Oregon’s Metropolitan Area Communications Commission is not taking kindly to Frontier’s plan to substantially raise prices for FiOS video services in serving areas the carrier acquired from Verizon, according to a report published by The Portlander.
The Portlander reports that the MACC’s “sole purpose is to look out for the interests of consumers” – and in a January 20th letter to Frontier posted on The Portlander web site, the MACC asks Frontier several accusatory questions. For example, noting that Frontier has offered FiOS video customers a year of free DirecTV service if they switch services, the MACC asked whether it was Frontier’s “intent all along to capture Verizon’s customer base and migrate them to DirecTV.”
The letter also quotes statements that Frontier made as part of the approval process for the transfer of Verizon’s cable franchise—statements that appear to contradict actions and statements later made by Frontier. For example, the letter quotes a 2009 statement from Frontier saying, “The retail price of programming is constrained by the competitive market and does not have a lock-step relationship with programming costs. While initially Frontier’s programming costs might be higher than Verizon’s, Frontier believes it can effectively manage all areas of its cost structure and can compete effectively.” Yet in early January when it announced its plan to raise prices, Frontier pointed to programming costs as a key factor in making that decision.
It’s true that Tier 2 and 3 telcos have had difficulty obtaining competitive pricing from cable content providers. But the MACC notes that Bend Broadband, an Oregon cable operator providing a similar level of programming and services as Frontier, is able to keep prices significantly below Frontier’s new rates. One would assume that Bend Broadband gets discounted programming from the NCTC (although that is not confirmed), a content buying consortium for small cable MSOs, which may give it some latitude in holding down costs relative to Frontier’s new rates.
But even if Bend Broadband is a NCTC member, I doubt the preferred NCTC programming rates approach a 50% discount over what Frontier pays. Regardless, the issue does illuminate the impact of the variability of programming costs on retail cable television service rates and the competitive advantage they may or may not bring
The MACC letter also argues that there is “no case” to be made that programming costs for the 13 local commercial channels on Frontier’s local tier of services have increased 50%. They may have a point, but I’m sure current and future rising retransmission consent fees now demanded by local broadcasters played a role in those increases.
There certainly is a valid reason to debate Frontier’s decision to hike retail rates for FiOS video customers in the manner in which they have. The rate spikes they are imposing in such an immediate fashion post merger could be viewed as unreasonable, especially from the end consumer’s point of view. Frontier certainly didn’t do themselves any favor (or anyone who might want to a similar transaction in the future) by arguing that the fear of higher rates was unjustified and therefore not a reason to oppose the Verizon transaction pre-merger, then doing exactly that after the merger closed. Within that context, Frontier has some explaining to do.
From a big picture perspective, the Frontier FiOS rate hike example puts the the dilemma of the rising cost of content and its implications for consumers and the overall competitive marketplace under a microscope. While its true Frontier could probably have handled their particular situation better, I suspect we will see more of the same going forward.
(Editors Note: Bernie Arnason contributed to this post)
Maybe in a crazy way Frontier's actions will help the overall cause. Telcos are at a competitive disadvantage for programming costs. Period. That means higher costs for our customers. It's not a level playing field and something needs to be done about it. I hope regulators will look beyond blaming Frontier, and see the root cause.
$15 of taxes on true telephone lines when VOIP lines have almost no taxes….
And you wonder why prices are so high.
That said, the lowest FIOS package has more channels than midline Comcast packages, faster internet, dedicated lines without stupid "speed boost" junk that offers bursts for a few seconds out of the day, FIOS has uncompressed video feeds – the type of feeds where if you go to YOUTUBE and try to watch a 320 and say "this feed sucks" so you switch to 720 or 1080 and wait a few more minutes for the load…
Comcast compresses their signal obnoxiously to be able to have "up to" 16 meg internet… what they don't tell you is that they compress their video feeds 10-30%, basically turning your advertised 1080i feed into 480.
You get what you pay for.
What's sick is the people that consider the $30 increase outrageous, but when they switch to Comcast and after 6 months their price is the same, have less channels, slower internet speeds, crappy video, and voice over IP, still figure they're in a better deal.
LOL. dream on.
If everyone drove the cheapest cars you wouldn't have BMW's or Mercedes on the road.
It's not always about price. It's quality.
And Comcast sucks.
isn't this more about frontier not wanting to be burdened with video, using the programming costs as an excuse. they would prefer to do video via dbs partnership than operate their own losing video network. content costs are an easy way to shift the blame. verizon can offer video at a loss. frontier doesn't have the stomach for that. just man up and say so.
Of course FTR stock would suggest they're losing money…. right?
Great economic insight, dude.
NARUC addresses the very issue with a resolution (see page 17) calling on the FCC to "…to carefully examine the damage these pricing practices may inflict on the business opportunities of midsize and small LECs and comparable small and medium-sized cable providers and take appropriate action to rebalance the 'competitive playing field'…"
NARUC addresses the very issue with a resolution (see page 17) calling on the FCC to "…to carefully examine the damage these pricing practices may inflict on the business opportunities of midsize and small LECs and comparable small and medium-sized cable providers and take appropriate action to rebalance the 'competitive playing field'…"