[poromo]

Does any cable provider offer only basic local channels? If yes, does anyone know the cost? Since we will not be full time for the forseable future, we'd like to have some television service when when we are in TV.

[N44125]

Originally Posted by poromo

Does any cable provider offer only basic local channels? If yes, does anyone know the cost? Since we will not be full time for the forseable future, we'd like to have some television service when when we are in TV.

Not sure of the price. However they also have a service that allows you to shut your service off once per year..ideal for Snowbirds.

[casita37]

Comcast/Xfinity - Basic cable $24.41, including tax. That may be more now, since they tend to go up often, but that will be close.

You can check out all their options at Comcast Official Site: High-Speed Internet, Cable TV, and Phone Services Deals .

[2AFRetSNCOs]

Originally Posted by poromo

Does any cable provider offer only basic local channels? If yes, does anyone know the cost? Since we will not be full time for the forseable future, we'd like to have some television service when when we are in TV.

We used Comcast and it was only about $11 a month, I believe.

[TrudyM]

Most states require that Tele service providers offer a low cost option for very basic channels in order to get a utilities license. It isn't always posted on their websites and how many channels are offered depends on what mood the regulators were in when negotiating the permit. My brother did a consolidation of cable companies across 4 states merging and upgrading a lot of little companies and he said one of the problems was some of the states were really expansive on what they considered basic. In some areas it's done by county so the websites are quite often wrong in my experience. Some have also required a senior rate for those on social security and that one is rarely listed so I would suggest calling the local offices of the available providers. Just my experience.

[casita37]

I'm not sure you can call the local Comcast office. If anyone has an actual local (The Villages) number, please share it. You can, however, walk into the office on 441, and be prepared to wait and wait, then you just stand at a little window, with a long line of people waiting behind you.....overall, not a good experience, but doable. That was about 1.5 years ago for us, so may have improved.

We just upgraded a couple of months ago from basic cable to a triple play package. What a nightmare they are to deal with, never the same answer from a different person (And you always get a different person....can't ask for the rep who already knows your situation....and already quoted you a rate.) Sometimes they are in Jacksonville, FL, which is great. They are more familiar with local promotions, specials, etc. But, you are just as likely to get someone in....I think it's Arkansas??? Somewhere else, where they don't know a thing about local channels. And the worst is if you do order your service on line, you get a rep who is not in the country and totally unfamiliar with anything. He is the one who started all my problems...promised me certain rates, promotional premium channels for X time, reasonable installation fees....Took me a while to get anyone to honor what he told me, and then when the first bill arrived it was, of course, all wrong. One phone call, amazingly, got that fixed.

So, if you can handle the wait and crowded office, that's probably the least likely to cause problems with the start up and get you the best local promo rate. They do always say, though, that there are on line specials they can't offer......who knows....

[asianthree]

Get what you want when you are here and then vacation for six months

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Get what you want when you are here and then vacation for six months

Just be sure that, when you come back after vacation, you get the same rate. The cable (and internet) companies are very quick to start charging you a higher rate.

I have to spend an hour on the phone every time with CenturyLink - great customer appreciation!