Alameda P&T Uncovers More Unauthorized Customer Switching.

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Alameda Power & Telecom has uncovered more switching of its cable television and Internet customers to Comcast without authorization or notification.

"Frankly, it's difficult to believe that this activity has continued," said Alameda P&T spokesman Matt McCabe.

Late Tuesday, the municipal telecommunications and electricity provider began advising its customers to closely monitor their cable television and Internet services, as it had received customer reports of unauthorized service switching.

Alameda Power & Telecom had advised Comcast of the incidents and requested their assistance in preventing further unauthorized activity. "I would have expected this matter to receive the highest priority," McCabe continued, "but we're even having a difficult time just getting our calls returned."

On Tuesday, Alameda Power & Telecom started receiving calls from some of its customers in area apartments and condominiums advising that they had lost their Alameda Power & Telecom cable television and/or Internet service. Upon investigation, it was found that these services indeed had been cut and transferred over to Comcast.

McCabe explained, "By Wednesday, we thought the matter had been resolved. Evidently, it hadn't. Sometime during the day on Thursday, another group of customers was switched.

"We hoped this circumstance was just an oversight on the part of Comcast's representatives or someone else. Now, we're not sure what to think.

"It appears to me that Comcast may be focusing on the Alameda market. They have a pricing structure unique to Alameda, the only Bay Area community that offers a choice of cable television providers. While Alameda Power & Telecom service still costs significantly less than Comcast, Comcast itself costs less in Alameda than in surrounding communities. We like to see that as one of the benefits of competition.

"And despite whatever happens and whoever is responsible, we intend to keep competing."