Six, Count ‘Em, Six Times That Brindisi’s Spectrum Failure Has Cost NY-22
Spectrum Has Raised Rates SIX Times While Brindisi Breaks Promises
Spectrum Has Raised Rates SIX Times While Brindisi Breaks Promises
NY22 – Anthony Brindisi’s years of hollow attacks on cable-internet giant Spectrum (Charter Communications) are nothing more than hot air. Spectrum is again raising rates on Upstate cable customers – that makes it six (6) times Brindisi has failed to stop Spectrum rate hikes.
This latest hike is a triple-whammy with three different fees increasing on customers. According to StopTheCap.com, Spectrum plans to increase the Broadcast TV Fee $2.95 to an “unprecedented” $16.95 per month, the TV Choice fee will jump $2.95 to $8.95 for streaming only customers, and the TV select package cost will rise $1.50 per month to $73.95 each month.
Republican candidate for Congress Claudia Tenney, “Six times?!? That’s outrageous but Brindisi’s term has been filled with broken, empty promises. His signature campaign pledge was to tackle Spectrum’s price gouging and poor service. What’s he done about it? Nothing! He continues to break his promises to the people of New York’s 22nd District. Brindisi whines and complains but Spectrum customers keep suffering from higher bills and shoddy service.”
“I will never offer voters empty rhetoric and broken promises, and you will never have to guess where I stand on an issue. I will continue to fight for the middle-class across our district,” Tenney said.
Since Brindisi entered Congress, Spectrum has raised rates 5 times:
January 24, 2019 (Albany Times-Union): “Spectrum Raises Internet Bills.”
Customers who only receive Spectrum internet saw their standard internet rate increase from $64.99 to $65.99. If you also get Spectrum TV, the increase in the internet service is more — $5 per month — although the overall cost remains lower than standalone internet service at $59.99…the cost of Spectrum’s so-called broadcast TV charge increased from $8.85 to $9.95 and the monthly fee for a Spectrum receiver went from $6.99 to $7.50.
March 2019 (Cordcutters News): Raising The Surcharge Again & Again
In November of 2018 Spectrum raised the Broadcast TV Surcharge from $8.85 a month to $9.95 a month. In March of 2019, it went up again from $9.95 to $11.99.
October 2, 2019 (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle): Spike Across All Services
The rates for Spectrum’s three tiers of cable packages are increasing by $7.50 a month. So the basic Spectrum TV Select package, which includes 140 channels, is rising from $64.99 to $72.49, which is an 11.5% increase. There will also be the same $7.50 a month increase for the TV Silver and TV Gold packages, which come with 220 channels and 260 channels, respectively. If you just get broadcast TV stations through Spectrum, the surcharge is increasing from $11.99 to $13.50 a month. And the cost for your Spectrum cable boxes are going up: from $7.49 a month to $7.99 a month. Spectrum internet customers who do not also get their cable from the company will also see a higher monthly price. That rate is going from $65.99 a month to $69.99 a month.
April 25, 2020 (Albany Times-Union): 20% Rate Hike on Legacy Customers during Covid
“I saw 20 percent and it jumped out at me. What else goes up 20 percent especially at this time,” asked Kyle Hughes of Saratoga Springs. Hughes, who is self-employed, said his basic internet rate went from $49.99 to $59.99 per month.”
June 2020: 70% Increase on Business Customers (Letter to Customers)
July 2020 (StopTheCap.com): Three Fee Hikes at Once
“Spectrum is planning on raising the surcharge on broadcast television from $2.95 to $16.45/month. Spectrum claims this fee covers the re-transmission costs local broadcasters charge the cable company to carry their channels on the cable system. Spectrum breaks this fee out of the monthly cost of cable TV and places it as a separate line item on your bill.” The $2.95 increase will also apply to those with streaming packages. The company also plans on raising rates on their most popular TV Select package is expected to increase $1.50/month to $73.99/month.”