Comcast, Seattle area - prices raised 25% after buying AT&T Broadband

# 12 for April 16, 2003

Complaints.com received the following on April 15, 2003:

From: Email User

RE: Comcast, Seattle area - prices raised 25% after buying AT&T Broadband

Comcast, the cable TV monopoly in the Seattle area, raised our prices 25% after buying ATT Broadband. When Viacom (the original area monopoly) was purchased by ATT Broadband (who continued as an area monopoly), prices also went up. It seems there are no economies of scale that are passed on to subscribers when these cable television companies merge, yet that is always the justification given when the merger application goes before the FCC and the SEC for approval.

I am told that the costs are reasonable and that the money is used to improve customer service but I suspect it's really being used to "build out" the Comcast system to capture new customers rather than to produce value for the already existing customers. Except for the expense, nothing has changed a bit from what I had under ATT Broadband or Viacom.

Comcast should be renamed "ComCOST"! Just goes to show what can happen when you become a government sactioned monopoly and there is no longer any real competition for business. In fact, the only people Comcast has to answer to anymore are overworked and poorly funded federal government regulatory agencies ... a much cheaper battle for Comcast to fight than competing in a true free market environment. Think your government officials are inspired to help you?

Next time you review your cable bill be sure to notice how much money goes to your local, state, and federal governments in the form of francise fees, excise fees, and other taxes. Why would they have any incentive to be on the consumer's side?