[Electronics-talk] [EXTERNAL] Re: Xfinity and it's pros and cons $$$$$

Fri Apr 10 17:14:20 UTC 2015

Oh please.  I can tell you that Time Warner Cable has no plans whatsoever to 
introduce an accessible set-top box any time in the near future, and their 
merger with Comcast , if it goes through, won't be completed until sometime 
late next year, so the chances that Time Warner's customers will be offered 
the Comcast X1 accessible box before the December, 2016 deadline are slim to 
none.  If a cable provider fails to offer an accessible set-top box by this 
deadline, what recourse does a blind consumer have, anyway?  Call the 
police?  Demand that the NFB sue the bastards?  Oh sure, a lot of good that 
will do.  So enjoy your accessible box while the rest of us who are not 
fortunate enough to be Comcast customers continue to get screwed over by our 
cable companies who, in reality, don't give a rat's ass about accessibility 
and will use their cadre of high-priced attorneys to fight any attempt by 
the FCC to make them comply with the Telecommunications Act of 2010.  And 
guess what?  They will probably win.  They always do.  Sorry to sound so 
cynical, but as Howard Cosell liked to say, I have to tell it like it is.

Gerald

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ray Foret Jr via Electronics-talk" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: "Baracco, Andrew W" <Andrew.Baracco at va.gov>; "Electronics Talk List" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 10, 2015 12:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] [EXTERNAL] Re: Xfinity and it's pros and 
cons $$$$$

> Quite correct Andy.  We have been screwed so often in the past with 
> respect to accessibility that it has become to easy to be skepticle of any 
> clame that a cable service has made something actually accessible.  But 
> folks, this time, it's real.  I ought to know since I've been testing it. 
> This time round, folks, it's real, it's happening:  and, by law, all 
> providers have to do it by December of 2016.  Let's not make the mistake 
> of having a perpetually negative attitude towards things like this.  It 
> makes us unpleasant people to be around.
>
>
> Sincerely,
> The Constantly Barefooted Ray
>
> Still a happy Mac, Verizon Wireless iPhone 6+ and Apple TV user!
>
> Sent from my Mac,
> the only computer with full accessibility for the blind built-in
>
>> On Apr 10, 2015, at 10:19 AM, Baracco, Andrew W via Electronics-talk 
>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> I'm no engineer, but it may be the case that the X1 box will only work
>> with that service, and may not work with the basic service. Keep in mind
>> that this is a new product, and is actually in beta. I know that the
>> cable and satellite TV industry hasn't been our friend, but I think that
>> sometimes we are too quick to categorize companies as the bad guys just
>> because they don't do what we want quick enough to suit us.
>>
>> Andy
>>
>> P. S. the Apple TV is accessible, and I understand that many channels
>> such as HBO that have been traditionally cable networks will be able to
>> be streamed by devices like Apple TV. In fact, you will be able to
>> receive HBO NOW on TVs, tablets, and smart phones, and I think,
>> computers.
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Electronics-talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Lauren Merryfield via Electronics-talk
>> Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2015 8:18 PM
>> To: 'Robin Frost'; 'Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances'
>> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [Electronics-talk] Xfinity and it's pros and
>> cons $$$$$
>>
>> Hi,
>> They are not gouging us because of disability but it is a bummer that we
>> have to be on a higher level than basic in order to get the service.
>> Maybe they could, to be fair, charge us the basic rate while we have the
>> upgrade to the x1 box??? The fact that needs to be considered is that
>> many people with disabilities are making way less than the average
>> sighted person in their work or lack thereof. So it seems that the cost
>> needs to be offset somehow for people who can't afford the upgrade, like
>> me.
>> Thanks
>> Lauren
>>
>> Blessings in Jesus' name.
>> God's grace:"Plunge a sponge into Lake Erie. Did you absorb every drop?
>> Take a deep breath. Did you suck the oxygenout of the atmosphere? Pluck
>> a pine needle from a tree in Yosemite. Did you deplete the forest of
>> foliage? Watch an ocean wave crash against the beach. Will there never
>> be another one?" -Max Lucado my digital evangelism blog:w w w . ask in
>> jesus name . o r g my latest book is at:
>> w w w . a u d I b l e . c o m
>> Cats Are Terrifically Superb:
>> W w w . c a t l I n e s . c o m
>> (take out the spaces to activate the links)
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Electronics-talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Robin Frost via Electronics-talk
>> Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2015 3:30 AM
>> To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Xfinity and it's pros and cons $$$$$
>>
>> Hi,
>> I'm not clear how this is an ADA issue as anyone who subscribes to this
>> plan
>>
>> would incur the same costs.
>> I have a triple play plan with them and as part of my plan there was no
>> added cost to upgrade to the platform.
>> It might be wise to consider that these boxes are like mini cable
>> modems.
>> they have to be such as part of how they work involves accessing the
>> internet based cloud.
>> Obviously that which anyone prioritizes and thus chooses to afford is
>> individual in nature and thus its value is determined.
>> However, in my time with x-1 I haven't experienced anything that I'd
>> define as price gouging or discriminatory in nature.
>> I've no affiliation with the company but to be a customer who will next
>> month renegotiate another promotional annual rate as I do once a year to
>> keep my bill at its current level.
>> I do this with many entities with whim I deal such as cellular providers
>> and
>>
>> electric and gas energy suppliers in my state in the USA.
>> Robin
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Randi via Electronics-talk
>> Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2015 4:57 AM
>> To: Electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [Electronics-talk] Xfinity and it's pros and cons $$$$$
>>
>> I was away for a few days and not if anyone answered this question, but
>> I have many with my carrier which is Comcast. I am are referring to the
>> new box with Comcast has reads the menus and on screen titles, and more.
>> I contacted every department and they have me also. You must pay $50.00
>> for each box, even only 1 person might be blind and doesn't watch TV in
>> their child's room. With each box there is a monthly added fee of $20.00
>> I am the only blind person in my FL house but I would have purchase 4
>> boxes and pay
>> $80.00 each extra a month not what my maintenance pays. I have decided
>> it is not worth it. When I asked how they are allowed with ADA they
>> answered it's recreation. I guess this house will not be trying it in
>> the near future.
>> Randi r.sanfilippo at comcast.net
>>
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