Cox (News - Alert) customers in Louisiana will now have to pay more for standard and digital services as Cox Communications has again raised its rates.

 

According to TV4US (News - Alert) Louisiana, a project of TV4US, is a non-profit grassroots coalition made up of a diversified group of corporations, non-profit and non- governmental organizations - representing hundreds of thousands of consumers across the country advocating for competition in the video service market.

Since 2000, rates have increased by more than 67 percent in Lafayette, 27 percent in Shreveport, 34 percent in Baton Rouge, and 43 percent in New Orleans.

"This increase comes as consumers are already hurting from higher gasoline prices, higher health care costs and an unstable housing market," Lizanne Sadlier, Executive Director of TV4US said.

"Unfortunately, without real competition, Cox and other cable companies can charge whatever they want because most Louisiana consumers have no other choice for their video service."

Louisiana State Legislature in 2006 voted to bring cable competition and greater choice to Louisiana consumers through the Competitive Cable and Video Services Act, but the bill was vetoed by then Governor Kathleen Blanco.

Eighteen state legislatures across the nation have brought competition to their states through video franchise reform, including neighboring Texas, as well as Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Anil Sharma is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

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