The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

DOZENS of frustrated cable customers demanded that the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority deny all proposed price increases by Cable Bahamas Limited, citing that the triple play provider is “using its monopolistic power to rob consumers blind”.

URCA held a town meeting at the Holy Cross Church Hall on Tuesday night to get feedback on the proposed price increases. Customers urged URCA officials to reject both Cable Bahamas’ proposed 27 per cent increase in the price of its basic pay TV service and a new six-channel basic television package dubbed “Prime Local” (PLS).

Consumers argued that Cable Bahamas had no real reason to introduce the $8 increase and did not consult the public on the list of channels proposed in the new basic television package. Last October, Cable Bahamas submitted formal documents to URCA requesting permission to introduce its increase and introduce its new super basic package.

Sharon Lewis, a cable customer, claimed that she felt forced into a bigger bill because there is no other option for television services in the country. She said the company has “railroaded” customers with their prices because they are the only cable providers in the Bahamas.

Mrs Lewis said: “These people have to understand that enough is enough. They disrespect us with the way they do business because they know if we want television services we have to come to them. We don’t want any more increases on our bills because it is already too much at the end of every month. The service hasn’t improved nor has their quality, but they want to increase the price. I want you to tell them enough is enough.”

Nadia Watson argued that it was completely wrong for any Bahamian to have to pay for the channels provided in the new basic package.

She said: “We should not have to pay for ZNS, JCN or NB12 because those channels should be considered public broadcast stations. Cable Bahamas already has a huge monopoly, they have nothing to merit this increase.”

She added: “Ask them what warrants this increase. If they say competition, please ask them who are they competing against.”

The majority of those at the town hall meeting were angry when they learned that the forum would go ahead although no Cable Bahamas representative would be present. URCA officials told the audience that the forum was hosted and operated by the agency and they could not “mandate” a private company to offer a spokesperson or representative.

Stephen Bereaux, URCA Director of Policy and Regulations, noted that the purpose of the event was to present the public with the company’s formal application and begin the process of public education on the issue.

“URCA has received a series of applications from Cable Bahamas Limited and it is our job to present you, the public with the facts of the issue,” he said.

According to copies of the application received by The Tribune, Cable Bahamas is seeking approval to introduce a new basic television service for residential customers. The proposed PLS would be priced at $10 per month and would include “six diverse and informative” television channels.

Those proposed channels include

ZNS Channel 13, the Parliamentary Channel, CALA Weather, Jones Communication Network (JCN), Bahamas Christian Network (BCN) and PBS. According to the company’s application, the reason for the PLS package was to offset the potential price increase in the RevTv Prime package.

Cable Bahamas has consistently argued that the monthly basic pay TV price has remained unchanged since 1994, and that increased programming costs make it impossible to comply with URCA’s requirements when it comes to the regulated cost of capital employed on the service.

Outlining the need for an increase in the basic pay TV price, Cable Bahamas has argued that the losses incurred in providing the service will continue to grow and threaten the economic viability of the service.

While agreeing that the monthly $10 charge for Prime Local appeared affordable, URCA has said Cable Bahamas needed to offer more flexible payment arrangements for one-off, up front costs such as security deposits and installation.