Assemblymember Cahill Urges Time Warner Cable Customers to Review Their Bills and Their Options

New internet modem lease fee can be avoided with the purchase of a personal modem

January 3, 2013

Kingston, NY – Assemblymember Kevin A. Cahill (D- Ulster, Dutchess) recommend today that consumers examine their Time Warner Cable bill and take note of a new $3.95 a month charge for those customers who use the company’s internet modem, rather than purchasing their own. Postcards alerting customers to the change were mailed on October 1, 2012 and stated that the policy would go into effect on October 15, 2012.

In order to avoid this fee, individuals may purchase their own equipment, contact Time Warner Cable at 1-800-892-2253 to activate it and then must return the leased hardware to the nearest Time Warner office. Acceptable models include:

• Motorola models SGB6580, SB6141, SB6121, SB5101, SB5101U, SBG901
• Netgear models CMD31T, CMD31T
• Zoom models 5341J, 5350

“I want consumers to know that they do not have to waste their hard earned money on a product which was considered free for years,” Cahill said, “Over the course of a year or two, depending on the model, the purchase of a new modem will pay for itself. Additionally, the models for purchase have more features than leased modems like faster speeds and the capability to handle unlimited wireless devices.”

Because of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 which deregulated cable companies, neither the New York State Public Service Commission nor the Federal Communications Commission have any authority to address the legitimacy of this new fee. However, a class action lawsuit has been commenced by a private law firm against Time Warner Cable over this issue. For more information on enrolling in the suit, please contact the Assemblyman’s Albany office at 518-455-4436.

“I have long been a staunch supporter of consumer protections. As a former member of the Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection, I championed numerous pieces of consumer friendly legislation. I will continue to work to advance the rights of customers and to protect their interests over those of corporations.”

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