In this political season, Comcast customers might soon consider tossing the words of the late Ronald Reagan — "there you go again" — at the cable provider, which is set to raise prices next month for the third time since January 2007; its last increase was less than a year ago.
Starting Nov. 1, customers of Comcast's standard cable package, who now pay $54.30 a month, will pay $58. Expanded basic service, now $36.30, will rise to $38.05; limited basic service jumps $1.95, from $18 to $19.95.
The cable giant blames the economy.
"Comcast, like many other companies, is experiencing increased business and operational costs in today's challenging economic environment," Comcast stated in a letter some customers received this weekend.
"Even with these pressures, our average customer will pay only 4.6 percent more next year, well under the rate of inflation," added Comcast spokesman Gabriel Weissman via e-mail Saturday night.
Although there will be no change in cost for customers of HBO, who now pay $20.95 per month, other premium pay channel services are set to rise in price. Showtime and The Movie Channel, for instance, both now $19.95, will go up one dollar. Comcast's digital packages will also see increases; Digital Classic, for example, will increase to $74.95, up from the present $69.25. And the top-tier Digital Premier package will command a top-tier increase, up to $127.90 from the current $119.60.
No changes were noted in Comcast's Internet service charges, according to the company letter.
Comcast last raised prices Nov. 5, 2007, with a 6.9 percent increase on standard cable and before that in January of that year, when rates went up 4.1 percent on that service.
Stephen Kopfinger is a Sunday News staff writer. Contact him at skopfinger@lnpnews.com or at 291-8799.
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