In New York City, because of rules that allow a few companies to monopolize cable TV services, residents are held hostage, unable to access their favorite television shows when fee disputes happen between cable providers and television networks. Similar to what is allowed with the delivery of electric and gas utilities via Con Edison-maintained infrastructure, unrestricted cable TV competition must be allowed, so that any licensed cable TV provider can access the cable infrastructure currently monopolized by a few companies, and thereby allow real cable TV choice that empowers every single resident, who then would be able to easily change service when dissatisfied with their cable TV provider.
Why is this important?
I am starting this petition because currently I am a Time Warner Customer, and in the past five years, Time Warner disputes with CBS/Showtime (2013), the MSG sports network (2012), and Fox Television (2009) has threatened to remove TV shows, with service being actually cut twice since 2012. I am tired of cable monopolies, or near monopolies, in New York and other cities, and I want customers like myself to be able to easily change service providers when cable TV companies use us as pawns in disputes with television networks.
