Kisnatcher is right. We need some competition in this town. Badly.

@awsommanofGod:

You keep referring to "perks for the bigwigs at the FPB" from a previous SJ article. I don't remember seeing that. Can you please post the link to that article or at least tell us when it published?

You aren't required to take a box if you don't want. You can use a TV with a digital tuner. ALL TVs SOLD AFTER MARCH 1, 2007 HAVE A DIGITAL TUNER. You have to *request* the number of cable boxes you want from FPB. They don't tell you how many you're going to take.

"Posted by Macha January 13, 2010

@RobertF:

True, but I'd bet anyone would be hard pressed to find a TV that could tune an over-the-air digital signal and not a cable digital signal."
Is Macha correct?
No one knows. The Plant Board is not going to tell us that is for sure. At least not until they cram a cable box down every throat they can.
Of Course all the profit they make on renting cable Boxes can be used to fund the perks for the bigwigs at the FPB. ( See previous State Journal article on those perks)
Join the cable box rebellion! If you want you can either show up mondays at noon at the downtown fpb , call and complain, e-mail the fpb and complain or show up at their monthly meetings and complain. This summer , when they switch over to the new system, it will be to late. Join the rebellion now!

imyomouth, you spent too much time correcting my spelling and not enough time understanding the meaning of what I was trying to say, besides you aren't very good at proofreading either, didn't spell whine with a capital letter but did leave an "r" out of hard, never said I was a great typist.

You're not looking to be constructive or helpful about anything just want to be condeming and extremely "stupid" by your comments, my spelling isn't costing you anything now who's the "dumbass".

Pay attention to what the fpb is up to and take them to task "not" the people that are criticizing them for doing what they are doing.
Radical idiot.

If you are on Facebook search for "Frankfort Plant Board Sucks" and become a fan.

There has been a measurable amount of discussion on the Cable Box issue. I checked the FCC regulations and it appears that Motorola \ or other makers,can sell cable boxes retail. However, a public utility is not allowed to sell the cable box.

Check further . . . A standard cable box would not work because of the software that performs encryption. There are phases of the box software that are only available to public utilities. It allows the Cable Company to further automate their service. Therefore the standard cable box would not have the same performance as the cable box rented by the plant board.

With these FEDERAL restrictions and tight copywrite laws it appears the local cable company does not have a choice.

As a business consideration -I can see the local cable company would have more control over the plant board cable delivery. Among those software choices that would be encrypted is the ability of the cable company to cut off your cable service from the plant board and no longer would need to send technicians to disconnect those that are delinquent.

As I say as a business consideration . . . it makes since, but . . . at this point I don't think there is much that can be done about it as the FCC (Federal Communications Commission controls what public cable companies may or may not do.

BE careful what you wish for! If cable TV delivery is forced to cut back on programming and Satellite TV dominates what happens then? Watch the fee for satellite delivery increase. It is all part of the satellite marketing plan. Many of you may not remember . . . years go ESPN was free. ( and the size of the dish was enormous.) Once ESPN had a sizeable audience it became a pay for view. The rest if history. It appears that NBC and all of the networks are looking at charging a base fee for their service.


And right now, NEW TECHOLOGY POINTS TO HEAVEY GROWTH in the Satellite TV market. It is the way the market is headed and Cable TV, except for a few local customers will demise. The Frankfort Plant Board is in a catch 22.

Damned if you will . . . damned if you don't.

Why doesn't fpb give us the option of buying these boxes? If they don't give us the option then it is just a hidden rate increase. Who is going to get hurt the worst , the shut-ins , the elderly or the disabled? Just because you buy a new T.V. doesn't mean anything unless it has a QAM and only the more expensive models have a QAM.
If you can not be at the peaceful protest on monday's at noon, but don't like these boxes you can write , e-mail and call and complain at the fpb. Or attend the next Board meeting . The Frankfort Plant Board holds monthly meetings of its Board of Directors on the third Tuesday of every month. Meetings are scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Plant Board Clubhouse located at 92 Tanglewood Drive. Board of Director's meetings are open to the public.

kisnatcher, I think that you need to proofread your work. Whiner was spelled wrong , my bad. But it wouldn't be a capital h, it would be lower a lower case h. By the way, I think that programming has two m's not one. Also, beginning is supposed to have two n's, "dumbass".

It's a shame that more people don't take an interest in how the fpb is gouging the consumer out of their had earned money (via) lousey programing and rented boxes and turn on the people that want to do something about (by) peaceful protest. If you don't want to go down and protest at the fpb at least encourage the one's that are willing to fight for your right's and money.
In the begining this change over wasn't going to cost the consumer anything "not to worry" your tv's will go right on working just fine "they said". Well somebody lied.

Most of the comment's below that are condeming or just plain crass would have been better off kept to themselves. In other word's if you don't have something positive or negative to say about the "FPB" "shutup", don't condemn those that are trying to do something constructive and just maybe get some prices lowered.

If you are going to complain or comment in a public forum such as this at least learn how to spell the simple word's. Whiner is spelled with an "H". It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought of as a dumb ass, than to open it and remove all doubt's.

The fpb for far too long have had a monopoly in this town and need's some competition or broken up, period.