Internet, Phone, TV Rates Going Up

TAMPA - The wild and complex competition for your cable TV-telephone-Internet dollar is shifting again in the Tampa Bay area.

Rivals Verizon and Bright House Networks are raising prices for some of their offerings. Some customers might need a spreadsheet to figure out the details.

The good news: The changes won't affect current Verizon customers. Also, unlike other consumer items that have seen price increases recently, the companies' rates aren't increasing dramatically.

The bad news: New customers signing up with Verizon will pay higher prices and fees. Also, Bright House will inch fees up for some of its older cable services.

If there is solace in the Bay area, it is that these rate increases are small compared with past rate boosts in which consumers saw prices rise as high as 10 percent. Also, the market is one of the most competitive in the nation for cable, telephone and Internet service, with rival companies offering discounts to customers willing to haggle or switch providers.

Although individual customers may have their own quibbles with either company, the Bay area is comparatively lucky. Consumer Reports magazine recently ranked Verizon and Bright House at the top of its ranking for service nationwide.

Verizon spokesman Bob Elek said, "Given our pricing history, the speed upgrades we've made to FiOS Internet and the channels we've added to FiOS TV make these reasonable price adjustments. And bundling still provides the best value."

Bright House spokesman Joe Durkin said in an e-mail: "On average, our 2008 prices throughout the Tampa Bay division seven counties served are only increasing an average of 1.1 percent."

Here are the details:

•For new customers, Verizon has increased prices for some cable TV and Internet services. Existing Verizon FiOS customers won't see price changes.

FiOS Internet service: 10 megabits per second download/2Mbps upload will cost $42.99 a month, up from $39.99 a month. FiOS Premier TV package will cost $47.99 a month, up from $42.99 a month. For FiOS cable TV, the set-top box rental fee rises to $5.99 a month for new customers, up from $4.99 a month. A separate promotional package of $109.99 per month includes a free HDTV or other perks, or $104.99 a month with a two-year contract.

•Some existing Bright House customers will see slightly higher rates starting March 1. The price for digital cable, Internet and phone service will remain the same. The cost for "basic" analog TV service, however, will rise to $49.49, up from $48.49.

The majority of Bright House customers are on other, digital cable plans. Bright House includes the digital set-top box rental fee in its overall package cost. Analog service doesn't require a box.

There will be no pricing changes for anyone who gets cable or Internet through a homeowner association, condo building or apartment rental agreement.