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Comcast cable, Internet rates risingJul 07, 2010 (The Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- For the second time in less than 10 months, Comcast Corp. customers in San Joaquin County face price increases for cable television service and, for the first time in five years a boost in charges for a cable Internet connection, the company announced recently. Customers in Stockton, Manteca, Lathrop and San Joaquin County served by Comcast will see an increase of nearly 4 percent in their cable bills beginning Sept. 1. Notices began going out to subscribers late last week. Other Northern California areas served by the cable giant will see prices change Aug. 1. Andrew C. Johnson, Comcast regional vice president, cited the company's investment in new technology, new features, additional programming, higher broadband speeds and improved customer service in justifying the price hikes. "As a result of these investments, combined with the increased cost of doing business and rising programming costs, the average customer bill will increase by 3.8 percent," he said in a statement. Comcast's recent conversion of many cable television channels to a digital signal from analog, and the introduction of new high-definition and digital services, is one example of those upgrades, a company spokesman said Tuesday. At least one Comcast customer felt resigned to pay the higher prices. "They've got you tied in," said Art Hickey of Stockton, who has five television sets in his home and subscribes to the highest tier of digital service. "They tease you with those six-month deals and 12-month deals and they don't say what it's going to be after that. People buy into it and then they're just stuck with it," he said. So why not try another source of television? "I haven't compared, and I don't want to because it's a nuisance," Hickey said. Prices for various services will go up one or two dollars a month. For example, Comcast's standard service will go to $61.99 a month from $59.99, the sports entertainment package goes to $6.95 a month from $4.99 and HBO will cost $19.99 from $18.99. All tiers of Internet service will see a $2 a month increase. Customers receiving service under a promotional package, nearly half of the company's subscribers, will see no immediate boost in their bills. Charges for services not covered by the promotion may change, however. Contact reporter Reed Fujii at (209) 546-8253 or [email protected]. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/fujiiblog. To see more of The Record, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.recordnet.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Record, Stockton, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544). |