Consumer Group Urges Pennsylvania Senate Committee: Let the Players Compete and Customers Will Win

Consumer Group Urges Pennsylvania Senate Committee: Let the Players Compete and Customers Will Win

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- A statewide consumer coalition today applauded the Pennsylvania Senate's Communications & Technology Committee for meeting to discuss SB 1247, the Cable Choice and Competition Act.

"Chairman Wonderling, Senator Pileggi, and the other members of the committee have taken a big leap toward allowing cable competition," explained David R. Wright, founder of the Pennsylvania-based CONSUMERS FIRST! organization.

"When the players compete, then customers win - by way of lower prices and better service. But right now Comcast is the only player on the field throughout most of Pennsylvania," Wright noted.

Recent media reports have relayed Comcast's efforts to "secure monopoly control" via acquisition of the last non-Comcast cable franchise in Philadelphia. This action is part of a deal with Time-Warner to buy up and divide the cable franchises of Adelphia Communications.

"In other segments of the telecommunications industry -- such as cell phone service and long-distance charges -- rates have dropped dramatically in a competitive climate. At the same time, cable rates have risen 86% in the monopoly environment," Wright noted. "For consumers' sake, it's time for that monopoly to end."

"Statewide cable competition, as proposed in SB 1247, would drive down the inflated rates charged by Comcast and the other cable monopolies," Wright said. "The lack of cable competition will cost Pennsylvania consumers $328.6 million this year alone," he added.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT http://www.paconsumersfirst.com/.

Source: CONSUMERS FIRST!

CONTACT: Bonnie McCarthy, CONSUMERS FIRST!, +1-717-319-7721

Web site: http://www.paconsumersfirst.com/

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