopolistic cable interest, which just tried to raise internet rates, that represents the City of Greensboro at the same time?

 

What were the lobbyist’s coincident positions on raising internet rates while working for the city and the cable interest simultaneously?

 

Greensboro Mayor Yvonne Johnson probed city staff on May 19

about an allegation that the city’s lobbyist

…also represents the cable industry

 

…the NC Lobbying Compliance Division

 

lists [the City of Greensboro’s Lobbyist] as an active lobbyist

for both the NC Association of Broadcasters

and the NC Cable Telecommunications Association

 

Greensboro lobbyist also represents cable industry

Yes Weekly, May 27, 2009