Comcast hiking cable prices in SR

The cost of being a couch potato just jumped -- again.

Comcast is raising prices in Santa Rosa as it finishes upgrading its new digital network. Prices will increase as much as 27 percent for some customers.

The rate hike brings Santa Rosa on par with pricing elsewhere in Sonoma County, where rates increased back in October.

Cable prices have jumped about 59 percent across Sonoma County since 2001 -- more than triple the pace of inflation.

In Santa Rosa, the cost of basic cable will increase from $30.92 to $39.42. Standard cable rises from $48.99 to $55.99, and digital cable pops from $53.50 to $56.99.

However the rates for its lowest cable offering, limited basic, is decreasing by $1.50 to $16.57.

Comcast is notifying customers of the rate increase while updating Santa Rosa neighborhoods to a next-generation cable network. The upgrade has caused widespread outages across the city -- some longer than a week.

Customers in Santa Rosa have traditionally paid similar prices as people elsewhere in the county. But Santa Rosa customers received 200 fewer channels and no access to video-on-demand and other features available in the county -- services that will be delivered by the new network.

Andrew Johnson, vice president of communications for Comcast, knows customers get upset with price hikes, but he says customers need to recognize they are getting a lot more services than eight years ago.

"The higher rate we're charging for video products is reflective of the value of the service we provide," he said. "We've spent a significant amount of money upgrading our cable network."

Santa Rosa customers shouldn't start seeing the new rates on their bills until after their neighborhood is switched to the upgraded system, Johnson said.

"When we light up the new network and they get the new channels, the new prices go into effect," he said.

The rate hike comes at a time when Comcast is going head-to-head with AT&T for TV, Internet and phone service.

AT&T is offering Comcast customers $100 and a free month of service if they sign-up online at www.att.com. But cable customers who call up Comcast to quit have also been offered enticing incentives, such as a free year of HBO.

For the savvy consumer, it's possible to play the two wealthy suitors against each other.

You can reach Staff Writer Nathan Halverson at 521-5494 or nathan.halverson@pressdemocrat.com.

Are you affected?

Some Comcast customers have experienced long outages as the cable company updates its network in Santa Rosa.Comcast will not identify which neighborhoods are being upgraded, citing competitive reasons. The company has blamed the delays on contractors, which Comcast hires to install new equipment.

Tell us if your service has been interrupted by filling out the form below. We will not share your name or address, but it will help us track neighborhoods where work is being done and where service has been disrupted. Please include your telephone number or e-mail if you're willing to speak with a reporter.