At Astound Broadband, we are committed to doing everything we can to provide you with the best, most advanced services backed with award-winning customer care. Each of us works hard to ensure that you and the communities we serve have access to the fastest and most reliable Internet, TV and phone services. Each and every day, we endeavor to deliver high-quality services at a great value and have always aimed to put our customers first. We are transparent with our customers and we want you to know what comprises the taxes, surcharges, and fees you see on your bill. Below, please find a summary of rate adjustments for specific fees; unless otherwise notated, the surcharges and/or fees listed are neither government mandated nor a tax, surcharge, or fee imposed by the government. They are either a surcharge and/or fee Astound Broadband assesses and retains.
Programming fees paid to entertainment networks and regional sports networks, in addition to retransmission consent fees demanded by local broadcasters, comprise one of the largest costs in our business. These fees have historically increased over time and continue to grow at an alarming rate.
To help offset a portion of the cost for the delivery of programming content, Astound Broadband has instituted specific fees and/or surcharges; unless otherwise notated, the surcharges and/or fees listed are neither government mandated nor a tax, surcharge, or fee imposed by the government. They are either a surcharge and/or fee Astound Broadband assesses and retains. For more information, please see the FAQs below.
We’ll continue working hard to bring you the most advanced services with outstanding customer support, while minimizing operating and programming costs. Led by a customer-focused vision, we’re dedicated to fulfilling your communication, entertainment and information needs.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
What are the taxes, surcharges, and fees?
- Broadcast TV Surcharge is applied to all digital TV packages to help offset the costs of programming content and delivery of the local and regional broadcast television signals to our customers.
- Sports Surcharge is applied to those video customers who have Signature TV, Premiere or Sports Tiers to help offset the delivery and cost of programming associated with professional, collegiate and amateur games and other sports content.
- Entertainment Networks Surcharge is applied to all video customers with Signature TV and above. This helps offset the costs associated with the programming and delivery of entertainment networks such as Discovery/Scripps, Comcast/NBC Universal, Turner, ABC/Disney/ESPN/Fox and others.
- Network Access and Maintenance Fee helps defray costs associated with building and maintaining Astound Broadband’s fiber rich broadband network, as well as the costs of expanding network capacity to support the continued increase in customers’ average broadband consumption.
- The Municipal Construction Surcharge (New York and Chicago) is applied to all cable and Internet customers, whether a la carte or in a bundle. Phone only customers are not included and will not see this surcharge. This surcharge is designed to recover a portion of the expenses Astound Broadband incurs from government mandated relocation of its facilities that are in the public rights-of-way to prevent interference with street repairs, public construction projects or other activities required for public health, safety or convenience.
- A Regulatory Administration Fee of 2% applies to recover the cost of complying with certain federal, state, and/or local impositions related to voice service. It is a monthly charge to defray a portion of the fees paid to support government programs such as Telecommunications Relay Service and Local Number Portability, along with other charges assessed by the FCC, and additional indirect costs associated with administering and complying with government programs.
- Periodically, franchise, utility, PEG fees and other government mandated fees and taxes are also adjusted in keeping with regulatory requirements. These fees and taxes are government mandated and we are required to comply.
- For a complete listing of Taxes, Surcharges, and Fees in your area, please refer to your monthly invoice or click here.
Do I have to pay the Sports or Entertainment Networks Surcharge if I have Limited Basic only?
Are the surcharges and fees a government mandated tax or fee?
Is this cost different from what I have been paying for in the past?
While we pledge to hold prices as low as possible, annual adjustments are necessary because of the rising cost of TV programming – specific to broadcast, sports and entertainment networks.
In recent years, broadcasters and network owners have become very aggressive, demanding increasingly larger payments for carriage of their “must see” network shows and their family of networks when historically most channels were available at much lower costs to consumers and the cable TV provider.
What is the broadcast TV surcharge?
Why do I have to pay for broadcast TV if I can get it free with an antenna?
What is the sports surcharge?
I don’t watch sports channels. Why must I pay this sports surcharge?
What is the entertainment networks surcharge?
I don’t watch all of these networks. Why must I pay for all?
- Carrying individual channels instead of a network owner’s entire “family of networks” is not an option offered to cable TV providers like Astound Broadband. We are forced to carry ALL networks from a given network owner.
- Most carriage agreements require cable TV providers to pay large programming rate hikes or forgo carriage of all networks — with no in between option.
- Network owners have also forced cable TV providers to carry channels on specific tiers as part of the agreement, which drives costs higher.
- Networks are also forcing higher fees on cable TV providers for TV Everywhere and On Demand carriage as part of carriage agreements.
- Cable TV providers are required to pay a fee for every household who receives that channel, regardless of whether anyone in that household even watches the channel.
Why do network owners do this?
I don’t need/want all of these networks. What can I do?
What is the history behind Cable TV?
1948 | ![]() |
1948 – 1972 | ![]() |
1972 | ![]() |
1992 | ![]() |
1992 – 2005 | ![]() |
2005 – 2010 | ![]() |
2011 – PRESENT | ![]() |
What is “retransmission consent”?
Unlike cable TV networks, broadcast TV stations distribute their signals over the air, using free spectrum granted to them by the federal government. In effect, taxpayers subsidize the distribution of broadcast TV signals. These same broadcast TV stations are then allowed by the government to charge cable and satellite distributors for their signals — and if we don’t agree to pay, broadcasters can force us to drop their channels. It’s all part of a process known as “retransmission consent negotiations.”
Without the written consent of the local broadcast station ownership, cable and satellite companies are not allowed by law to carry those signals.
Twenty years later, the competitive environment for cable TV providers has changed dramatically. Companies that own the local broadcast TV stations are increasingly demanding huge demands for cash that drive up a cable, satellite, or telephone company’s costs of doing business, and this pricing ultimately affects customers. Cable TV providers cannot absorb these rapidly escalating fees paid to networks and sports channels, plus retransmission fees from local broadcasters. These fees comprise the largest costs in our business and are growing the fastest.
What are the taxes, surcharges, and fees?
- Broadcast TV Surcharge is applied to all TV packages to help offset the costs of programming content and delivery of the local and regional broadcast television signals to our customers.
- Sports Surcharge is applied to those video customers who have the Standard Package or higher to help offset the delivery and cost of programming associated with professional, collegiate and amateur games and other sports content.
- Entertainment Networks Surcharge is applied to all video customers with the Standard Package or higher. This helps offset the costs associated with the programming and delivery of entertainment networks such as Discovery/Scripps, Comcast/NBC Universal, Turner, ABC/Disney/ESPN/Fox and others.
- Network Access and Maintenance Fee is applied to defray costs associated with building and maintaining Astound’s fiber rich broadband network, as well as the costs of expanding network capacity to support the continued increase in customers’ average broadband consumption.
- A Regulatory Administration Fee of 2% applies to recover the cost of complying with certain federal, state, and/or local impositions related to voice service. Cable and/or Internet customers who do not also have voice service are not included and will not see this surcharge. It is a monthly charge to defray a portion of the fees paid to support government programs such as Telecommunications Relay Service and Local Number Portability, along with other charges assessed by the FCC, and additional indirect costs associated with administering and complying with government programs.
- Periodically, franchise, utility, PEG fees and other government mandated fees and taxes are also adjusted in keeping with regulatory requirements. These fees and taxes are government mandated, pass-through fees that we are required to remit to applicable governmental authorities.
- For a complete listing of Taxes, Surcharges, and Fees in your area, please refer to your monthly invoice or click here.
Do I have to pay the Sports or Entertainment Networks Surcharge if I have Limited Basic only?
Are the surcharges and fees a government mandated tax or fee?
Is this cost different from what I have been paying for in the past?
While we pledge to hold prices as low as possible, annual adjustments are necessary because of the rising cost of TV programming – specific to broadcast, sports and entertainment networks.
In recent years, broadcasters and network owners have become very aggressive, demanding increasingly larger payments for carriage of their “must see” network shows and their family of networks when historically most channels were available at much lower costs to consumers and the cable TV provider.
What is the Broadcast TV Surcharge?
Why do I have to pay for Broadcast TV if I can get it free with an antenna?
What is the Sports Surcharge?
I don’t watch sports channels. Why must I pay this Sports Surcharge?
What is the Entertainment Networks Surcharge?
I don’t watch all of these networks. Why must I pay for all?
- Carrying individual channels instead of a network owner’s entire “family of networks” is not an option that programmers offer to cable TV providers like Astound. We are forced to carry ALL networks from a given network owner.
- Most carriage agreements require cable TV providers to pay large programming rate hikes or forgo carriage of all networks — with no in between option.
- Network owners have also forced cable TV providers to carry channels on specific tiers as part of the agreement, which drives costs higher.
- Networks are also forcing higher fees on cable TV providers for TV Everywhere and On Demand carriage as part of carriage agreements.
- Cable TV providers are required to pay a fee for every household who receives that channel, regardless of whether anyone in that household even watches the channel.
Why do network owners do this?
I don’t need/want all of these networks. What can I do?
What is the history behind Cable TV?
1948 | ![]() |
1948 – 1972 | ![]() |
1972 | ![]() |
1992 | ![]() |
1992 – 2005 | ![]() |
2005 – 2010 | ![]() |
2011 – PRESENT | ![]() |
What is “retransmission consent”?
Unlike cable TV networks, broadcast TV stations distribute their signals over the air, using free spectrum granted to them by the federal government. In effect, taxpayers subsidize the distribution of broadcast TV signals. These same broadcast TV stations are then allowed by the government to charge cable and satellite distributors for their signals — and if we don’t agree to pay, broadcasters can force us to drop their channels. It’s all part of a process known as “retransmission consent negotiations.”
Without the written consent of the local broadcast station ownership, cable and satellite companies are not allowed by law to carry those signals.
Twenty years later, the competitive environment for cable TV providers has changed dramatically. Companies that own the local broadcast TV stations are increasingly demanding huge demands for cash that drive up a cable, satellite, or telephone company’s costs of doing business, and this pricing ultimately affects customers. Cable TV providers cannot absorb these rapidly escalating fees paid to networks and sports channels, plus retransmission fees from local broadcasters. These fees comprise the largest costs in our business and are growing the fastest.
What are the Taxes, Surcharges, and Fees?
- Broadcast TV Surcharge is applied to all TV packages to help offset the costs of programming content and delivery of the local and regional broadcast television signals to our customers.
- Sports Surcharge is applied to those video customers who have Preferred TV, Premier or Sports Tiers to help offset the delivery and cost of programming associated with professional, collegiate and amateur games and other sports content.
- Entertainment Networks Surcharge is applied to all video customers with Preferred TV and above. This helps offset the costs associated with the programming and delivery of entertainment networks such as Discovery/Scripps, Comcast/NBC Universal, Turner, ABC/Disney/ESPN/Fox and others.
- Network Access and Maintenance Fee is applied to defray costs associated with building and maintaining Astound’s fiber rich broadband network, as well as the costs of expanding network capacity to support the continued increase in customers’ average broadband consumption.
- A Regulatory Administration Fee of 2% applies to recover the cost of complying with certain federal, state, and/or local impositions related to voice service. Cable and/or Internet customers who do not also have voice service are not included and will not see this surcharge. It is a monthly charge to defray a portion of the fees paid to support government programs such as Telecommunications Relay Service and Local Number Portability, along with other charges assessed by the FCC, and additional indirect costs associated with administering and complying with government programs.
- Periodically, franchise, utility, PEG fees and other government mandated fees and taxes are also adjusted in keeping with regulatory requirements. These fees and taxes are government mandated, pass-through fees that we are required to remit to applicable governmental authorities.
- For a complete listing of Taxes, Surcharges, and Fees in your area, please refer to your monthly invoice or click here.
Do I have to pay the Sports or Entertainment Networks Surcharge if I have Limited Basic only?
Are the Surcharges and fees a government mandated tax or fee?
Is this cost different from what I have been paying for in the past?
While we pledge to hold prices as low as possible, annual adjustments are necessary because of the rising cost of TV programming – specific to broadcast, sports and entertainment networks.
In recent years, broadcasters and network owners have become very aggressive, demanding increasingly larger payments for carriage of their “must see” network shows and their family of networks when historically most channels were available at much lower costs to consumers and the cable TV provider.
What is the Broadcast TV Surcharge?
Why do I have to pay for Broadcast TV if I can get it free with an antenna?
What is the Sports Surcharge?
I don’t watch sports channels. Why must I pay this Sports Surcharge?
What is the Entertainment Networks Surcharge?
I don’t watch all of these networks. Why must I pay for all?
- Carrying individual channels instead of a network owner’s entire “family of networks” is not an option that programmers offer to cable TV providers like Astound. We are forced to carry ALL networks from a given network owner.
- Most carriage agreements require cable TV providers to pay large programming rate hikes or forgo carriage of all networks — with no in between option.
- Network owners have also forced cable TV providers to carry channels on specific tiers as part of the agreement, which drives costs higher.
- Networks are also forcing higher fees on cable TV providers for TV Everywhere and On Demand carriage as part of carriage agreements.
- Cable TV providers are required to pay a fee for every household who receives that channel, regardless of whether anyone in that household even watches the channel.
Why do network owners do this?
I don’t need/want all of these networks. What can I do?
What is the history behind Cable TV?
1948 | ![]() |
1948 – 1972 | ![]() |
1972 | ![]() |
1992 | ![]() |
1992 – 2005 | ![]() |
2005 – 2010 | ![]() |
2011 – PRESENT | ![]() |
What is “Retransmission Consent”?
Unlike cable TV networks, broadcast TV stations distribute their signals over the air, using free spectrum granted to them by the federal government. In effect, taxpayers subsidize the distribution of broadcast TV signals. These same broadcast TV stations are then allowed by the government to charge cable and satellite distributors for their signals — and if we don’t agree to pay, broadcasters can force us to drop their channels. It’s all part of a process known as “retransmission consent negotiations.”
Without the written consent of the local broadcast station ownership, cable and satellite companies are not allowed by law to carry those signals.
Twenty years later, the competitive environment for cable TV providers has changed dramatically. Companies that own the local broadcast TV stations are increasingly demanding huge demands for cash that drive up a cable, satellite, or telephone company’s costs of doing business, and this pricing ultimately affects customers. Cable TV providers cannot absorb these rapidly escalating fees paid to networks and sports channels, plus retransmission fees from local broadcasters. These fees comprise the largest costs in our business and are growing the fastest.
What are the Taxes, Surcharges, and Fees?
- Local Broadcast Cable TV provides access to local networks and shopping channels. It is required in order to access additional tiers of video service including Expanded Content, Digital Content Tiers, and Premium channels.
- Local TV Station Fee-TV Stations levy a separate monthly fee for carriage of their content. This fee is applied to all TV packages to help offset the overall costs of providing programming content for local and regional broadcast television signals and is in addition to Local Broadcast Cable TV.
- Expanded Content Fee-Cable networks levy a separate monthly fee for carriage of their content. This fee is applied to the Expanded Content TV package to help offset overall costs of providing programming content for cable television signals and is in addition to Local Broadcast Cable TV.
- Interactive Equipment Fee provides access to the On-screen guide, On Demand, and Digital Music Channels. Applies on the first piece of interactive equipment.
- Internet Infrastructure Fee is applied to defray costs associated with building and maintaining Astound’s fiber rich broadband network, as well as the costs of expanding network capacity to support the continued increase in customers’ average broadband consumption.
- A Regulatory Administration Fee of 2% applies to all services. A fee to defray costs Astound incurs to comply with state and local regulations in Washington State. This fee is not a government mandated tax or fee imposed by the government. This is a fee that Astound assesses and retains.
- Periodically, franchise, utility, PEG fees and other government mandated fees and taxes are also adjusted in keeping with regulatory requirements. These fees and taxes are government mandated, pass-through fees that we are required to remit to applicable governmental authorities.
- For a complete listing of Taxes, Surcharges, and Fees in your area, please refer to your monthly invoice or click here.
Do I have to pay the Local TV Stations’ fee if I have Local Broadcast only?
Are the Surcharges and fees a government mandated tax or fee?
Is this cost different from what I have been paying for in the past?
While we pledge to hold prices as low as possible, annual adjustments are necessary because of the rising cost of TV programming – specific to broadcast, sports and entertainment networks.
In recent years, broadcasters and network owners have become very aggressive, demanding increasingly larger payments for carriage of their “must see” network shows and their family of networks when historically most channels were available at much lower costs to consumers and the cable TV provider.
What is the Local TV Stations’ fee?
Why do I have to pay for Broadcast TV if I can get it free with an antenna?
I don’t watch all of these networks. Why must I pay for all?
- Carrying individual channels instead of a network owner’s entire “family of networks” is not an option offered to cable TV providers like Astound Broadband. We are forced to carry ALL networks from a given network owner.
- Most carriage agreements require cable TV providers to pay large programming rate hikes or forgo carriage of all networks — with no in between option.
- Network owners have also forced cable TV providers to carry channels on specific tiers as part of the agreement, which drives costs higher.
- Networks are also forcing higher fees on cable TV providers for TV Everywhere and On Demand carriage as part of carriage agreements.
- Cable TV providers are required to pay a fee for every household who receives that channel, regardless of whether anyone in that household even watches the channel.
Why do network owners do this?
I don’t need/want all of these networks. What can I do?
What is the history behind Cable TV?
1948 | ![]() |
1948 – 1972 | ![]() |
1972 | ![]() |
1992 | ![]() |
1992 – 2005 | ![]() |
2005 – 2010 | ![]() |
2011 – PRESENT | ![]() |
What is “Retransmission Consent”?
Unlike cable TV networks, broadcast TV stations distribute their signals over the air, using free spectrum granted to them by the federal government. In effect, taxpayers subsidize the distribution of broadcast TV signals. These same broadcast TV stations are then allowed by the government to charge cable and satellite distributors for their signals — and if we don’t agree to pay, broadcasters can force us to drop their channels. It’s all part of a process known as “retransmission consent negotiations.”
Without the written consent of the local broadcast station ownership, cable and satellite companies are not allowed by law to carry those signals.
Twenty years later, the competitive environment for cable TV providers has changed dramatically. Companies that own the local broadcast TV stations are increasingly demanding huge demands for cash that drive up a cable, satellite, or telephone company’s costs of doing business, and this pricing ultimately affects customers. Cable TV providers cannot absorb these rapidly escalating fees paid to networks and sports channels, plus retransmission fees from local broadcasters. These fees comprise the largest costs in our business and are growing the fastest.
What are the Taxes, Surcharges, and Fees?
- Local Broadcast Cable TV provides access to local networks and shopping channels. It is required in order to access additional tiers of video service including Expanded Content, Digital Content Tiers, and Premium channels.
- Local TV Station Fee-TV Stations levy a separate monthly fee for carriage of their content. This fee is applied to all TV packages to help offset the overall costs of providing programming content for local and regional broadcast television signals and is in addition to Local Broadcast Cable TV.
- Expanded Content Fee-Cable networks levy a separate monthly fee for carriage of their content. This fee is applied to the Expanded Content TV package to help offset overall costs of providing programming content for cable television signals and is in addition to Local Broadcast Cable TV.
- Interactive Equipment Fee provides access to the On-screen guide, On Demand, and Digital Music Channels. Applies on the first piece of interactive equipment.
- Internet Infrastructure Fee is applied to defray costs associated with building and maintaining Astound’s fiber rich broadband network, as well as the costs of expanding network capacity to support the continued increase in customers’ average broadband consumption.
- A Regulatory Administration Fee of 2% applies to all services. A fee to defray costs Astound incurs to comply with state and local regulations in Washington State. This fee is not a government mandated tax or fee imposed by the government. This is a fee that Astound assesses and retains.
- Periodically, franchise, utility, PEG fees and other government mandated fees and taxes are also adjusted in keeping with regulatory requirements. These fees and taxes are government mandated, pass-through fees that we are required to remit to applicable governmental authorities.
- For a complete listing of Taxes, Surcharges, and Fees in your area, please refer to your monthly invoice or click here.
Do I have to pay the Local TV Stations’ fee if I have Local Broadcast only?
Are the Surcharges and fees a government mandated tax or fee?
Is this cost different from what I have been paying for in the past?
While we pledge to hold prices as low as possible, annual adjustments are necessary because of the rising cost of TV programming – specific to broadcast, sports and entertainment networks.
In recent years, broadcasters and network owners have become very aggressive, demanding increasingly larger payments for carriage of their “must see” network shows and their family of networks when historically most channels were available at much lower costs to consumers and the cable TV provider.
What is the Local TV Stations’ fee?
Why do I have to pay for Broadcast TV if I can get it free with an antenna?
I don’t watch all of these networks. Why must I pay for all?
- Carrying individual channels instead of a network owner’s entire “family of networks” is not an option offered to cable TV providers like Astound Broadband. We are forced to carry ALL networks from a given network owner.
- Most carriage agreements require cable TV providers to pay large programming rate hikes or forgo carriage of all networks — with no in between option.
- Network owners have also forced cable TV providers to carry channels on specific tiers as part of the agreement, which drives costs higher.
- Networks are also forcing higher fees on cable TV providers for TV Everywhere and On Demand carriage as part of carriage agreements.
- Cable TV providers are required to pay a fee for every household who receives that channel, regardless of whether anyone in that household even watches the channel.
Why do network owners do this?
I don’t need/want all of these networks. What can I do?
What is the history behind Cable TV?
1948 | ![]() |
1948 – 1972 | ![]() |
1972 | ![]() |
1992 | ![]() |
1992 – 2005 | ![]() |
2005 – 2010 | ![]() |
2011 – PRESENT | ![]() |
What is “Retransmission Consent”?
Unlike cable TV networks, broadcast TV stations distribute their signals over the air, using free spectrum granted to them by the federal government. In effect, taxpayers subsidize the distribution of broadcast TV signals. These same broadcast TV stations are then allowed by the government to charge cable and satellite distributors for their signals — and if we don’t agree to pay, broadcasters can force us to drop their channels. It’s all part of a process known as “retransmission consent negotiations.”
Without the written consent of the local broadcast station ownership, cable and satellite companies are not allowed by law to carry those signals.
Twenty years later, the competitive environment for cable TV providers has changed dramatically. Companies that own the local broadcast TV stations are increasingly demanding huge demands for cash that drive up a cable, satellite, or telephone company’s costs of doing business, and this pricing ultimately affects customers. Cable TV providers cannot absorb these rapidly escalating fees paid to networks and sports channels, plus retransmission fees from local broadcasters. These fees comprise the largest costs in our business and are growing the fastest.
What are the taxes, surcharges, and fees?
- Broadcast TV Surcharge is applicable to all accounts subscribing to Limited Basic/Small TV Tier and higher.
- Sports Surcharge is applicable to all accounts subscribing to Signature/Medium TV Tier and/or Premiere/ Large TV Tier and/or Sports Packages/Tiers.
- Entertainment Networks Surcharge is applied to all video customers with Signature TV and above. This helps offset the costs associated with the programming and delivery of entertainment networks such as Discovery/Scripps, Comcast/NBC Universal, Turner, ABC/Disney/ESPN/Fox and others.
- Network Access and Maintenance Fee helps defray costs associated with building and maintaining Astound Broadband’s fiber rich broadband network, as well as the costs of expanding network capacity to support the continued increase in customers’ average broadband consumption.
- The Municipal Construction Surcharge (New York, Illinois, and Indiana) is applied to all cable and Internet customers, whether a la carte or in a bundle. Phone only customers are not included and will not see this surcharge. This surcharge is designed to recover a portion of the expenses Astound Broadband incurs from government mandated relocation of its facilities that are in the public rights-of-way to prevent interference with street repairs, public construction projects or other activities required for public health, safety or convenience.
- A Regulatory Administration Fee of 2% applies to recover the cost of complying with certain federal, state, and/or local impositions related to voice service. It is a monthly charge to defray a portion of the fees paid to support government programs such as Telecommunications Relay Service and Local Number Portability, along with other charges assessed by the FCC, and additional indirect costs associated with administering and complying with government programs.
- Periodically, franchise, utility, PEG fees and other government mandated fees and taxes are also adjusted in keeping with regulatory requirements. These fees and taxes are government mandated and we are required to comply.
- For a complete listing of Taxes, Surcharges, and Fees in your area, please refer to your monthly invoice or click here.
Do I have to pay the Sports or Entertainment Networks Surcharge if I have Limited Basic/Small TV Tier only?
Are the surcharges and fees a government mandated tax or fee?
Is this cost different from what I have been paying for in the past?
While we pledge to hold prices as low as possible, annual adjustments are necessary because of the rising cost of TV programming – specific to broadcast, sports and entertainment networks.
In recent years, broadcasters and network owners have become very aggressive, demanding increasingly larger payments for carriage of their “must see” network shows and their family of networks when historically most channels were available at much lower costs to consumers and the cable TV provider.
What is the broadcast TV surcharge?
Why do I have to pay for broadcast TV if I can get it free with an antenna?
What is the sports surcharge?
I don’t watch sports channels. Why must I pay this sports surcharge?
What is the entertainment networks surcharge?
I don’t watch all of these networks. Why must I pay for all?
- Carrying individual channels instead of a network owner’s entire “family of networks” is not an option offered to cable TV providers like Astound Broadband. We are forced to carry ALL networks from a given network owner.
- Most carriage agreements require cable TV providers to pay large programming rate hikes or forgo carriage of all networks — with no in between option.
- Network owners have also forced cable TV providers to carry channels on specific tiers as part of the agreement, which drives costs higher.
- Networks are also forcing higher fees on cable TV providers for TV Everywhere and On Demand carriage as part of carriage agreements.
- Cable TV providers are required to pay a fee for every household who receives that channel, regardless of whether anyone in that household even watches the channel.
Why do network owners do this?
I don’t need/want all of these networks. What can I do?
What is the history behind Cable TV?
1948 | ![]() |
1948 – 1972 | ![]() |
1972 | ![]() |
1992 | ![]() |
1992 – 2005 | ![]() |
2005 – 2010 | ![]() |
2011 – PRESENT | ![]() |
What is “retransmission consent”?
Unlike cable TV networks, broadcast TV stations distribute their signals over the air, using free spectrum granted to them by the federal government. In effect, taxpayers subsidize the distribution of broadcast TV signals. These same broadcast TV stations are then allowed by the government to charge cable and satellite distributors for their signals — and if we don’t agree to pay, broadcasters can force us to drop their channels. It’s all part of a process known as “retransmission consent negotiations.”
Without the written consent of the local broadcast station ownership, cable and satellite companies are not allowed by law to carry those signals.
Twenty years later, the competitive environment for cable TV providers has changed dramatically. Companies that own the local broadcast TV stations are increasingly demanding huge demands for cash that drive up a cable, satellite, or telephone company’s costs of doing business, and this pricing ultimately affects customers. Cable TV providers cannot absorb these rapidly escalating fees paid to networks and sports channels, plus retransmission fees from local broadcasters. These fees comprise the largest costs in our business and are growing the fastest.
What are the fees?
- Network Access and Maintenance Fee helps defray costs associated with building and maintaining Astound Broadband’s fiber rich symmetrical broadband network, as well as the costs of expanding network capacity to support the continued increase in customers’ average broadband consumption.
- A Regulatory Administration Fee of 2% applies to recover the cost of complying with certain federal, state, and/or local impositions related to voice service. It is a monthly charge to defray a portion of the fees paid to support government programs such as Telecommunications Relay Service and Local Number Portability, along with other charges assessed by the FCC, and additional indirect costs associated with administering and complying with government programs. Periodically, franchise, utility, PEG fees and other government mandated fees and taxes are also adjusted in keeping with regulatory requirements. These fees and taxes are government mandated and we are required to comply.
- For a complete listing of Taxes, Surcharges, and Fees in your area, please refer to your monthly invoice or click here.
The Network Access and Maintenance Fee is not imposed by the government and is subject to change. It is a fee that Astound Broadband assesses and retains. This fee is not a franchise fee, which is imposed by local franchising authorities (municipalities) as compensation for Astound Broadband’s use of the public right-of-ways or easements. This fee is also not a tax, which Astound Broadband collects on behalf of local, state, and federal governments.
Is this cost different from what I have been paying for in the past?
While we pledge to hold prices as low as possible, annual adjustments are necessary because of the rising cost of TV programming – specific to broadcast, sports and entertainment networks.
In recent years, broadcasters and network owners have become very aggressive, demanding increasingly larger payments for carriage of their “must see” network shows and their family of networks when historically most channels were available at much lower costs to consumers and the cable TV provider.
I don’t watch all of the networks on my channel lineup. Why must I pay for all?
- Most carriage agreements require cable TV providers to pay large programming rate hikes or forgo carriage of all networks — with no in between option.
- Network owners have also forced cable TV providers to carry channels on specific tiers as part of the agreement, which drives costs higher.
- Networks are also forcing higher fees on cable TV providers for TV Everywhere and On Demand carriage as part of carriage agreements.
- Cable TV providers are required to pay a fee for every household who receives that channel, regardless of whether anyone in that household even watches the channel.
Why do network owners do this?
I don’t need/want all of these networks. What can I do?
What is the history behind Cable TV?
1948 | ![]() |
1948 – 1972 | ![]() |
1972 | ![]() |
1992 | ![]() |
1992 – 2005 | ![]() |
2005 – 2010 | ![]() |
2011 – PRESENT | ![]() |
What is “retransmission consent”?
Unlike cable TV networks, broadcast TV stations distribute their signals over the air, using free spectrum granted to them by the federal government. In effect, taxpayers subsidize the distribution of broadcast TV signals. These same broadcast TV stations are then allowed by the government to charge cable and satellite distributors for their signals — and if we don’t agree to pay, broadcasters can force us to drop their channels. It’s all part of a process known as “retransmission consent negotiations.”
Without the written consent of the local broadcast station ownership, cable and satellite companies are not allowed by law to carry those signals.
Twenty years later, the competitive environment for cable TV providers has changed dramatically. Companies that own the local broadcast TV stations are increasingly demanding huge demands for cash that drive up a cable, satellite, or telephone company’s costs of doing business, and this pricing ultimately affects customers. Cable TV providers cannot absorb these rapidly escalating fees paid to networks and sports channels, plus retransmission fees from local broadcasters. These fees comprise the largest costs in our business and are growing the fastest.
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