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Facts About Cable Television Rates

Channel Packages or "Tiers"

Cable TV companies offer TV channels in packages known as "tiers." Some cable channels may also be sold individually. Common names for channel packages are:
Basic

 Digital

 

 Digital Silver
Expanded Basic

 

 Digital Plus

 

 Digital Gold
Standard

 

 Digital Classic

 

 Digital Platinum

 

All cable companies are required to offer their customers a "basic service" tier which includes local broadcast channels and public, educational and government (PEG) access channels. Federal law allows cable companies to include additional channels in the basic service tier. All subscribers are required to buy the basic service tier as a condition of buying any other cable channel or channel package.

Rate Regulation

The price you pay for the basic service tier portion of your cable service, as well as some reception equipment such as converters, may be regulated by The City of Oakland. The City may regulate the basic service tier using rules set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which establish a "benchmark" rate based on many factors including the number of subscribers and the number of channels offered on the basic tier.

Under Federal law, the City of Oakland cannot regulate rates for premium services (HBO, Showtime, ETC…), individual pay channel packages, or pay-per-view programs.

Know Your Rights - Get the Facts

If you feel your cable company has not provided you with full information concerning the availability of a basic service tier, or you wish to file a complaint regarding cable service, please contact the City of Oakland, Office of The City Clerk, Cable Franchise Authority. Or you can write to:
Office of The City Clerk
Cable Franchise Authority
1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
2nd Floor, Oakland, CA. 94612
Telephone 510-238-3567 or
email cablefranchise@oaklandnet.com

 

Note: The Telecommunication Act of 1996 will significantly change how cable television companies are regulated. The information on the City of Oakland webpage will change as new regulations are adopted by the FCC. Find out more about your rights by visiting the FCC web site at: www.fcc.gov or by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)