Comcast customers in the Washington area will start their New Year off … poorer. The largest cable operator in the region will raise rates an average of 4 percent beginning Jan. 1.
The increase does not affect phone and high-speed Internet, but does affect television offerings and digital video recording.
How much customers will pay depends on their service package, Comcast spokeswoman Jaye Linnen said. For example, a person paying $59.99 per month for cable would potentially see about a $2.40 increase in his or her monthly bill. “Triple Play” packages, which provide cable, phone and Internet, will remain $99 a month.
Comcast serves about 1.1 million customers in the Potomac region, which includes D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The increase reflects the Philadelphia company’s more comprehensive services, Linnen said. Comcast has increased its “on demand” viewing library to more than 10,000 programs and broadened its high-definition options, she said. The company has invested $290 million in its infrastructure in the Washington area this year as well, she said.
Herndon cable provider RCN, which also serves the Washington area, announced a rate increase in November. Basic cable rose $2.99 per month, and customers who had the highest level of premium channels now pay an additional $4.95 permonth, according to spokesman Mike Houghton. The company raised rates to cover the higher charges RCN is paying other companies for its programming and to fund technology upgrades, Houghton said. Comcast competitor Verizon will be charging more for its FIOS TV service, which is available in some areas here, in February.
Customers who sign up after mid-February will pay $47.99 for the FIOS service, which is $5 per month more than the old rate.
“FiOS TV is still very, very competitive, especially when you consider the value the customer receives for the dollar,” spokeswoman Christy Reap said. New customers receive about 20 more channels than customers who signed up in previous years, she said.
