Denied, Comcast Weighs Options: Judge's Order Stops Channel Changes

Jan 16, 07:35 AM

Jan. 16--Comcast officials said Tuesday they are evaluating options after a federal judge in Detroit imposed a temporary restraining order on the cable company's plan to move community access channels to higher-numbered, digital channels, a move that would make them unavailable to Michigan subscribers with analog televisions.

The company, in a statement, said it is disappointed with U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts' decision Monday to block Comcast's planned move Tuesday of public, educational and governmental access channels into the 900-level digital range.

The move would require subscribers with analog televisions to buy digital, cable-ready televisions or rent or buy a digital converter box for each television to continue receiving those channels.

Roberts ruled that the public interest was better served to keep the channels at their current positions so they can be available to all subscribers.

The Comcast statement reiterated the company's reasons for moving the channels into the 900s, citing a chance to group the channels together and offer more high-definition channels and video on demand.

The company has offered to provide customers a free converter box -- a $4-a-month value -- for one year to ease the transition from analog. After that, subscribers would have to pay for a converter or switch to cable-ready televisions.

The court order was issued in response to a lawsuit filed Friday by Dearborn and Meridian Township, a suburban Lansing community. The two local governments said Comcast planned the channel change without consulting with the communities in advance, a violation of state and federal law. They argued that up to 400,000 customers statewide who couldn't afford a converter box would lose access to community news.

The suit also said a vital way of communicating with residents would be lost.

Contact ZACHARY GORCHOW at 313-222-6678 or zgorchow@freepress.com.

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