Office of Cable Communications

News & Announcements

	Comcast XF Triple Play Bundles Rate Increase - February 1, 2013 Comcast has announced a $5.00 rate increase on its XF Triple Play packages.  They have also announced that four of their HD Triple Play packages will no longer be available to new subscribers.   For a listing of the service packages impacted by these changes, click here.  If you have questions on this rate change or how it will impact your cable bill, contact Comcast at (800) 266-2278 or on-line at Comcast Customer Central.
	Ultra High-Speed Broadband Network Project for Seattle The City of Seattle and broadband developer Gigabit Squared (GB2) reached an agreement to develop and operate an ultra high-speed fiber-to-the-home and fiber-to-the-business broadband network.  The plan begins with demonstration fiber projects in 12 Seattle neighborhoods and includes wireless methods to deploy services more quickly to other areas in the city (look here for a map of the 12 initial neighborhoods).  GB2 has a vigorous building plan, with a goal of beginning services in some demonstration areas in the Fall of this year (2013). For more information on this and other City’s broadband initiatives, visit SeaFi Initiative Homepage.
	Comcast Converting to all Digital in Seattle Area Comcast is making a final switch to having all digital signals, which means converting all remaining analog channels to digital format.  After the change, older (non-digital) televisions will no longer be able to view some cable channels (roughly channels 2-30, 72-79, and 95-99) without having a Digital Transport Adapter.  For customers with televisions needing a digital adapter, Comcast will provide up to three (3) digital adaptors at no additional monthly cost.  To get the equipment, you need to contact them by visiting www.comcast.com/digitalnow or calling 1-877-634-4434. For more detailed information on this transition, visit Comcast’s overview, or contact the City’s Office of Cable Communications at (206) 684-8498.
	Comcast Limited Basic Cable Rate Increase - October 1, 2012 Comcast has announced a rate increase for its Limited Basic Cable service.  Effective October 1, 2012, the new rate for Limited Basic will be $16.35, increasing from $15.03.  For questions on this rate change or how it will impact your cable bill, contact Comcast at (800) 266-2278 or on-line at Comcast Customer Central.
	Broadstripe customers with Internet Only service: Check your account with Wave! Under Broadstripe's service packages, customers who only wanted Internet service were automatically coded to receive limited basic cable television service as well, at no additional cost.  However, under Wave's account structure, an Internet only service option is available and it is not packaged with limited basic cable television service.  During the account transition from Broadstripe to Wave, this has resulted in some Broadstripe customers - who only use the Internet service - now also being charged for limited basic cable television service or a "Seattle TV Station Fee". If you fall into this category and do not want or use the basic cable television service packaged into your orignal Broadstripe account, contact Wave customer service at (800) 829-2225 and be sure your account is updated to reflect the Internet only service.
	Broadstripe to WAVE Transition - July 17, 2012 Signal and Channel Changes Effective July 17, 2012, WAVE Broadband will begin providing services to Seattle Broadstripe customers under the name of WAVE.  The name change is timed to match an upgrade in video services with the addition of over 60 new channels, including 30 which are high-definition (HD). The additional channels are being added by converting some analog channels to a digital version. This change will require customers to have a digital receiver or converter to view the following channels: KCTS-Plus, ESPN Classic, UWTV2, TVW, National Geographic, Cooking Channel, GSN, NWCN, and OWN There will also be the following changes in channel numbers: KCTS V-me:          Channel 711 changes to 88 KCTS Create TV:   Channel 712 to 89 Live Well:              Channel 253 to 90 RTV:                     Channel 724 to 93 HBO Latino:           Channel 432 to 408 For additional information on any of these upcoming changes, please contact Broadstripe/Wave at (800) 829-2225.
	Comcast Announces Channel Additions and Moves Comcast will make the following channel changes for Seattle area customers: Effective June 15, 2012 CH 90 (KFFV-Untamed Sports) will be added to the Digital Limited Cable Package. Effective June 26, 2012 CH 427 (The Sportmans Channel) and CH 428 (Outside Television) will be added to the Sports Entertainment Package.  CH 482 (Gospel Music Channel) will be moved from the Digital Preferred Package to the Digital Starter Package. No rate changes have been announced at this time.  For more information on how these new channels will impact your cable package, please contact Comcast at (800) 266-2278.
	WAVE/Broadstripe new "Seattle TV Station Fee" Effective April 1, 2012, Broadstripe customers will see a new $3.05 charge on their monthly bill called "Seattle TV Station Fee". The charge is Broadstripe's method for recovering increased costs due to retransmission consent fees (RTC) they have to pay to local television stations in order to carry their broadcast signals.  In the past cable companies might have covered these costs with basic rate increases. However, many companies are now choosing to list the cost as a separate billing line item, to give customers visibility on the nature of the increased costs.  For more information on the growing dispute over retransmission consent fees, see this May 2011 article Retransmission consent fees: Broadcasters want more from everyone.
	WAVE Broadband purchases Broadstripe's Seattle Franchise The bankruptcy of Broadstripe LLC resulted in a request to transfer their Seattle Cable Franchise to WAVE Broadband, based in Kirkland, WA.  On November 21, 2011, the City Council approved and Mayor McGinn signed legislation authorizing the transfer of Broadstripe's Seattle cable franchise to WAVE.  The legislation is Ordinance 123741, and was effective on December 21, 2011.
	Seattle has new Public Access Television Manager Seattle Community College District VI (SCCD) is the new designated access manager for Seattle public access television.  On July 1, 2011, the SCCD begins broadcast of the public access television signal [channels Comcast 77 and Broadstripe 23].  They will also conduct all related public access television services.  For more information, see the Public Access Television page.
	Results of 2009 Residential Technology Survey This one-thousand household survey provides new data and looks at trends since our initial residential survey in 2000. The 2009 survey also focused on residents' cable television use and needs. The survey and indicators project were developed from community defined goals for a technology healthy city.
	Comcast Franchise Renewal A 10 year renewed cable franchise agreement was approved by the City Council on May 1, 2006.
	Report of the Task Force on Telecommunications Innovation; How the City of Seattle Can Promote Development of an Advanced Communications Network
	Subscribe to the National Do-Not-Call List As a result of federal regulations, you may place your name on a list that will prevent telemarketers from calling you or face a stiff penalty. You can register now, either by calling 1-888-382-1222 or on-line at www.donotcall.gov.  If you call, you must call from the number you want removed.  The registration is good for five years, and is renewable after that. The new regulations do permit a few categories of callers.  Charities, polls, and political calls will be permitted.  In addition, you may still be called by a company with which you have conducted business in the past 18 months, although you can opt out of those calls by requesting to be removed when they call you.