Another Comcastic rate increase

Comcast is raising its standard cable rates by about 7% in January. About 80% of Comcast’s 1.6 million customers in the Bay area buy this tier of service, reports the Mercury News. From the County Times:

"Comcast’s Bay Area market prices reflect increasing operating expenses, in particular higher energy costs, as well as investments that Comcast is making to improve the value of the services," Comcast’s Johnson said in a statement. "Comcast has invested nearly $200 million to maintain and enhance its fiber optic network in the Bay Area" and improve customer service, he said.

Last year, Comcast is raised its rates 5.7% for nearly all Bay Area communities, following rate increases of 5.9% in November 2003 and 6.5% in January 2003. That’s a 28% increase in the four years from 2002 to 2006. The Consumer Price Index increased 8% in the three years from 2002 to 2005.