| To our customers:
Things you should know about how your TV and VCR work when connected to your local cable system.
"Cable Ready" and "Cable Compatible Equipment"
One of the reasons you may subscribe to our cable system is we offer many more channels of programming in addition to what you may be able to receive off the air. Some of you may have TV receivers or VCRs that can tune to all channels we provide. Others may have older sets that are unable to tune in all channels available over the cable system.
Even if you have an older TV or VCR that was advertised as being "cable ready" or "cable compatible", the equipment may not perform as you expected when connected directly to cable. This is because there previously were no standards applicable to TV set manufacturers governing the reception of cable channels. According to new federal regulations, TVs and VCRs sold in the United States as of July 1997 cannot be called "cable ready" or "cable compatible" unless they comply with new technical requirements adopted by the FCC, including the ability to properly tune cable channels.
You may encounter additional problems or interference when your TV set or VCR is connected directly to cable. For example, you may encounter co-channel interference or an inability to receive higher number channels. These problems are often solved through the use of a digital set-top converter. Converters are available through your cable company for a monthly fee. The set-top converter will "convert" the cable channels to a designated channel on your TV. Please understand that the process of converting all of your channels to such a channel means that you can only receive one channel on your TV set at a time through the converter. This means there may be certain features of your TV or VCR that depend on channel tuning of these devices that you will not be able to use. For example, taping one program while watching another, recording two or more consecutive programs appearing on different channels, and the use on picture-in-picture may not be possible without additional equipment.
Availability Of Special By-Pass Equipment
Some of the channels offered on the cable system may also be scrambled as authorized by the FCC and may be viewed only if a set-top converter is used. However, as described above, a converter may limit your ability to use certain advanced features on your TV set or VCR. If you use a converter, and you have problems using the special features, additional special equipment may be necessary to regain some or all of these features. The cable company will consult with you in order to determine what specific equipment may be available to solve your particular situation. This equipment may include an additional converter, or if you have a receiver that can tune our cable channels, possibly a switch (or a special converter with a switch) that will enable you to by-pass the converter and tune all unscrambled channels with your TV or VCR.
Please contact us regarding your needs, and we will be happy to discuss alternatives with you and give you a schedule of charges. In addition, you may purchase by-pass switches and additional converters at retail outlets. Please remember, however, that converters with descrambling capabilities should only be obtained from us. In fact, should you see advertisements for cable converters that have descramblers in them (so-called "pirate boxes" or "black boxes"), you should understand that these devices may be illegal to sell or use, unless authorized by us. Because of the need to protect our scrambled services, we will not authorize the use of any converters, pay-per-view and other descramblers not provided by us. People who use illegal converters/descramblers may actually be stealing cable service. This practice may unfairly result in increased prices to our honest customers.
Pay-Per-View Programming
Your cable company may not have the right to distribute pay-per-view programming to commercial establishments. You may not order or request pay-per-view programming for receipt, exhibition or taping in a commercial establishment. You may neither exhibit nor assist in the exhibition of pay-per-view programming in a commercial establishment unless explicitly authorized to do so in advance, by us and our program provider. If you fail to abide by this restriction, you will be held liable for any claims made against you or your cable company on account of any unauthorized commercial exhibition.
Remote Controls
If you use a converter with remote control capability, we provide remote control devices for purchase. It is also possible that the remote control that came with your TV or VCR is capable of controlling the converter box as well. In that case, please feel free to use it. Finally, if you choose, you may also buy a "universal" remote control device capable of working with our converters at a retail outlet, including many appliance or electronic stores. Examples of universal remote control devices include: Zenith, including Gemini's "Rabbit" series; the Mac-10 and the Mac-20; Mentek Memorex CP-8, Universal Electronics One Four All III; and Tandy Corporation 15902. You can probably find others as well.
We hope this information has been useful. If you have any questions, please contact us. The phone number of your local cable office is contained on your monthly bill. |