KENDRA MAJORS

Troy Cable customers saw an increase in their monthly cable bill, which came into effect Feb. 1, 2009.

According to Steve Camp, executive director, the increase comes from a new pay per subscription fee imposed on cable companies.

“All of the broadcast stations are now charging a per subscription now, where it used to be free,” Camp said.

“Cable companies were built originally to extend broadcast services,” Camp said.

According to Camp, with the new fees imposed and the current channel line up, Troy

Another reason for the increase is that stations are being forced by the FCC to upgrade to digital signals, and most broadcast stations are still using both analog and digital signals.

“This is across the U.S., not just in Alabama,” Camp said.

Cable can’t eat the entire cost.

In the letter to Troy Cable customers, Troy Cable said “We will need to increase our basic cable rate approximately 10 cents per day or $3 per month, effective Feb. 1, 2009.”

This is an every year restructuring measure.

“Every January the networks group,” Camp said. “We usually increase our rates the same as this year.”

In order to try and keep costs down for customers, Camp says, Troy Cable is working on a new tier or a la cart line up for the digital channels.

There will possibly be three to four different packages including digital sports, lifestyles.

“We can adjust it so customers can choose to have it or not.”

Camp said customers this would still allow customers the programming they want, but save customers more money and save Troy Cable programming costs.

In the letter to customers, Troy Cable said, “Some networks, such as Fox, ESPN, Golf, Lifetime, MTV, Speed and TNT have been increasing their fees at much higher rates than usual.”

“We simply cannot absorb all of the increased costs associated with these programmer carriage fees.”

Troy Cable now offers 28 HD Channels and is looking at adding more, Camp said.

“We are also looking at adding a Spanish tier,” Camp said.

According to Camp, cable was the service Troy Cable offers that increased its rates.

Phone, Internet and security service pricing remains the same.