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CWA: Comcast Should Focus on Quality Service, Not a Disney Power Grab
Latest independent analysis documents more than 40,000 electrical code violations in metro Detroit; Comcast cited in other jurisdictions
The Communications Workers of America and leading community and consumer advocates in Detroit called on city officials today to force Comcast Communications to live up to the cable television franchise agreement it signed with the city.
Comcast's latest failure to provide quality service to customers and communities was documented in an independent technical audit, released today, that spotlights more than 40,000 electrical and electrical safety code violations that have been committed by Comcast and that threaten home safety throughout the Detroit community. About 110,000 Detroit residents subscribe to Comcast service.
On hand for the Detroit report release were consumer advocate Esther Shapiro, Clarence Brogden of Michigan's Jobs with Justice coalition and representatives of the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO.
The Detroit study is the latest in a growing number of communities that are concerned about safety violations, poor service quality and the price hikes their citizens are facing. Among them:
* A technical audit in Baltimore uncovered Comcast's failure "to meet at least one parameter of the Federal Communications Commission's technical performance standards" -- pertaining to signal level, noise level or other disturbances -- or the National Electric Code. The audit also found "ingress interference from local stations¡Kin the distribution plant at most locations," with the degree of interference ranging from slight to severe;
* A report by Columbia Telecommunications Corp., for Prince Georges County, Md., found "715 violations in the portions of the cable system we inspected" in the third quarter of 2003;
* In Modesto, Calif., the city council hit Comcast with stiff daily fines and back penalties of more than $1 million last year, because the company missed deadlines to properly ground the lines into 19 percent of Modesto homes, despite repeated warnings.
In Detroit, a 173-page independent analysis was conducted by Kramer.Firm, Inc., which specializes in telecommunications issues. The report was commissioned by the Communications Workers of America, which represents about 2,000 workers at Comcast facilities nationwide and about 52 workers in the city of Detroit. The report was released at a 2 p.m. news conference outside the Comcast payment center at 7747 West Vernor Street in Detroit.
Many of these violations are extremely serious and can cause fires and electric shocks, yet Comcast refuses to acknowledge its service shortcomings and the dangerous conditions that exist in the Detroit community, said CWA Representative Shannon Kirkland.
"It's time for city officials to hold Comcast accountable, not only for dangerous and shoddy wiring that can cause serious problems for consumers, but for the continuing price increases that customers face while service and quality decline," he said.
Kirkland cited a report by the Consumer Federation of America that found that nationwide, cable customers are overcharged by $4.5 to $6 billion every year.
Detroit Comcast customers historically have paid more for cable services than suburban residents, he pointed out. Since 1998, Comcast has been cited by city officials and regulators for overcharging for cable equipment and services.
"Instead of gouging customers, Comcast should be investing more in plant and equipment in cities like Detroit. It's up to our elected officials to make sure Comcast carries out
its promises. Until now, city leaders have been reluctant to challenge Comcast to do what's right. We're here today to say it's time to hold Comcast accountable," he said.
Comcast is required to comply with the safety laws as defined in the National Electrical Code and National Electrical Safety Code, the report noted. Among the report's findings:
* At least 40 percent of subscriber drops -- the connections to customers' homes -- are not properly grounded, or don't meet other NEC standards.
* Clearance requirements from other utility lines, including power lines and telephone, are not being met.
* Construction cleanup work is incomplete and will require 12-18 months to properly complete.
Comcast should make its entire outside cable plant system code compliant and should conduct and reinforce the needed technical training for its field staff on the requirements of the national electrical standards, the analysis stressed.
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The full Detroit report and more information about Comcast is available at www.comcastwatch.com. CWA represents more than 700,000 workers in telecommunications and information technology; print, broadcast and cable media; higher education, health care and public service; airlines and manufacturing.
The Communications Workers of America and leading community and consumer advocates in Detroit called on city officials today to force Comcast Communications to live up to the cable television franchise agreement it signed with the city.
Comcast's latest failure to provide quality service to customers and communities was documented in an independent technical audit, released today, that spotlights more than 40,000 electrical and electrical safety code violations that have been committed by Comcast and that threaten home safety throughout the Detroit community. About 110,000 Detroit residents subscribe to Comcast service.
On hand for the Detroit report release were consumer advocate Esther Shapiro, Clarence Brogden of Michigan's Jobs with Justice coalition and representatives of the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO.
The Detroit study is the latest in a growing number of communities that are concerned about safety violations, poor service quality and the price hikes their citizens are facing. Among them:
* A technical audit in Baltimore uncovered Comcast's failure "to meet at least one parameter of the Federal Communications Commission's technical performance standards" -- pertaining to signal level, noise level or other disturbances -- or the National Electric Code. The audit also found "ingress interference from local stations¡Kin the distribution plant at most locations," with the degree of interference ranging from slight to severe;
* A report by Columbia Telecommunications Corp., for Prince Georges County, Md., found "715 violations in the portions of the cable system we inspected" in the third quarter of 2003;
* In Modesto, Calif., the city council hit Comcast with stiff daily fines and back penalties of more than $1 million last year, because the company missed deadlines to properly ground the lines into 19 percent of Modesto homes, despite repeated warnings.
In Detroit, a 173-page independent analysis was conducted by Kramer.Firm, Inc., which specializes in telecommunications issues. The report was commissioned by the Communications Workers of America, which represents about 2,000 workers at Comcast facilities nationwide and about 52 workers in the city of Detroit. The report was released at a 2 p.m. news conference outside the Comcast payment center at 7747 West Vernor Street in Detroit.
Many of these violations are extremely serious and can cause fires and electric shocks, yet Comcast refuses to acknowledge its service shortcomings and the dangerous conditions that exist in the Detroit community, said CWA Representative Shannon Kirkland.
"It's time for city officials to hold Comcast accountable, not only for dangerous and shoddy wiring that can cause serious problems for consumers, but for the continuing price increases that customers face while service and quality decline," he said.
Kirkland cited a report by the Consumer Federation of America that found that nationwide, cable customers are overcharged by $4.5 to $6 billion every year.
Detroit Comcast customers historically have paid more for cable services than suburban residents, he pointed out. Since 1998, Comcast has been cited by city officials and regulators for overcharging for cable equipment and services.
"Instead of gouging customers, Comcast should be investing more in plant and equipment in cities like Detroit. It's up to our elected officials to make sure Comcast carries out
its promises. Until now, city leaders have been reluctant to challenge Comcast to do what's right. We're here today to say it's time to hold Comcast accountable," he said.
Comcast is required to comply with the safety laws as defined in the National Electrical Code and National Electrical Safety Code, the report noted. Among the report's findings:
* At least 40 percent of subscriber drops -- the connections to customers' homes -- are not properly grounded, or don't meet other NEC standards.
* Clearance requirements from other utility lines, including power lines and telephone, are not being met.
* Construction cleanup work is incomplete and will require 12-18 months to properly complete.
Comcast should make its entire outside cable plant system code compliant and should conduct and reinforce the needed technical training for its field staff on the requirements of the national electrical standards, the analysis stressed.
###
The full Detroit report and more information about Comcast is available at www.comcastwatch.com. CWA represents more than 700,000 workers in telecommunications and information technology; print, broadcast and cable media; higher education, health care and public service; airlines and manufacturing.