Cablecom criticized by consumer protection

The consumer protection foundation SKS is calling for cheaper digital television for cablecom customers. It criticizes the overpriced set-top boxes that are needed to decode the TV signal. The SKS writes in a press release that customers have no choice, because wherever Cablecom is present, there is no other provider: the set-top box costs CHF 15 for the first 6 months and CHF 25 thereafter. This is significantly more than abroad. The SKS is therefore calling for the Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) to ban encryption when granting licenses. In addition, measures are needed to keep the power consumption of the devices as low as possible.
Price watchdog Rudolf Strahm also criticized the prices for set-top boxes in September. The background to this was Cablecom's announcement that it was moving two more analog TV channels to digital television. According to an agreement with Strahm valid until the end of 2006, Cablecom must offer at least 37 analog channels in its television service. Negotiations for a regulation from 2007 are currently underway, reports SDA.