The FCC Just Made It Easier to Raise Your Cable Rates

The Federal Communications Commission has quietly approved a proposal that could make it easier for major cable providers like Comcast to raise prices. The decision is a rare win at the FCC for the cable industry, which has suffered a series of losses on network neutrality and other major issues under FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, himself a former cable lobbyist. The FCC voted 3-to-2 to limit the power of state and local regulators over cable TV packages and prices, according to agency officials. The agency declared that it will assume that there is "effective competition" for cable services nationwide.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler won support from the commission's two Republicans, but the two other Democrats opposed the decision, officials said. It is extremely unusual for an FCC chairman to side against the commissioners in his own party. A spokesperson for Chairman Wheeler declined to comment on the decision, which has not yet been made public. A number of top congressional Democrats had urged Chairman Wheeler not to loosen the regulations on major cable companies, warning it could lead to higher prices for consumers to get access to news, sports, weather, and other programming.