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Broadcaster Rate Negotiations Brings Cable TV Price Increase
Crosslake Communications is required by law to receive
permission from local broadcasters (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and
others) to retransmit their signals to our customers. This
process includes broadcasters requesting compensation for
these signals, and in turn, us trying to negotiate a
reasonable rate for our customers.
Crosslake Communications has concluded negotiations with all
broadcasters for retransmission consent fees—what we and
other TV providers must pay to carry their networks on our
system. Crosslake Communications did its best to negotiate
fair rates with the broadcasters but without any Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) rules governing local
broadcast rates, we had a very weak negotiating position.
We were left with two options—pay the higher rates or remove
the channel(s) from our lineup. We have chosen to continue
carrying these networks at the higher rates because of the
popularity of the programming.
We have no recourse other than to raise our rates to cover
these increased costs. We want to assure you that we make
every effort to keep our rates at a minimum. To help
distinguish the cost attributed to the local channels, there
will be a new charge of $2.91 on your cable TV bill
effective May 1, 2012 entitled
Local Channels Fee.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us
218-692-2777.
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