Spectrum Sued Over Allegedly Misleading Broadcast TV Fees

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Spectrum misled television subscribers by disguising profit-generating charges as mandatory government fees, specifically the "Broadcast TV Surcharge."

Consumers Affected: Kentucky residents who subscribed to Spectrum's television services and were charged a Broadcast TV Surcharge.

Court: Jefferson Circuit Court

Spectrum is facing a proposed class action lawsuit in Kentucky that accuses the cable giant of tricking customers into paying deceptive fees disguised as mandatory government charges. At the heart of the suit is the “Broadcast TV Surcharge”—a line item Spectrum presents as a pass-through cost for retransmitting local broadcast signals. 

But the lawsuit alleges this surcharge is actually a profit-generating, discretionary fee entirely controlled by Spectrum, in violation of state and federal consumer protection laws.

The legal action claims the company’s billing practices mislead consumers into thinking they’re paying unavoidable fees set by local stations or regulatory bodies. Instead, the lawsuit says Spectrum uses vague language and obscure billing practices to conceal the fact that the charge is part of its own pricing structure and not mandated by any external authority.

"Broadcast TV Surcharge" Allegedly Boosts Profits, Not Mandates

The lawsuit was filed by Richard Wookey, a Kentucky resident and Spectrum subscriber, who says he experienced financial harm as a result of Spectrum’s misleading billing. Wookey claims he subscribed to Spectrum’s television services in good faith, only to be hit with hidden fees like the $28 monthly Broadcast TV Surcharge in the Louisville market.

Wookey argues that Spectrum falsely presents the surcharge as a required cost of doing business with local broadcasters. If that were true, Spectrum would be paying more than $334 million a year in retransmission fees—a figure the lawsuit claims is wildly inflated compared to the actual costs.

Cable Company's Practices Conflict with Federal Rules

According to the lawsuit, Spectrum’s billing structure not only violates Kentucky’s Consumer Protection Act but also runs afoul of federal rules. 

The Federal Communications Commission recently clarified that cable providers must include all costs in the advertised price and may not misrepresent discretionary fees as mandatory or regulatory. The FCC’s 2024 order specifically called out “Broadcast TV Fees” as potentially deceptive if not transparently disclosed.

Despite this, Spectrum allegedly continues to label the surcharge as a pass-through fee, separate from base service pricing, implying it’s out of the company’s control. The complaint argues this misleads consumers into believing they’re covering government-imposed costs, when in reality, they’re helping to pad the company’s profits.

Other Telecoms Face Similar Consumer Complaints

Spectrum isn’t the only company under fire for sneaky surcharges. T-Mobile is also facing a class action lawsuit over a long-running fee it calls the “Regulatory Programs and Telco Recovery Fee,” which plaintiffs claim was improperly grouped with actual taxes to mislead customers.

Elsewhere, Nordic Energy Services has been accused of promising low utility rates only to raise prices through hidden markups, while solar lender Sungage Financial is facing allegations of burying inflated loan costs under promises of “0% interest.” Tesla and Bank of America have also been sued over allegedly deceptive pricing tactics.

In his lawsuit against Spectrum, Wookey wants to represent anyone in Kentucky who subscribed to Spectrum's television services and was charged a Broadcast TV Surcharge. He is suing for violations of KCPA and seeks damages, injunctive relief, attorneys fees and costs.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Wookey v. Charter Communications, Inc. DBA Spectrum Cable and Charter Communications Operating LLC. DBA Spectrum 
• Case Number: 3:25-cv-00408-RGJ
• Court: Jefferson Circuit Court

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Chauncey Hiestand, Zachary L. Taylor, and Joseph M. Longmeyer (Louisville Law Office)

Have you been charged a 'Broadcast TV Surcharge' by Spectrum? Share your thoughts on this billing practice below.