Baldwin LightStream’s Policies & Practices
Below are Baldwin LightStream’s Policies and Practices. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of these documents, please contact us and we would be happy to answer them for you.
Fees & Taxes
Fees & Taxes
Baldwin LightStream bills fees and taxes imposed by content providers and government organizations. All of these charges to our customers are billed directly, without markup, and appear as line items on monthly bills. Fees include payments for content and broadcasting rights from our cable television partners. Customers are also liable for regulatory fees, franchises fees, and other similar taxes and fees issued through federal, state, and local agencies. We bill in advance for all services to be provided during the ensuing billing period and ask that bills be paid upon receipt. Payments made by check that are returned unpaid will be assessed a $42.00 handling charge.
ILEC & CLEC
The government defines Baldwin LightStream as an ILEC (Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier) within the towns of Baldwin and Woodville, our original areas of service from 1900. In all other areas we are defined as a CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier), which carries outbuild costs and regulatory fees we pass directly to our customers. These are the costs reflected in the TotalSTREAM HD Video, Voice, and Data package. Ideally we would have one low rate for all customers, but the Telecommunications Act of 1996 mandates this distinction.
Broadcaster Fees
Broadcaster fees are negotiated by Baldwin LightStream to bring you local broadcasting at the lowest possible price. These fees along with cable rates increase annually and are then passed directly on to our customer without markup. These costs appear as separate line items on your monthly statement. Broadcaster fees are currently $31.60.
Taxes
Customers are liable for payment of all applicable federal, state, and local taxes and are billed accordingly on every monthly bill. Exact amounts are itemized on the bill and are reflective of the amounts specified and issued via government agencies. Baldwin LightStream has no control over these amounts and bill them directly as enacted by law.