Manassas Journal Messenger | Comcast extends amnesty... -
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Published on: 6/18/2003
Last Visited: 6/18/2003
Comcast extend the deadline for its amnesty program for illegal cable users to June 30, Comcast spokesman Sandy Steeves said.
"Since we started this, it has been a really successful program," Steeves said.
The program began on June 1, and since then more than 5,000 people in the Washington, D.C., Metro area have turned themselves in, he said.
The program was originally scheduled to end June 15.
Through the amnesty program, people receiving illegal cable access can turn in themselves by calling 1-888-COMCAST or visiting the program's Web site at www.cabletheft.com.
People turning themselves in through this program by the deadline will be able to do so anonymously and without penalty, Steeves said.
"We've had a lot of people turn themselves in already, but we know there are still people out there receiving cable services illegally," he said.
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Comcast will then turn the information they find over to local and state attorney offices, Steeves said.
The cable industry loses $6.6 billion each year because of cable theft, he said.
Cable theft also costs local governments millions of dollars each year because they receive a franchise fee from cable sales, Steeves said.
"Cable theft is a crime and we want people to know we will take it seriously," Steeves said.
Using cable illegally is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,500 and a year in jail, Prince William police said. numbers in this story are for teh entire Washington, D.C. region .. Comcast spokesman Sandy Steeves said numbers broken down into smaller areas such as Prince William County and Manassas were not available.