Some subscribers have complained about the "unreasonable charges" to have more than one box for each premises but the Broadcasting Commission said the introduction of the cable boxes is well within provision of the operators' licences. "Nothing is wrong with that," said Racquel Crooks, complaints officer at the commission. "It is well within their licences".

The cable boxes serve two key purposes:

Allow TV sets that are not cable-ready to recognise cable input and expand channel capacity.

Allow cable subscribers to view premium/optional channels.

To view channels offered in any cable services, the TV needs to be "cable-ready" or to have a cable box. A TV is cable-ready when it has the capacity to reach a larger number of channels and recognises cable input. A cable box also allows the viewer to select more than 100 channels depending on the provider.

Some channels on cable are optional "subscription" channels that are not part of the basic or standard services. These subscription channels include HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, TMC, Nippon Golden Network, etc. A cable box is required to view subscription channels, even though the viewer has a cable-ready TV. These channels are available for a small monthly fee. The cable box "unscrambles" these channels so the subscriber can view them.

"Pretty soon everybody in Jamaica will be into it," said Cherton DaCosta of Northern Cable and Communications Network (NCCN) in St. Ann. "There is no two way about it." According to DaCosta, the cable boxes bring subscribers a little closer to the real cost. "People are not paying the correct price for what they are now enjoying," he reiterated.

But some residents are very upset about its introduction and the additional cost that goes with it. "Mi caan afford any additional cost right now," said Kadiesha Hamilton of Fletcher's Land, who received cable service from SAUCE Communication Network. "Plus we affi buy more than one box fi every TV," Annakaye Hinds chipped in. "It a mash wi up. A pure old time video mi affi a watch," Hinds said.

One illegal user said he hadn't seen his favourite channel for a while. "Bwoy mi a tell you, mi caan even see mi NBA," he said shaking his head.

But Milnot Williams, operations manager at SAUCE, said the illegal users are the ones making a lot of noise. "For over seven years they have free cable and now we ask them to pay something and they are disgruntled."

According to Mr. Williams, the response to the cable boxes has been overwhelming with a few negatives. "Most people are averse to changes. If it's new, they are sort of scared."

Meanwhile, Howard Webber, manager of Allied Cable Vision said other than decreasing the number of illegal subscribers, the cable box "enables parents to monitor what is shown to their children by locking with a pin code, whatever they don't want their children to see."

He said the four-digit pin code can be locked and unlocked anytime.

The introduction of these boxes mean that subscribers must pay their bills on time or run the risk of being disconnected from the office.

"It's much safer. We can stay at the office and disconnect the service without going to the dangerous areas," said Mr. DaCosta, whose company is upgrading their plants with fibre optic cable to provide clearer service to Ocho Rios and St. Ann's Bay.

The cable boxes prices vary according to each cable provider. SAUCE said they sell their boxes rather than rent them. That way subscribers will take better care of them.

The prices range from $800 to $1,200 plus the monthly fee for the channels selected. "For the month most persons are paying $1,000," said Mr. Williams, SAUCE's operations manager .

According to Mr. Williams, $1,200 allows the viewer to see up to 117 channels, while $800 allows for up to 80 channels.

ILLEGAL DIGITAL SATELLITE SYSTEM (DSS)

In the meanwhile he is asking the Government to intervene and crackdown on the illegal Digital Satellite System (DSS) which he cites as cable providers biggest competitors.

"A lot of cable operators might not want to admit it right now. But when a man buys a 'dish' he doesn't have to pay anything else for the rest of his life," he said.

"Everything has to be regulated. We are now lobbying with the Government to do something about it. It's illegal. If the Broadcasting Commission had any authority they would have cracked down already," Mr. Williams said.

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