Comcast subscribers will see price increases on their next bill for its cable and internet services.
The company is increasing its price on average nationally by 3.8%.
Comcast is raising its broadcast TV fee from $19.15 to $23.20 and its regional sports fee from $15 to $17.25, according to customer bills.
The “Broadcast TV” and “Regional Sports Network” fees are itemized charges that are not government-mandated fees. Both fees are based on Comcast’s costs to provide either the local broadcast stations or the regional sports networks. These costs include the fees that the broadcast stations or sports networks charge Comcast to carry them on its cable systems.
Comcast is also raising its modem rental fee from $14 to $15. The cost of a TV remote and a box will go from $8.50 to $10.
“TV networks and other video programmers continue to raise their prices, with broadcast television and sports being the biggest drivers of increases in customers’ bills,” the company said in a statement. “We’re continuing to work hard to manage these costs for our customers while investing in our broadband network to provide the best, most reliable Internet service in the country and to give our customers more low-cost choices in video and connectivity so they can find a package that fits their lifestyle and budget. Our national average increase of 3.8% is about half of the most recent rate of inflation.”
The updated rates will go into effect on Dec. 20.
“As we strive to bring you the best services possible, we must also periodically review our prices and update them in response to the rising costs of programming and increases in other expenses impacting our services,” a note on the bill said.
To find out if you qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program and save money each month, you can go to www.xfinity.com/learn/internet-service/acp or https://www.fcc.gov/acp.
Comcast isn’t the only one raising prices. Streaming services such as Disney+, Netflix, Apple TV+ and Amazon’s Prime Video have all brought up their monthly prices by $2 to $3, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
But what about Verizon?
“We have no plans to increase rates at this time,” Chris Serico, a communications manager with Verizon, said in an e-mail.