A Senate panel will investigate issues related to television providers’ customer service and billing practices at a June hearing where lawmakers will hear from companies including Comcast and Time Warner Cable.
“Consumers in every corner of the country share common experiences about fending for themselves against customer service and billing practices by TV providers that are at best confusing, and at worst deceptive, ” said Sens. Claire McCaskillClaire McCaskill Facebook steps up fight against fake news The Trail 2016: Off the sick bed McCaskill: Trump and Dr. Oz a 'marriage made in heaven' MORE (D-Mo.) and Rob PortmanRob Portman Feehery: Why the GOP will hold the Senate Senate negotiators near deal to fund government WATCH: Rob Portman does chicken dance to celebrate Oktoberfest MORE (R-Ohio) in a statement. The two are the top lawmakers on the Homeland Security investigations subcommittee.
“For more than a year, we have conducted a bipartisan investigation of the largest cable and satellite TV companies, ” they said. “We believe our hearing will be a big step forward for consumers, allowing them to understand how their TV providers really work and make informed decisions about their video service.”The hearing is set to take place June 23. Witnesses include representatives of Comcast, Time Warner Cable, its new owner Charter Communications, as well as Dish and DirecTV.
McCaskill said on Thursday afternoon she was hoping to bring more transparency to the way the companies handle their customer operations.
“Because they have not been subject to some of the same oversight and regulation, I think it’s been really confusing for consumers, ” said McCaskill.
“Many of the business models in terms of what you pay, when your bill goes up and why, what is that on your bill, what do I have to have, and what’s this tier and what’s that tier. I’ve just gotten an awful lot of complaints from people about pay TV and lack of transparency in the customer relationship.”
