This is exactly what I need. The local cable company "requires" you to purchase digital cable and other packages just to get HBO. Comes out to like $65 for the absolute cheapest way to get HBO (along with about 140 channels I don't want).
I called my local cable company and first asked them the cheapest way to get HBO. They still said I had to purchase the digital cable packages. When I inquired about the Cable Act of 1992 and it's requirement the operator was first defensive and then flustered and admitted she had no clue about the Act. She transferred me to management where I left a message and am waiting for them to call me back.
God it feels good to have the cable company over a barrel for a change.
Some specifics I found out about the cable act:
This provision effective Oct. 5 2002. It actually went in to effect in 1992 but there was a 10 year grace period to overcome "technological limitations". Check out this quote from
this FCC reminder to cable companies:
As of October 5, 2002, cable operators no longer will be able to require subscribers to purchase cable programming service tiers in order to access premium or pay-per-view channels based on the lack of addressable converter boxes or other technological limitations.
It seems to me this would negate any argument that it's not possible to provide me with just basic cable and HBO. I'll keep you posted to further developments
***UPDATE*****
Don't know for sure but it is looking like we are all pretty much screwed out of this. There is an exemption for cable companies with "effective competition", one definition of "effective competition" in the act is a competitor with 15% market penetration. Assuming the dish companies are considered competition, that leaves most of us out of luck (in my area dish accounts for like 23% and I think that's typical).