Consumer Groups Seek Action on Rates

Consumer advocates slammed the latest round of rate hikes for cable television service and said they would push Congress to intervene to protect consumers.

The Federal Communications Commission last week reported that cable rates skyrocketed 6.3% during the 12 months ended June 30, 2002, almost six times the 1.1% rate of inflation.

Cable operators over the last several weeks have unveiled a new round of price hikes.

Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America criticized assertions by cable operators that the rate hikes are due to rising programming costs as well as upgrades to their networks.