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from: MultiChannel News

Connecticut Legislature to Ponder Cable Bills

The Connecticut General Assembly’s Energy & Technology Committee postponed a hearing on two bills related to cable television service and signal quality, but legislators promise the issues will be addressed.

The hearing, originally scheduled for Feb. 13, will address two bills introduced by State Sen. Andrew Roraback (R-Goshen), who was lobbied by a contingent of dissatisfied customers. The brouhaha started last summer when Cablevision moved some analog channels to digital. The Litchfield Cable Television Advisory Council's (CTAC) started the crusade. Stephen Simonin, a former cable systems engineer, claimed Cablevision is also denigrating its signal quality to make room for Internet and phone signals on its network. Cablevision denies the allegation.

“Mr. Simonin continues to make erroneous and incorrect statements regarding Cablevision’s network, products and business motivations, including the allegation that our video service is being negatively impacted by our voice and Internet products when -- by design -- more than 98% of our network capacity is being devoted to our cable television service,” spokesman Jim Maiella said. “We understand that some customers have concerns over the move that is occurring across the cable industry from analog to digital, and when we have migrated channels from one format to the other -- most recently in the case of Turner Classic Movies -- we have offered benefits to ease in the transition.”

Meanwhile, the state attorney general’s office stepped into the fray to keep things on an even playing field, according to the Litchfield Enquirer. Cablevision is in the process of renewing its contract in Litchfield and attorney general Richard Blumenthal told the paper that “this proceeding provides a very significant opportunity to hold the cable company accountable and ask some very tough questions." He acknowledged to the paper that Cablevision’s service could use some improvement, but noted its service record is no different from other cable companies operating in the state.