Technically, this isn’t connected to the abrupt repeal of net neutrality provisions in December. But don’t expect the FCC to intervene on wide-scale rate increases affecting millions of Americans — including those from Cox Communications.
Last month, numerous ISPs and cable TV companies promised to substantially raise their rates. Now, those increases are rolling out to tens of millions of customers nationwide.
Just yesterday, Comcast started rolling aggressive price hikes across a wide range of services. Now, it’s Cox Communication’s turn: according to a subscriber letter from December 7th, Cox is jacking the price on 32 different services.
+ Comcast Substantially Increases 2018 Rates, Says Customers ‘Getting More for Their Money’
That includes a large number of cable TV channels, as well as several broadband internet tiers. Here’s a copy of the notice sent to subscribers — just two weeks prior to the FCC’s repeal of net neutrality provisions. It also happened to be mailed just one month ahead of the changes, given customers almost little ability to make plan modifications.
“December 9, 2017
Dear ____________,
We are making changes to some of our service rates effective January 7, 2018. If you currently have an active Service Agreement, the rates for services covered under the terms of your Service Agreement will not change for the duration of your agreement. Your covered services are indicated in the Monthly Services section of your bill.
Changes for TV are as follows:
Flex Watch will change from $40.00 to $41.00.
TV Economy will change from $34.99 to $38.00.
TV Essential will change from $75.99 to $79.99.
Contour TV will change from $79.99 to $84.99.
Contour TV Ultimate will change from $161.99 to 166.99.
Contour TV Preferred will change from $91.99 to $96.99.
Contour TV Premier will change from $105.99 to $108.99.
Advanced TV Ultimate will change from $158.99 to $161.99.
Advanced TV Ultimate with 4 Premiums will change from $167.99 to $170.99.
Advanced TV Ultimate with 4 Premiums and Record 6 DVR will change from $165.99 to $168.99.
Paquete Latino will change from $35.00 to $36.00.
El Mix will change from $52.49 to $53.49.
Super Mix will change from $89.99 to $94.99.
Flex Watch Latino will change from $13.51 to $14.51.
TV Economy Latino will change from $44.99 to $48.00.
Contour TV Latino will change from $89.99 to $94.99.
Contour TV Latino Preferred will change from $101.99 to $106.99.
Contour TV Latino Ultimate will change from $175.99 to $178.99.
Entertainment Package with 3 Premiums will change from $138.24 to $143.24.
Entertainment Package with 4 Premiums will change from $149.74 to $154.74.
CableCARD will change from $2.00 to $2.99.
Playboy will change from $19.95 to $15.99.
The Broadcast Surcharge will change from $4.00 to $7.50.
Price changes for Cox High Speed Internet when purchased with an additional service are as follows:
Starter will change from $34.99 to $36.99.
Essential will change from $52.99 to $55.99.
Preferred will change from $67.99 to $71.99.
Preferred 100 will change from $72.99 to $76.99.
Premier will change from $79.99 to $82.99.
Changes for Cox Digital Telephone are as follows:
Starter will change from $13.99 to $14.99.
Economy will change from $18.50 to $18.39.
Starter Lifeline will change from $10.99 to $11.74.
Essential Lifeline will change from $21.99 to $21.74.
Premier Lifeline will change from $31.99 to $31.74.
An Additional Telephone Line will change from $13.99 to $14.99.
The FCC Access Fee will change from $7.10 to $6.00.
The Cost Recovery Fee will change from $1.49 to $1.60.
Toll Restriction will change from $1.49 to $1.60.”
Actually, you might notice that a small number of line items are decreasing in price. That includes Playboy and the ‘FCC Access Fee’ — guess naked ladies and FCC access are easier to come by these days!
Thanks to DSLReports for the tip!
Hell yeah, playboy 19.95 to 15.99
“Technically, this isn’t connected to the abrupt repeal of net neutrality provisions in December.”
But who cares about technicalities?
I receive rate increase notices with my natural gas and electrical bill. Those are California PUC-regulated utilities (“gas neutrality” and “electric neutrality” up the wazoo). No one seems to care either.
In this example, did Cox (sorry almost spelt that word differently out of annoyance), even TRY to explain why?
Or did they assume that the B.S. issued by Comcast (you will get more of “something”, when you pay more) sufficiently set the scene for mass, across the board rate hikes not tied to actual cost of content production?
PS, this is apparently the year of the .99 cent. A staggering use of the B.S. pricing tactic.
OMG people, cox changed these prices BEFORE the FCC’s ruling, and why would TV be affected by the FCC’s net neutrality ruling? This is literally stretching it thin. they explained these changes if you actually own cox and read the notice on your bill IN DECEMBER. kk thx.
Tobias and others, I’d urge you to take one step back here. The FCC is assuming a totally lax policy on ISPs, which goes far beyond net neutrality. Ajit Pai was committed to removing neutrality months before he did; actually removing it was just the formality. ISPs know there’s little to no oversight now.
And in other news actually connected to net neutrality, Cox doubles residential speeds 3 months after NN repeal.