Bright House Raises Cable Rates

County commissioners don't like it and they are even drafting a letter saying so.

But there's nothing they can really do about it.

Bright House, the county's only major local cable company, is raising cable rates again.

Starting in March, customers will see their bills go up $3 a month, from $49.49 to $52.49. That includes both the basic service and cable programming service tiers.

Digital cable customers will see the same $3 increase per month.

Additionally, the price for individual premium services will increase $1 per month. Premium packages with two or more premium services will increase up to a maximum of $2 per month.

At the request of Commissioner Jim Adkins, commissioners agreed to fire off a letter to Bright House informing them they are not pleased with the latest increase.

Commissioner Jeff Stabins said constituents are concerned and want to know if there will be competing cable companies coming into Hernando County.

Community Relations Coordinator Brenda Frazier said she has sent letters to other companies but so far there has been no response.

Adkins asked whether Bright House has to justify these increases to the Federal Communications Commission.

County Attorney Garth Coller reminded the board that the company is allowed to hike the rates as long as there is "effective competition" in the county. That competition does exist in the form of the satellite dish systems available to customers, he said.

Gary Cassard, vice president and general manager of Bright House, wrote in a letter that the increases are necessary because of "technological advancements" in the telecommunications industry and the addition of several high-definition channels.

Commissioner David Russell instructed Frazier to draft the letter to company officials, telling them to "knock it off."