11/14/1979 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

NOV '141979 X979 BOOK 42 PA;F 87 PETITION We, the undersigned residents, in the county of Indian River and of Shady Rest Mo- bile Home Park, Route #1, Box #45, Sebastian, Florida, 32958, oppose any rate in- crease for Indian River Cablevision, Inc., for the following reasons: 1- Rates were increased on 10/1/76 or 11/1/76 from $6.30 per month to $6.76 per month, including sales tax, despite protests at that time of poor quality reception. The increase was granted on the assumption I. R. C. had need of increased funding to in -prove receptiono No improvement has been noted during this 3 year period. 2- If reception is bad after 5:00 P. IA. and on Saturdays and Sundays, it is im- possible to register a complaint on poor reception which will be acted upon. An answering machine takes calls and the secondary telephone number offered seldom answers. On reception complaints taped by the answering machine during these off- duty hours, there is usually no cell -back response by I. R. C. It also appears there is no supervised monitoring during the evening and night hours, and if so, the monitor is not required to answer the telephone. 3- The November -December 1979 statements were issued at an increased rate of $7.54, including tax, per month without a rate approval by the County Commissioners which is a direct affront to the integrity of the Commissioners. 4- If I. R. C. is not competent and capable of supplying quality reception, and based on previous promises it has failed to do so, and we are sure this is a demand of its operating certification, it is our recommendation no increase be granted. It is also our request the Commissioners contact the appropriate state or Federal agency to revoke the I. K. C. certificate of operating authority and request bids 2 from other concerns to provide adequate cable T. V. service to this area. We, the customers, are entitled to much better reception then we have been receiving and feel it is incumbent on our Commissioners to assist us to this endo 5- Some typical complaints are listed below along with the signatures and addresses of the residents in agreement with this petition. COMMISSIONER LOY ASKED IF THIS PETITION HAD BEEN PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN, AND MR. MILES SAID THAT IT HAD NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE COUNTY RESIDENTS AND DID NOT ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING. CHAIRMAN WODTKE ASKED MR. HAIMOWITZ TO RESPOND TO THE COMPLAINTS PRESENTED BY THE PETITION. MR. HAIMOWITZ STATED THAT THEY HAVE FOUND THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS FALL ON THEIR FOUR DISTANT CHANNEL CITIES - S, 44, AND 13 OUT OF TAMPA,. AND 2 FROM DAYTONA. ACCORDING TO ALL FEC REQUIRE- MENTS AND REGULATIONS, THESE ARE NOT QUALITY CHANNELS AND NEVER WILL BE. THEY ARE OFFERED SIMPLY TO GIVE THE SUBSCRIBER SOMETHING ADDITIONAL AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A FULL CHANNEL SELECTOR. HE NOTED THAT TO OFFSET WEATHER PROBLEMS, THEY HAVE THREE BROADCASTING SYSTEMS - NBC, CBS AND ABC SO THE SUBSCRIBER MAY CHANGE THEIR CHANNELS WHEN WEATHER DESTROYS RECEPTION. MR. HAIMOWITZ INFORMED THE BOARD THAT THEY PUT IN A NEW ANTENNA SYSTEM FOR CHANNEL 5, AND HE FELT THERE HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE IMPROVEMENT. THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CHANNEL 2 10