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 jslikThat just happenedPremium
join:2006-03-17 | reply to jazzlady
Re: Covering cost vs profit said by jazzlady:So, is it fair for a local government to apply a "cable franchise fee" on top of already high cable bills to pay for pork projects?
Pocono Township, PA now charges us such a fee to pay for some pet projects that we suckers (taxpayers) had no say on.
Who exactly elected your representatives?
The franchise fee isn't a fee you pay to your local government...you pay it to your provider. They don't have to pass that fee along. You don't see a pass-through amount itemized for, say ESPN, do you?
Also, you're going to pay whatever amount of that franchise fee is to somebody, whether that's your local government or your provider...
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If they told you wolverines make good house pets, would you believe them? | |
| said by jslik:said by jazzlady:So, is it fair for a local government to apply a "cable franchise fee" on top of already high cable bills to pay for pork projects?
Pocono Township, PA now charges us such a fee to pay for some pet projects that we suckers (taxpayers) had no say on.
The franchise fee isn't a fee you pay to your local government...you pay it to your provider. They don't have to pass that fee along. You don't see a pass-through amount itemized for, say ESPN, do you? Then why is it itemized on my bill as "Pocono Township Cable Franchise Fee"?
It most certainly is a fee imposed by, and for the benefit, of the municipality. They threatened to do this, and they got away with it. Who was going to stop them?
And it doesn't matter who you elect to represent you- they will all screw you. | |
jslikThat just happenedPremium
join:2006-03-17 | said by jazzlady: Then why is it itemized on my bill as "Pocono Township Cable Franchise Fee"?
It most certainly is a fee imposed by, and for the benefit, of the municipality. They threatened to do this, and they got away with it. Who was going to stop them?
And it doesn't matter who you elect to represent you- they will all screw you.
It is itemized because the feds have allowed the providers to do so. The franchise fee is the rent cities charge for use of the right-of-way. Your city/township is not obligated to charge any fee for its use.
However, as I said, you're going to pay that amount anyway. Cable HSI service was also subject to the fee until 2002 when the FCC ruled it a information service. So, yes, the bill did go down for about 6 months, then went right back up to the old amount. As far as cable tv, your provider already figures in all fees and charges in setting the price point, so even if they didn't have to pay the fee, the price point would still be the same.
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If they told you wolverines make good house pets, would you believe them? | | |
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