It will soon cost local residents more to view “CSI” on their
cable television systems.
That’s because, effective with the June bill, Atlantic Broadband
is raising the cost for its limited, value and digital cable
television services.
Customers have begun receiving a notice of the rate hike in
their monthly cable bills. The increase effects customers in the
city, Bradford, Foster and Lafayette townships and Lewis Run
Borough.
Officials with the company have indicated the rate hike is due
to increased services and a rise in energy prices, which is costing
Atlantic Broadband more in fleet and vehicle costs.
“Increased programming expenses as well as the significant rise
in energy prices – impacting our fleet and vehicle costs, result in
the need for us to make adjustments to the price of various
services …,” General Manager Mike Papasergi wrote in a letter to
customers.
“We know that you have a choice when it comes to entertainment
and information services, so we will continue to make advancements
in technology to bring you the latest services with the greatest
reliability.”
The last rate hike occurred roughly two years ago.
According to the rate chart supplied with customer bills,
limited service users will see a hike from $15.95 to $16.45; for
the value service, from $49.95 to $52.45; digital service only,
$16.95 to $17.95; digital AO receiver, $4.95 to $6.95; premium
channels, $12.95 to $13.95; and starter Internet with video, $21.95
to $22.95.
Similar increases will also take place in Atlantic Broadband’s
systems serving Warren, Salamanca, N.Y., Little Valley, N.Y., and
Great Valley, N.Y.
According to Papasergi’s letter, in the last two years since
Atlantic Broadband took over from former provider Charter
Communications Inc., the company made upgrades to its broadband
network, which enabled it to launch such services as Digital Video
Recording Service and enhanced high-speed Internet.
Meanwhile, Papasergi said the company is also offering Operation
Mail Call, which provides high-speed Internet access to families
with loved ones serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.
” … We hope that you have seen significant improvement in your
service, and in the response to your technical and customer care
needs,” Papasergi wrote.
In 2003, the Tuna Valley Council of Governments entered into a
10-year agreement with Atlantic Broadband, as part of the company’s
takeover of about 150,000 systems across western Pennsylvania,
including Bradford.
The agreement took place after lengthy negotiations for a cable
franchise deal for the local cable services. The cost and
scheduling were two of the big factors COG was attempting to
change.
City Clerk John Peterson said his office has received calls in
the past from residents wondering if anything can be done about
rate increases.
“The Public Utility Commission doesn’t allow municipalities to
have control over the rates,” Peterson said. “We have no control
over their rate structure. They are allowed to recapture increased
costs, which is basically done through rate hikes.”
On another matter not directly related, there is legislation
being discussed in Congress that would make it easier for telephone
companies to compete with cable operators in the subscription video
business.
As it stands, cable operators and telecommunications companies
are investing billions of dollars in voice, Internet and video
services. The companies, however, are pushing Congress to allow
them to make franchise agreements directly with the federal
government, and not necessarily with local municipalities as it’s
currently done.
