Cox Cable Increases Rates in Louisiana, Again

Cox Cable Increases Rates in Louisiana, Again

Video Competition Legislation Would Put an End to Regular Rate Increases

BATON ROUGE, La., March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents of Louisiana will begin receiving higher cable bills this month. A rate increase from Cox Communications means Cox customers will have to pay more for standard and digital services.

Cable rates continue to rise unabated in Louisiana. Since 2000, rates have increased by more than 67% in Lafayette, 27% in Shreveport, 34% in Baton Rouge, and 43% in New Orleans.

"This increase comes as consumers are already hurting from higher gasoline prices, higher health care costs and an unstable housing market," said Lizanne Sadlier, Executive Director of TV4US. "Unfortunately, without real competition, Cox and other cable companies can charge whatever they want because most Louisiana consumers have no other choice for their video service."

In 2006 the Louisiana State Legislature overwhelmingly voted to bring cable competition and greater choice to Louisiana consumers through the Competitive Cable and Video Services Act, but the bill was vetoed by then Governor Kathleen Blanco. Since this veto Louisiana cable customers have paid nearly $227 million more than necessary because of uncompetitive cable service.(1)

Eighteen state legislatures across the nation have brought competition to their states through video franchise reform, including neighboring Texas, as well as Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. A 2006 Bank of America Equity Research survey found in areas where cable companies are forced to compete, video service costs are between 28 to 42 percent lower than in areas which do not benefit from competition.

As this most recent cable rate increase demonstrates, it's time for Louisiana to join these 18 other states and reform its outdated cable franchise rules. Louisiana consumers want to stop wasting money on excessive cable fees for the same old technology and start enjoying the benefits of competition.

TV4US Louisiana is a project of TV4US. TV4US is a non-profit grassroots coalition made up of a diversified group of corporations, non-profit and non- governmental organizations - representing hundreds of thousands of consumers across the country advocating for competition in the video service market. http://www.wewanttvchoicela.com/la

(1) Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal & Economic Public Policy Studies,

February 2006

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: TV4US

CONTACT: Lizanne Sadlier of TV4US, +1-202-955-5524,
lsadlier@wewantchoice.org

Web site: http://www.wewanttvchoicela.com/la

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