AT&T U-verse
If your introductory offer has expired, expect to pay more for just about everything as of Feb. 9.
Cable TV:
- U-family will increase from $54 to $57,
- U100 will increase for some from $54 to $59 and for others from $59 to $64,
- U200 will increase from $69 to $72/U200 Latino will increase from $79 to $82,
- U300 will increase from $84 to $87/U300 Latino will increase from $94 to $97,
- U400 will increase from $109 to $114,
- U450 will increase from $117 to $119/U450 Latino will increase from $127 to $129.
For high speed Internet customers who ordered their current speed before June 12, 2011, effective with the February 2012 billing statement, the monthly price for Basic will increase from $19.95 to $25, Express will increase from $30 to $33, Pro will increase from $35 to $38, Elite will increase from $40 to $43, and Max will increase from $45 to $48. If you are paying a monthly high speed Internet equipment fee for the Residential Gateway, the amount will increase from $4 to $6.
For Voice Unlimited, effective on February 1, 2012, the monthly price will increase from $33 to $35.
AT&T blames increased programming costs and “the cost of doing business” for the rate increases. AT&T is increasing broadband pricing despite enjoying further cost reductions from their Internet Overcharging scheme implemented in 2011.
Comcast
Comcast implements rate increases at different times of the year throughout its national service area. But a preview of what is forthcoming can be seen in south Florida and Minnesota, where Comcast’s new rates for 2012 have increased an average of 5.8 percent. That comes after a 2 percent rate hike last year. It’s a bitter pill for many customers to swallow, because Comcast has also been moving popular cable channels like Turner Classic Movies into the more expensive Digital Preferred package. The price of that full basic package will now run just short of $85 a month. Customers in Minneapolis are staring down these new rates:
- Basic 1: no change in most franchise areas.
- Digital Economy: increases from $29.95 a month to $34.95 a month, or 16.7 percent.
- Digital Starter: increases from $62.99 a month to $66.49 a month, or 5.6 percent.
- Digital Preferred: increases from $80.99 a month to $84.49 a month, or 4.3 percent.
Comcast blames increased programming costs and upgrade expenses associated with its now completed DOCSIS 3 project. Comcast also has converted many of its service areas to all-digital service, which has opened up additional room to sell more expensive broadband packages, add additional HD channels, and make room for new product lines relating to home automation and security.
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