Bermuda CableVision is appealing the Telecommunications Commission's rejection of its application to offer an 8Mb x 4Mb high-speed service.

CableVision applied to the Commission in November 2008 for several new tariffs, including a request to move its 2Mb x 2Mb high-speed subscribers to a 4Mb x 4Mb service at the same price of $35, and to offer a 6Mb x 4Mb service for $45 and an 8Mb x 4Mb service for $55.

The first tariff was approved last year, with the company's customers now receiving higher speeds at an identical price, but last month, the 6Mb x 4Mb service was approved at the same rate as the 4Mb x 4Mb service and the 8Mb x 4Mb service was declined, with the Commission giving CableVision no reason why they had made that decision.

CableVision plans to appeal the last two decisions and has written to the Commission asking for the reasons behind the move.

Terry Roberson, general manager of Bermuda CableVision, said: "Bermuda CableVision submitted tariffs for a 6 Mb x 4 Mb high-speed service for $45 and an 8 Mb x 4 Mb service for $55 - so that our customers with greater data needs would be provided other options to upgrade their capacity for sending and receiving information over the internet. On July 29, the Telecommunications Commission responded to our tariff proposals and approved the 6 Mb x 4 Mb service - however at the same rate as the Commission approved the 4 Mb x 4 Mb product of $35.

"We have now written to the Commission for their reasons for this directive and are in the process of appealing this decision to the Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce.

"Our application to offer customers a top of the range 8 Mb x 4 Mb option has been declined and we will also be appealing this decision with the Minister."

BTC also applied for a 6 Mb service at $39, which was approved by the Commission last month and will be available from August 31. The Telecommunications Commission had not responded at press time.