$1.99 a Month Adapter Fee is "Straw That Breaks The Camel's Back"

The North Suburban Communications Commission is asking Comcast to refile its latest rate fee request and remove some some charges from its application.

The Commission adopted its rate order last week at its meeting last week asking Comcast to "refile its 2012 FCC Form 120 with the commission andto recalucate the rates for basic-onlyand non-basic-ony standard definition and high definition converter boxes.

The Commission also wants Comcast "to removed regulated equipmnt costsfrom the HD technology fee, the HD DVR  service fee and the digital transport adapter additonal outlet service fee and to eliminate  the $5.99 and $1.99 (a month) convenience fees.

Comcast has 30 days to refile a revised rate form. Or it can appeal the NSCC's decision to the Federal Communications Commission and ask for a stay on community-based alliance implmenting its rate order, Wilson said. 

In an interview this week with Roseville Patch, Commission Executive Director Coralie Wilson said the NSCC is asking Comcast to file its rate requests because it believes the cable TV provider has incorrectly calculated rates, starting to blur and fudge the lines between service and equipment fees. that the 

For example, Wilson noted that many subscribers who had been getting the DTAs at no charge saw their" rates increase in January by $1.99 per DTA. She said the commission office has gotten at least a dozen complaints about the new fee.   

While the $1.99 a month digital tranport adapter fee may not seem like much money, Wilson said, "This was the straw that broke the camel's back. It is one more anomolous fee that people don't know what it is for." 

Wilson added these kind of fees are significant because the revenue quickly adds up for the cable companies. For Comcast, which has about 30,000 subscribers in the NSCC's 10-city area, the income could reach upwards of $60,000 a month.

Wilson noted that one Internet website reported that Comcast stands to reap about $46 million in annual income from DTA fees  across the nation.

The North Suburban Communications Commission serves the cities of Arden Hills Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Little Canada, Mounds View New Brighton, North Oaks, Roseville, St. Anthony and Shoreview.