Comcast 2012 Annual Report Download - page 16

Table of Contents
Other Wireline Providers
Federal law prohibits franchising authorities from unreasonably denying requests for additional franchises, and it permits franchising
authorities to operate cable systems. In addition to phone companies, various other companies, including those that traditionally
have not provided cable services and have substantial financial resources, have obtained cable franchises and provide competing
cable services. These and other cable systems offer cable services in some areas where we hold franchises. We anticipate that
facilities-based competitors may emerge in other franchise areas that we serve.
Satellite Master Antenna Television Systems
Our cable services also compete for customers with SMATV systems. SMATV system operators typically are not subject to
regulation in the same manner as local, franchised cable system operators. SMATV systems offer their subscribers both improved
reception of local broadcast television stations and much of the programming offered by our cable systems. In addition, some
SMATV system operators offer packages of video, Internet and phone services to residential and business subscribers.
Other Video Competitors
Our cable services also may compete for customers with other companies, such as:
Some of these competitors offer their services for free or charge a nominal fee for access to their content.
High-Speed Internet Services
We compete with a number of companies offering Internet services, many of which have substantial resources, including:
Digital subscriber line (“DSL”)
technology allows Internet access to be provided to customers over phone lines at data transmission
speeds substantially greater than those of dial-
up modems. Phone companies and certain other companies offer DSL service, and
several of these companies have increased transmission speeds, lowered prices or created bundled service packages. In addition,
some phone companies, such as AT&T, Verizon and CenturyLink, have built and are continuing to build fiber-optic-
based networks
that allow them to
•
online services and devices that offer digital distribution of video programming, which in some cases may
be viewed on traditional televisions or, more recently, on Internet
-
connected televisions
•
local broadcast television stations that provide multiple channels of free over-the-
air programming and
newer services that provide programming from such broadcasts online for a fee
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wireless and other emerging mobile technologies that provide for the distribution and viewing of video
programming online and through mobile apps available for smartphones and tablets
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video rental services and home video products
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wireline phone companies
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Internet service providers
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wireless phone companies and other providers of wireless Internet service
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power companies
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municipal broadband networks
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Comcast 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-
K