About the Office of Cable Communications
Established in 1976, the Office of Cable Communications (OCC) has overall responsibility for issues related to cable television and cable Internet service for Seattle residents. The Office oversees the City's non-exclusive cable television franchises with Comcast and Broadstripe (formerly known as Millennium Digital Media) through enforcement of the franchise agreements, with an emphasis on citizen concerns.

Broadstripe Bankruptcy Status
On January 2, 2009, Broadstripe LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The local Broadstripe office confirmed the filing and will send us formal notification. We will meet with them as soon as is feasible. Broadstripe also confirmed its commitment to continue providing service to Seattle customers with no interruptions during the financial restructuring. We will monitor customer calls to the Cable Office to confirm that service does not suffer.

Cable Consumer Protection
The OCC investigates and mediates consumer/cable company issues and enforces the Cable Customer Bill of Rights (CCBOR). Adopted in 1999, the CCBOR established minimum standards for cable companies operating in Seattle, and procedures and penalties if those standards are not met. In 2002, amendments to the CCBOR strengthened these protections and added the strongest cable privacy protections in the country.

Specific Functions of the Office of Cable Communications Include:

• Monitoring and enforcing compliance with Seattle's cable franchises
• Regulating basic rates as permissible under federal law
• Negotiating and administering franchise agreements, franchise renewals and transfers as necessary with incumbent providers and new entrants
• Auditing franchise fee payments
• Ensuring provision of public access television and overseeing the contract with Seattle Community Access Network
• Resolving all concerns and complaints between citizens and the cable companies
• Administering the Cable Customer Bill of Rights
• Preparing reports, recommendations and analyses to inform elected officials, the public, and the media about cable and telecommunications issues
• Representing the City in long term telecommunications planning efforts with local and federal regulatory agencies, and Seattle's Citizens Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Board

NOTICE

If you experience a cable or Internet service outage, you can contact your cable operator to receive a credit on your bill. The phone numbers for cable operators in Seattle are listed below.

Comcast:
(888) 262-6300

Broadstripe:
(800) 829-2225