Policy Change Turns Comcast Customers Off

ROCKVILLE, Md. - To opt in or to opt out? That is the question facing Comcast customers in parts of the Washington area.

Last week, Montgomery County's Cable Administrator Jane Lawton told WTOP that Comcast changed the terms of subscription agreements. Customers who do not opt out within 30 days of receiving the Comcast Arbitration Notice will relinquish their right to pursue any legal remedies against Comcast in court.

But Comcast would retain the right to sue customers in cases of copyright violations, or in cases of unauthorized use of their services.

Customers in Howard and Prince George's counties have been given the same advice as those in Montgomery County: opt out of the switch Comcast is making to your subscriber agreement.

"On the surface, arbitration sounds like a good thing, but Comcast's proposed change is one-sided," Lawton says. "We are concerned that subscribers will unknowingly give up some of their consumer rights by failing to opt out in time."

Patrick Lacefield, spokesman for County Executive Ike Leggett, says Comcast violated its franchise agreement with the county.

District and Fairfax County leaders are also taking a close look at the arbitration notification, but stop short of telling consumers to opt out.

Michael Lieberman, director of Fairfax County's Cable Communications and Consumer Protection office, says consumers should "read the fine print carefully, weigh their options, and decide what's most comfortable for them." Leaders will meet Friday to discuss the situation.

For the second time in a week, Comcast emailed WTOP to say no one was available for comment. However, the email says the changes were national and notices were sent to the 'vast majority' of Comcast customers between May and July of this year.

Comcast customers can "opt out" of the Arbitration Notice either online or by mail (include name, address, account number and a statement that you do not wish to resolve disputes with Comcast through arbitration):

Comcast
1500 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
ATTN: Legal Department/Arbitration

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