Adelphia to increase cable rates in Maine

AUGUSTA – Financially troubled Adelphia Communications Corp. is increasing its rates for cable television and Internet service in central and eastern Maine.

Mike Edgecomb, Adelphia’s government relations manager in Augusta, said the rate hikes are unrelated to Adelphia’s financial problems and last month’s bankruptcy filing.

Rates will increase by $2 a month for digital programming packages and by $2 or more a month for Internet customers. The increases will take effect Aug. 1 in the Augusta area and in August or September depending on customer billing cycles in the Bangor area.

“They’re part of our normal, annual rate increase. Most people assume the increase is because of what’s going on now,” Edgecomb said.

Adelphia and more than 200 subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late June after the company missed $96 million in bond interest and preferred stock dividend payments.

In a note mailed to some customers, Adelphia said costs are mounting for programming, transportation, labor, training, utilities and other services. The rate increases are expected to help offset some of those expenses.