Steve Mehs
04-02-03, 04:13 AM
Hawaii's complaints about DirecTV service to the island chain are focused on two issues: The lack of equipment and poor retail efforts for the satellite TV company throughout the state and programming that doesn't match what's available on the U.S. mainland.
The Hawaii efforts targeting DirecTV compelled the Federal Communications Commission last week to ask for public comment on the company's efforts to deliver services to Hawaii and Alaska. The concerns have become a sensitive subject for the satellite TV service as well as consumers, retailers and others in each state.
Hawaii officials, in a request asking the FCC to impose sanctions against DirecTV for lackluster service, said the company isn't making equipment available to state consumers. "Consumers in Hawaii can't visit local retailers for more information because there are no retailers in Hawaii that carry DirecTV's service," the Hawaii filing said.
"As a result, DirecTV's service is entirely unavailable to consumers in the state, and (because of that) DirecTV is in clear violation of its unambiguous obligation to provide DBS service to Hawaii."
Officials also said DirecTV's programming packages for Hawaii don't come close to what's offered on the U.S. mainland, which they said is another violation of the FCC's geographic service rules. "DirecTV's (Hawaii) packages exclude nine of the 10 largest cable programming networks that DirecTV makes available on the mainland," they said.
"Furthermore, DirecTV's programming offerings in Hawaii exclude eight of the 10 highest rated cable programming networks."
In its FCC filing, Hawaii officials said, "DirecTV began providing service in June 1994 and for most of the past eight years has shown flagrant disregard of its obligation to provide DBS service to consumers in Hawaii."
In a statement, DirecTV said, "We believe we are in compliance with FCC rules and we will formally respond to the Hawaii petition by the FCC's April 24 deadline."
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/apr2003/040203.shtm#two) (Used with Permission)
The Hawaii efforts targeting DirecTV compelled the Federal Communications Commission last week to ask for public comment on the company's efforts to deliver services to Hawaii and Alaska. The concerns have become a sensitive subject for the satellite TV service as well as consumers, retailers and others in each state.
Hawaii officials, in a request asking the FCC to impose sanctions against DirecTV for lackluster service, said the company isn't making equipment available to state consumers. "Consumers in Hawaii can't visit local retailers for more information because there are no retailers in Hawaii that carry DirecTV's service," the Hawaii filing said.
"As a result, DirecTV's service is entirely unavailable to consumers in the state, and (because of that) DirecTV is in clear violation of its unambiguous obligation to provide DBS service to Hawaii."
Officials also said DirecTV's programming packages for Hawaii don't come close to what's offered on the U.S. mainland, which they said is another violation of the FCC's geographic service rules. "DirecTV's (Hawaii) packages exclude nine of the 10 largest cable programming networks that DirecTV makes available on the mainland," they said.
"Furthermore, DirecTV's programming offerings in Hawaii exclude eight of the 10 highest rated cable programming networks."
In its FCC filing, Hawaii officials said, "DirecTV began providing service in June 1994 and for most of the past eight years has shown flagrant disregard of its obligation to provide DBS service to consumers in Hawaii."
In a statement, DirecTV said, "We believe we are in compliance with FCC rules and we will formally respond to the Hawaii petition by the FCC's April 24 deadline."
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/apr2003/040203.shtm#two) (Used with Permission)