Cable box prices to increase

CABLE BOX PRICES TO INCREASE
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Deborah Yao]
Cable companies are planning to charge more for set-top boxes. The Federal Communications Commission is trying to spur competition for the boxes so subscribers can actually buy their own, then use a cable-company-provided card to decode their programming. Cable operators won't yet say exactly how much more consumers will pay to rent set-top boxes. It's also unclear whether the fee increases will apply to cable cards. Cable trade groups say monthly rental rates for the new boxes could jump $2 to $3, but that doesn't take into account spreading the cost out to all box renters. The industry is upset that the FCC on Friday denied its petition for a blanket exemption to the cable card mandate, yet granted a temporary one to Verizon Communications, which is rolling out its fiber-optic television, phone and Internet service. The FCC said Verizon provides needed competition against cable.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070705/4b_chrysler05.art.htm

* FCC press release:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-274776A1.doc

* Telco, Cable Weigh In On FCC Waiver Calls
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6456934.html