Adelphia increases cable TV charges

BANGOR – Adelphia Communications has been raising rates on numerous packages and changing lineups in recent months because of rising business costs, the area’s general manager said this week.

High energy prices plus increased insurance premiums and programming fees from the cable channels themselves are among the reasons for the new rates, according to Adelphia General Manager Gary Crosby.

“Last year we didn’t have a rate increase and we needed it,” he said. “I don’t know any parts of the business that haven’t gone up.”

Earlier this year, the fees for the family package, which includes the basic channels, went up about $4 per month, Crosby said. In the last two weeks, the rate charge for the basic package went up 45 cents. Those who subscribe to the family package won’t see the 45-cent increase, he said.

About 90 percent of Adelphia’s customers subscribe to the family package, and 10 percent purchase only the basic plan, Crosby said.

Adelphia sells more than the basic and family packages, and has set up new package offerings to get people to switch to digital services so the company can compete against stand-alone dish services, Crosby said.

Rate changes vary depending on the region of the state, Crosby said, as does programming availability.

Bangor City Manager Ed Barrett said the city was informed of the programming and rate changes.

“So long as the basic rate is below the rate that the [Federal Communications Commission] adopted, there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said.

One change that will be apparent to a lot of viewers is the move of the Maine Public Broadcasting System from Channel 12 to Channel 13. Crosby said the switch was made because of a request by Maine PBS to avoid transmission interference problems for viewers living near its tower. The change should eliminate a “ghost” effect, shadows that appear on those viewers’ televisions, he said.

Also, as part of its attempt to boost its digital services to compete with stand-alone dish services, Adelphia will eliminate the pay-per-view channel from its basic plan. Persons wanting that service will have to rent a box each month to receive digital capabilities, Crosby said. The rental rate for the box is up to $6.95 per month. Digital basic programming service starts at $9.95 a month, which includes the price for the box.

Most television viewers who believe their sets are equipped for digital service may find out they are not and will have to rent a box for any digital package Adelphia sells, Crosby said.

“It’s two different technologies,” he said.

For information on rates and programming packages, contact Adelphia at (800) 336-9988.