Comcast HD Technology Fee

You were told wrong. The HD Fee is a junk fee. I have a Tivo Bolt with a cable card and at one time, also had one Comcast DVR box that was not connected, just stored in my closet. The box was free but I was being charged a monthly HD Technology fee. As soon as turned in the box and was Comcast equipment free (except for their cable card), the HD fee went away without loss of HD content.

 

When pairing a cable card it takes 15 minutes for my provider. A few years ago I had that fee. It was called the "HD & 3D Technology fee". It was $10. Then they moved it to a HD Premiere Tier and dropped the price to $8. It includes HDNET Movies. Last year they dropped it to $6. I keep it for the un-cut, un-censored movies. It's like HBO before they had original content. Also, all SD channels have an HD mirror channel (if possible). But if I could go back in time to receive the quality I had five years ago... HD ain't what it used to be.

 

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My personal experience is that I removed the HD Technology Fee and still have access to the Comcast HD channels, as well as HD content via the Xfinity On Demand for TiVo app. (I haven't checked the Comcast/Xfinity app for Roku.)

"Without," I assume. Saving $10/mo was worth the risk on our side.

 

It may be junk where you live but not out here, each Comcast area is different and they will drop your HD channels if you get rid of it here.

 

Have you seen this or is it just speculation.

I don't pay HD fee.

 

If you have an older plan or tv only the hd fee is required to get hd programing(not sure if you need it for a tivo) If you have any of the newer plans there is no hd tech fee.

 

When I had Comcast in Minneapolis I used my Roamio and never had a HD fee yet I got the HD channels just fine.

It never showed on the bill either

 

Its part of my package now and my moms as well.

 

It was included in our package price for the first year, as well, then it dropped-in as a line item on our 13th month. We then had it removed ... with no ill effects from a TiVo perspective.

 

Every year I get a bill from my cable company that has a printed version of the rates: http://www.secv.com/cdocs/secv_rate_card.pdf , the channel lineups: Service Electric Cablevision | Channel Lineup and an explanation of any changes. My little cable feed is rated #18 of the MSOs. They also know cable cards. The big guys could learn things from the little guys.

 

No that's not true for all franchises either since we had an old plan going back to when Comcast bough Adelphia. There's also no mention of it in our current DoublePlay plan that we switched to last year.

While it is not needed here and for many users that have posted here (and their franchise/billing), there have been a few postings where they removed it and lost access to HD channels. No idea what is different about their franchise or billing but it obviously ties that fee to their subscription at those sites but not in others. This could be tied to the billing they are using locally (since Comcast has purchased a lot of cable companies although they are trying to consolidate the billing/accounting) or if it's related to the hardware used locally. We have Cisco/SA CableCARDs here and I recall at least one user that required the HD fee had Motorola CableCARDS. Maybe it's possible with one versus the other but it still might not be implemented everywhere.

I don't think you'll know for your franchise until you remove it or have someone else with a CableCARD device report that it's not needed.

Scott

 

From my experience with Comcast, a HD Technology Fee was charged for Comcast HD equipment. e.g. my in-laws's rent includes Comcast service but only standard definition equipment. To get HD equipment (no TiVo) they are paying $9.95/month.

 

Philly area is the same as well.

 

I have Comcast/Xfinity with cablecard on Tivo Bolt, no HD fee, I get HD channels fine. I did find that when using the Xfinity app on a Roku, I dont get HD channels, I get them on Mac or Ipad/Iphone app just not the Roku. Was told I need to pay the HD fee, honestly couldn't care less

 

On the stream app on Roku I only see the SD channels not the 400's