Cable Services
Notice about HGTV and Food Network December 2009
New Charter Cable Bill Format September 2009
Charter Channel Line Up
Charter Channel Website
Low-income senior discount form

Important Update Regarding Changes to the Digital Basic Channel Line-up Taking Effect 9/23/2009:

We are excited to announce that customers with Basic service and a Digital Box can enjoy watching QVC on channel 786. On this same dayKCET-HD will move from channel 786 to 788.

Additionally taking effect are the additions of KCET Orange, V-ME, PBS World on channels 310-312 and KSCI 18.8 on 286.
 

Information about changed to Cable Card and TiVo Customers as of June 2009:
TiVo
Charter Card

Cable service is provided by Charter Communication and billed every month. The City entered into its current cable television franchise on June 28, 1988. The initial term of the agreement is 15 years. Additionally, it provides for an “automatic” 5-year extension, assuming the franchisee is generally performing up to the standards of the agreement. Consequently, the agreement is not likely to be up for renewal until the year 2008.

The franchise agreement with Charter Communications is non-exclusive. In other words, nothing in the agreement prevents other cable operators from offering similar services in the area. Charter Communications is the fourth largest operator of cable television systems in the United States, serving approximately 6.2 million customers after completing current acquisitions. They operate in 40 states, and have more than 13,000 employees. 

Charter Communications determines the cable channel lineup, and, based on guidelines created by the Federal Communications Commission, sets rates. The City of Duarte does not have control over either rates or channel lineup.

Charter Communication offers a full range of traditional cable television services and is launching digital cable television services, interactive video programming, and high-speed Internet access, and is exploring opportunities in telephony. All of these services will be delivered through the far-reaching digital cable network of Charter Communications.

Charges vary depending on the cable television package selected. For more information on Charter Communications’ cable services you can look at their website at www.charter.com.

From the National League of Cities www.nlc.org
Congress Passes Four-Month Extension for Digital Television Transition
by Alisa Blum and Amanda M. Straub
At the beginning of February, Congress passed the DTV Delay Act (S. 328) to push February’s digital television transition back four months to June 12. The Senate passed the bill on January 26, while the House passed the bill on February 4. President Obama has said he will sign the bill once it lands on his desk.

In addition to extending the transition date, the legislation extends the deadline for households to receive coupons for digital converter boxes until July 31 and makes it possible for consumers holding expired converter box coupons to reapply for new coupons. The federal government recently reached its $1.34 billion funding limit for the coupon program, placing nearly 3 million consumers on a waiting list.

The coupon expiration date will also be extended until September 15, as opposed to the previous expiration date of 90 days after the coupons are mailed. Under the new legislation, the federal government can send coupons to applicants either electronically or via first-class mail.

The legislation also gives television stations greater flexibility on ending their analog signals, allowing broadcasters who still want to shut off their analog signals on February 17 the option to do so, subject to approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

According to the FCC, 143 broadcasters have already terminated their analog signals and another 60 plan to do so before February 17. Public safety agencies will be able to use the analog airwaves as soon as they become available.

Last month, the Obama transition team asked Congress to postpone the DTV transition date, as millions of households were on the waiting list for converter box coupons.

According to Nielsen Media Research, 6.5 percent of U.S. households are still unprepared for this government-mandated DTV transition.