Charter rates are going up $2

Posted by iamwoman (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am sick of them always raising our prices when I don't even watch over 1/2 the channels. Why not let us pick what we want to pay for? We need some competition. I guess I am making the switch to dish. I am tired of them raising our prices whenever the want to but giving us nothing in return. Goodbye Charter.

Posted by MDonovan (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Im glad charter is so effcient! Just what everybody needs a rate increase on top of everything else.I think my old set of rabbit ears look better all the time. BY-BY Charter will see how EFFCIENT you are after you lose a large customer base?

Posted by gowild (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

the rich get richer... anyone wanna start a cable company??

Posted by nursingstudent10 (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wish Albert Lea had another choice. As a renter, I can't get anything with a dish. Great timing for Charter to hike up prices. I would think cable tv would be one of the first things for people to get rid of in tough times, and especially if they are raising prices.

Posted by tmfresh (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have friends that have had their cable turned off. I might be next.

Posted by jackson (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I will predict Dish Network and Direct TV sales will be on the increase. Competition is good. A second cable provider in town would be a great thing.

Posted by jericho (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

why can't we get another cable company in Albert Lea? What do we have to do?

Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The cable company is a government monopoly and there is nothing you can do about it. This is what happens when free markets are contoled by the government. You local city council had to aprove the rate hike. (At least in most public utlity cases). So complain to the city about the poor service from Chater. You can not have 2 cable providers in Albert Lea it is against the law.

Funny how little people know about economics, the government, and how their votes matter.

If you hate the cable rates you will love socialized medicene. This is what you get with government.

Posted by 57boy (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

can't have a second cable company due to the fact that the city has a sweetheart deal with charter.years ago they made an arrangement with whoever was the cable provider at that time(usually changes every few years)to not allow any other cable companies into the area.so you can thank in part our great city.can't stop progress,we can only all go to dishes,then you might see something happen.maybe when they get done expanding Albert Lea International Airport,& we get 3M,Cabellas,Ford,& others here,& we add 15,000 to our population.Then we might get another cable company........don't hold your breath!!!!! GET OUT & VOTE !!!!!!!!

Posted by speakup (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

NoDFL, thank you for reminding the UNINFORMED voters what happens when we elect officials who will "universalize" or "socialize" our lives. The cable company is nothing compared to what is to come if that "Miracle Worker" Obama and his special interest thugs get their grubby paws into our wallets! Hope the working people don't mind being the governments whipping boy! Good luck if you get sick and actually work for a living! You'll have to get in line waiting for the recipients of our REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH to get done draining the resources before you get your shot at getting your money's worth of the benefits. NICE JOB!!!

Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The cable company is doing what ever company will do under new taxes. This is the time allowed by law to rasie the rates. They have seen that besides higher taxes inposed by the State and the Federal Government they will also have to deal with card check and higher wages. And who pays we the consumer thats who. Again be careful what you wish for you just might get it. How is this for change?

Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't have cable. If I can't get it over the airwaves or on DVD, I don't get it. I don't feel I've missed anything yet.

Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wild,

Your not missing anything. I think I will join you with the no TV deal.

Posted by jsomn1 (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If you don't like it don't subscribe.....You do have a choice!!!

Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

True but in the city you are restricted when it comes to TV aireals. The city put this in to force people onto cable to get that city tax. Don't forget the city gets more in taxes with the higher rate just another way to take from those who have.

Posted by jackson (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have a very low profile antenna on my roof but after I connected my DTV converter box, I now pull in over 20 channels. I think I will say goodbye to my dish.

Posted by tmfresh (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey NoDFL--- is life better in another country?

Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

No it is worse so I have to wonder why we keep trying to be like them don't you tmfresh? Have you ever been out of the US for a long period of time? What about just leaving Minnesota? I have even worked in Russia after the fall of Communisim. Seen first had how it destroys a country and it's people. Worked in Germany, Mex, and others so yea I can say America is the best for now but we keep giving up or freedoms it won't be.

So are you telling me you like government run cable?

Posted by controlledhyperness (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I heard Jaguar may be bringing competition soon with cable... and my thought is, if Owatonna (another town with a so-called sweetheart deal) allowed them in, so should Albert Lea.

Posted by tmfresh (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

NoDFL i wasn't born here or raised here. Yes I have been out of the country. I have not worked out side of the country but I have been over seas and to Central America. I have experienced foreign adoption and know the horrible effects of communism. I have also had a loved one killed in the line of duty in the Middle East. I just don't understand how you can be so negative about everything in our country.

Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

First let me say I am truely sorry for your lose. Anyone willing to pay such a high price for freedom deserves my and everyones respect. These brave men and womem allows the right to openly discuss issues that affect us.

What you call negative I call disagrement with ideas. I am a no holds bar capalist. I believe in free markets and small government. I also believe in standing up for those beliefs. I like you have family members serving in Iraq. I do speak up for them and say what they wish others would. I do count my family lucky that they have not been hurt.

I think to many people speak without looking at the fall out of their action. Higher taxes will ruin this country now I can sit be and take it our I can stand up and fight. I can no longer fight for her in a military way but I sure can in a political way.

Again it is not ment to attack you personally but when we are destroying all that we believe in we must stand up. I know my history and what happens if we don't.

Little off subject but good to talk about it. However cable companies should be open to all competion but government won't let us. Cuts into revenue.

Posted by tmfresh (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I guess I have been hiding under a rock. I didn't realize that government controls everything.

Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

More than you can imagine. Their most effective weapon is taxes and they use us against each other. Class warfare is the best way to keep power.

Posted by sbahr (Stacey Bahr) on November 4, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Satellite isn't much better, especially when you are trying to get it installed. After a week's worth of missed appointments, brush offs, reschedules and about a dozen phone calls to directv, I FINALLY got my dish hooked up, and then it wasn't even set up right. However, if you are an HD lover, like I am, then satellite is the way to go, their lineup is much better, and I'm paying a lot less for my tv/phone/internet bundle now than I was with charter. Just have to deal with the occasional "rain fade" in the summer. Each provider has their good and bad points, I've just found that there is far less bad with directv than with charter.

Posted by wingo (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Neither the cable or the dishes offer anything good, it's upteen channels of nothing. Most of them are reruns, reruns, reruns, or I already said that. I think we should all go back to the rabbit ears, of course our local channels aren't worth crap either. Just watch old movies is the way we should go or better yet, play some games with our kids and grandkids.

Posted by stewie (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Another cable company would have to approach the city to request consideration of a franchise agreement (which happens more than you think). The cable company does not have to get an "OK" from the city to increase rates. The cable company must notify the city of rate increases as it must notify it's customers of rate increases. Are you aware that the cable company must pay franchise fees and access fees to the communities that it services? The cable company must pay state and federal taxes also. Satellite companies do not pay anything back to the communities. Many cable companies also contribute to the communities in other ways (donations to schools, communites functions, etc.) and provide cable to schools for the Cable in the Classroom program. Dish companies do not do this. Cable companies employ local people and trade locally for vehicles and service of those vehicles, etc. They are your friends and neighbors and they pay just like you do. The reasons for increases in rates are many: insurance premiums, maintenance costs, upgrades in the systems, etc. One of the largest costs is for the programming. The cable company pays for each channel provided to you. If the programmer charges more, the cable company has no choice but to look at increasing ra tes.Sure, there are channels that you don't watch, but your neighbor watches them but not the ones you watch. Approximately 40 cents from every dollar paid for programming goes to sports due to player wages. Sure, the new digital boxes work great. I have one. It's a personal choice as to what service you decide to use. I think you should be more informed before you make a rash decision though.

Posted by brokewhitegirl (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I hate charter. We had Qwest for our internet, and then decided to switch to charter for faster internet and get cable. They missed a million appointments, they would literally put me on hold for 45 minutes, and sometimes just hang up on me, (I was being very polite too!) and when they finally hook everything up, we could not get interent on my husbands desk top, and they wouldn't fix it, they said it was his computer, even though we had internet working on it a day before with Qwest, and I could only get internet on my lap top if I plugged an ether net cord into it, even though we were paying for wireless internet! So of course, not even a week later we switched back to qwest and have never had another problem getting internet again! We kept our cable for awhile, but we never paid a bill because the quality looked like crap, I swear over half of our channels are in spanish or other foreign languages I do not speak. I would NEVER recommend Charter to anyone. Ever.

Posted by stewie (anonymous) on November 4, 2008 at 9:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

broke, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with charter. I've never had Charter. I have a different company. Not all companies are like that. Mine does whatever it takes to get the issues corrected and will credit for outages and problems. I don't know much about Charter but am knowledgeable of the cable industry.