Comcast goes for third price increase in two years

Comcast is raising cable rates by 5.7% for nearly all Bay Area communities in the new year, according to the SF Chronicle. This follows rate increases of 5.9% in November 2003 and 6.5% in January 2003, for an average annual increase of nearly 10%. Comcast has 1.6 million Bay Area customers in 128 municipalities, including the Coastside.

While some communities, notably San Jose, will be exempt from this increase, Comcast has not released a complete list of all the affected customers. Expect to be notified by mail whether the Coastside will get hit with an increase.

Comcast cited as justification availability of more programming choices, improvements in customer service and investments in technical upgrades to justify its price increase.  Consumer groups suggested it might have something to do with the fact that Comcast is an unregulated monopoly.