Monopoly: Pass Go, Lose $200

Whenever I play the Monopoly game, I feel in control when rolling those die and collecting my $200 after passing go. Unfortunately, monopoly is now controlling me when it comes to my local cable company.

Instead of collecting that $200, I'm forking out the $200 to our local cable company, Comcast. I have now gotten to the point, where I am only committing myself to the basic cable service and their cable Internet.

Due to a restriction with my landlord, I am not able to install a dish to have any option of other TV services. This leaves me one option: Comcast. I wouldn't mind being restricted to cable based TV, however, with only 1 option, there is no opportunity to "shop around". Many others have similar issues due to renting as well as house position disabling them from having a satellite dish alternative.

In Pennsylvania, we are fortunate to be able to shop around for such items as our electricity and other utilities. Somehow Comcast has managed to finagle the system in their favor so that there is no competition and therefore, it's the new millennium's monopoly.

Without cable, I cannot even receive local stations, and due to only using our cell phones, we have no landline to offer other types of Internet services. Again, that leaves one option: Comcast. Service is negligent, prices are outrageous and again, did I mention no options?

Digital TV will be the only option allowed for TV come 2009 due to a newly passed law, and once that goes into effect, I fully expect Comcast to take full advantage of price gouging offering only their $60 package for digital cable. Personally, I am not looking forward to going back to paying over $125 a month for cable and Internet.

Comcast on numerous occasions has manipulated my accounts and not adequately noted changes requested for my account. I have had to battle with them for hours just for them to honor a change that was made months before. How does this continue? I am aware of several other friends and family members who have experienced similar issues with a company which offers no alternative.

Comcast continues to fail its customers by providing below par customer service, offering no other viable alternatives to its products and using shady business practices. When there are no other options, it is a Monopoly. It is the new game controlling America's industry. Pass go, lose $200.