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Comcast will raise rates in October by $2

By Ross Farrow
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:28 AM PDT

The average entry-level digital cable customer with Comcast in Lodi and Galt will pay an additional $2 per month beginning Oct. 15. And it could be as much as $2.50 in Lodi if the City Council adopts ian ordinance adding a 51-cent fee.

Comcast announced this week its plans to increase rates by 1.6 percent. Customers are scheduled to be informed directly from the company with their next cable bill, according to spokesman Bryan Byrd.

Rates for "digital starter," the entry-level digital cable tier and is used by a majority of Comcast customers, will increase from $57.95 to $59.99. However, video customers on a promotional offer will not receive the increase during the promotional period, Byrd said in an e-mail.

"These price adjustments reflect the increased cost of doing business, rising programming costs and our continued investment in next-generation technology and equipment to support new product features, more programming choices and improvements to customer service," Byrd said.

In Lodi this year, Comcast launched seven new networks, including Hallmark, The Movie Channel, Major League Baseball Network, NFL Red Zone, KQCA-This TV, TBS HD and Comcast SportsNet California HD, Byrd said.

NFL Red Zone, new with the current football season, will take the viewer to any game on the schedule in which a team has the ball inside its opponent's 20-yard-line, Byrd said.

Comcast officials said their last rate increase was a year ago.

Other new Comcast fees include:

  • Leasing a cable modem for high-speed Internet service will go up from $3 to $5 per month. Those who own their modems will not see their rates go up.

  • The monthly fee to lease a modem for the digital voice service will increase from $3 to $5.

    Those who have phone and Internet service from Comcast will see only one increase.

    The Lodi City Council will consider adding a 51-cent fee for "digital starter" customers at a later date.

    Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

    Reader Feedback

    davidd wrote on Sep 16, 2009 11:09 PM:

    " Many of my neighbors have AT&T U-Verse and sing its praises. They're very happy with it. "

    edumacation wrote on Sep 16, 2009 8:48 PM:

    " dogs4you- Good information. Try that with Comcast and they will really mess up your bill AND "service".

    I have another feature for you. If you call AT&T about the new service tell them you think the $99 package is too high and that you can only afford $79. It seems they have an unannounced $79 introductory package which has the EXACT same services. But you have to ASK them about it BEFORE agreeing to the higher rate. If you ask plenty of questions, you will find out they have many unadvertised deals. I think they don't advertise them because it would be confusing (especially internet services).

    Have fun with your new system. I knew when I first saw "ITS COMCASTIC" ads they will want someone to pay for it. How about making all the customers pay for the stupid ads.

    Comcast---Here is an idea. Instead of spending money on stupid and annoying advertisements spend it on CUSTOMER SERVICE instead. I guess you don't believe that BAD NEWS about LOUSY customer service travels fast. "

    dogs4you wrote on Sep 16, 2009 6:33 PM:

    " edumacation, you are correct concerning promo deals. My wife talked to Hugo in Texas, he about gave away the ranch to get us to join AT&T U-Verse. He threw in $50.00, and because my wife is such a nice person, he threw in another $50.00 making it $100.00 dollars, most or all I will never see. At the end of 6 months the price will go up, not that much and if you wheel and deal you can get Hugo to give you the same price. Like anything else it`s a cut throat business and if they want me to stay, make me an offer I can`t refuse. "

    dogs4you wrote on Sep 16, 2009 6:15 PM:

    " Nellie, The AT&T man will be here next Wednesday to hook up the new U-Verse. I don`t give a Flying Spaghetti Sauce Monster about recording 4 shows at once since I don`t watch that much TV in the first place. The TV will be bundled with phone, no long distance charges and faster internet. The idea of hiking up Comcast did it. For a "few dollars more" a month I will get all three for what I paid for Comcast. As far as a cable box is concerned, bring it on. "

    Whoa Nellie! wrote on Sep 16, 2009 4:20 PM:

    " Observer- My family of 5 tried the AT&T U-Verse for less than two weeks and switched back to Comcast. Yes, you can record a show and watch it in any room. You can record up to 4 shows at a time. However, if recording 4 shows the tv's in your house must be watching one of those 4 shows. The ads are vauge and misleading... on purpose I think. AND, every TV MUST have a cable box. "

    edumacation wrote on Sep 16, 2009 3:57 PM:

    " Good for you Giovanna! "

    edumacation wrote on Sep 16, 2009 3:56 PM:

    " peek "

    edumacation wrote on Sep 16, 2009 3:55 PM:

    " WTF---Good comparison. I AGREE. This morning the Veterans Administration announced they were BACKLOGGED by 400,000 claims. Let me see if I get this right. Americans joining the military to be patriotic and fight wars are likely to get injured or killed. So why hasn't The VA figured it out yet. Soldiers get injured. The VA bureaucrcay has been around since 1930 and THEY STILL HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT YET. So we are to trust the new administration with promises of government subsidized healthcare system.

    I have a challenge for liberals. Please FIX THE BROKEN VA hospital system FIRST, and then start meddling in government run healthcare. That will never happen.

    Take a peak at who works for the VA hospital system. Thats should be all anyone needs to know. I have heard that it is "possible" to get good VA healthcare, bit what is the probability of that happening to YOU. Perhaps 1% at best. "

    edumacation wrote on Sep 16, 2009 3:47 PM:

    " Observer---The systerm is great. Read th fine print and you will see even more promotional deals. AT&T will eventually force Comcast into working for their money instead of the bullying that goes along with a monopoly. Cable TV is a monopoly, and most of us forget that fact. Let them have some REAL competition. "

    edumacation wrote on Sep 16, 2009 3:44 PM:

    " When cable TV first came out they PROMISED ADVERTISEMENT FREE programming to encourage the local governments to allow their MONOPOLY. Now with alternatives such as satellite, over the Air, and broadband, cable tv is no longer the ONL way to go. The local cable companies are known for TERRIBLE SERVICE as well.

    Look at your watch and notice that 25-50% or more of programming is nothing more than ADVERTISEMENTS that YOU are paying for. Instead advertisers should be paying US to watch their propaganda.

    I hope that enough people cancel so that Comcast will start listening to consumers instead of bullying them.


    Ditto 0n HULU. There are many many more similar FREE SERVICES --and with no moronic and time wasting advertsing.

    Vote for your pocketbook and cancel unnecessary expenses like cable TV. "

    Inquisitor wrote on Sep 16, 2009 11:59 AM:

    " Try hulu.com to watch your fav shows. "

    Observer wrote on Sep 16, 2009 10:14 AM:

    " Does anyone have any experience with the new AT&T system? I don't think it's available in my area yet but I've heard it's being installed around town. I've also heard it's not as expensive and you can record a program and then view it on any television in your house. Would love some feedback. "

    wtf wrote on Sep 16, 2009 9:06 AM:

    " Well that didn't take long. Let's see...a little over three months ago there was the government mandated "switch to digital TV" and comcast seemed to be one of the only ways to get the channels in.

    So....let me get this right. Comcast has added oodles of new customers and now, according to them, they need to raise their costs.

    Just imagine what will happen if "health care" ever gets mandated by the feds. LOL! "

    smokeater8 wrote on Sep 16, 2009 8:33 AM:

    " Comcast has nerve upping the rates given how poorly they perform. I have high speed internet through them and suffer at least one outage a month. When I lived in Indiana, in stromier weather and with a different provider, I saw one outage in three years. In addition, Comcast continues to take channels off of regular non HD cable, yet continues to raise the rates. Time for me to look into Dish network or similar! "

    Giovanina wrote on Sep 16, 2009 6:57 AM:

    " NO MORE TAXES!!!! IF YOU ADD THAT TAX I WILL CANCEL MY TV AND WATCH DVD MOVIES AND YOUTUBE!!!! "

    Comments on this story are now closed.