Fourth Circuit Rules Against OpenBand 'Monopoly'

After years-long battle, the county's OpenBand communities appear one step closer to resolution; how long is the journey?

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit has upheld lower court rulings related to OpenBand Communications LLC and several Loudoun communities that filed suit against the open video service provider. The years-long battle involves the company's attempt to maintain exclusive rights to serve Landowne on the Potomac, Lansdowne Village Green and the Southern Walk section of Broadlands. Resident not only complained about the quality of the service, for which they were required to pay, but also their inability to obtain service from an OpenBand competitor. Other Stories: Supervisor Deny OpenBand Franchise OpenBand Challenged on Several Fronts OpenBand Plays the Victim at Board Hearing

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Loudoun Judges Recuse Themselves in OpenBand Case

The move will delay the trial in which the company has sued Loudoun for the ability to continue operating its franchise.

Letter to the Editor

LTE: Dear Santa, Help Us With OpenBand

A Christmas list filled with bundled service options that function as they should.

Dear Santa, While I haven’t written to you in many years (decades … yikes!), I find that this year I have a need for a very special Christmas gift that I hope you can bring me. Please try to convince OpenBand to drop its absurd multi-million dollar lawsuit against the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and two of its distinguished members, as well as one citizen it has chosen to single out for airing her grievances, and instead, use the money it has set aside for this lawsuit to: Santa, I realize that this request may be too overwhelming for you to accommodate, so if you cannot fulfill it I will ask instead that you just take care of the following single request: Try to ensure that the Judge who sits on the OpenBand case is now or soon …

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Letter to the Editor

LTE: OpenBand Lawsuit ‘Absurd’

Lansdowne residents says ‘E’ is for ‘Egregious,’ ‘Extortion’ and ‘Ethics.’

The absurd action by OpenBand (OB) in which it has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and other parties concerning the board's recent decision not to renewal its franchise (as reported in the Loudoun Times Mirror on Oct. 11, 2012) should come as no surprise to anyone! Instead of OB recognizing and accepting the fact that the majority of its subscribers are fed up with its dismal service and trying to settle their legitimate gripes in a fair and equitable manner, OB turns around and files a massive lawsuit against the very government body, of which two of its members went "over and beyond the call of duty” in their effort to assist in resolving. And talk about the "pot calling the kettle …

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Communities' OpenBand Appeals Merge

Cases against the open video service provider are combined as legal battle continues.

OpenBand Franchise Vote Pushed Back

Customers continue to complain about service issues, while company makes case to keep operating.

In the time since the past Loudoun Board of Supervisors rejected an agreement to renew OpenBand Communications’ franchise in the county, the company and its customers do not appear any closer to coming to terms. OpenBand serves a little more than 4,000 homes in Loudoun in several communities, including Lansdowne on the Potomac, Lansdowne Village Greens, Southern Walk at Broadlands and communities within Leisure World. A series of lawsuits has been filed by some of the communities against OpenBand, while OpenBand filed, but did not serve a suit on the county regarding last year’s franchise rejection. While several suits against OpenBand have been dismissed, at least one remains, while an appeal appears imminent for another. During all the …

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Supervisors Deny Open Band Franchise

Facing lawsuits with HOAs in Lansdowne and Southern Walk, Open Band's problems deepen.

The Loudoun Board of Supervisors on Wednesday voted 8-1 to deny renewal of Open Band's lapsed cable television franchise. The dissenting vote was cast by Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling). "Some of us vote no sometimes, and we're all alone. I feel like that today," he said. "I fundamentally disagree with the direction the board is going in. I respect very much the people who have a legal battle on both sides." Delgaudio wanted to continue negotiating with the telecommunications provider, which serves homes in Southern Walk, Lansdowne on the Potomac, Lansdowne Town Center (also known as Lansdowne Village Greens) and Leisure World.   OpenBand's franchise expired in 2009 and the company has since tried to work out a retroactive renewal. "It is …

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OpenBand Franchise Decision Deferred

Southern Walk residents plead for denial, but supervisors have questions.

The Loudoun Board of Supervisors rejected a motion to deny the OpenBand Communications franchise agreement Tuesday, citing questions about what the denial would mean to communities served by the open video service provider. Several supervisors said they needed more time to review aspects of the item before voting, and the majority agreed to defer the final vote until just before the November election. At least four supervisors appear poised to deny the franchise. The company has been operating beyond the deadline of its initial franchise for about 30 months. Many Southern Walk residents who spoke during the Oct. 11 public hearing saying they want competition that does not require them to pay for two services, which numerous residents …

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Southern Walk Resident

12:33 pm on Thursday, October 20, 2011

Robin....they don't want the gravy train to end. They probably will spend an unlimited amount of $$$ to ensure that the gravy train keeps on rolling at all costs until 65 years expires....competition be damned they say. They don't care about allowing residents choices...and they will do everything possible to ensure that their monopoly continues at our expense.   more ›

Another Suit Pondered Against OpenBand

Lansdowne Village Greens may join cast of litigants fighting company.

Leesburg Today reported Monday that Lansdowne Village Greens voted recently to hire an attorney and explore legal options regarding video, Internet and telephone services provided by OpenBand Communications. Read the latest on Leesburg Today’s website. Previous reports from Patch detail the basic case against the company as well as its response. OpenBand Challenged on Several Fronts OpenBand Pushes Back on Complaints, Lawsuits

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OpenBand Critics United at Hearing

Residents from communities served by company share frustration.

Verizon, Comcast and Direct TV each offer something in the range of 150 HD channels and the possibility of 3-D TV is working its way into some of their planned upgrades. Later this year, OpenBand customers are promised, they might get as many as 91 HD Channels, and maybe even HD Video on Demand. Technology, however, was just one branch of OpenBand’s company tree that customers attacked during a public hearing Monday, June 13. From its technology and competition to video quality and customer service, more than 30 speakers, many who waited hours for their turned to speak, were united in their dissatisfaction with the video, telephone and Internet provider. While some residents were clearly more upset than others, without exception each …

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