Subscribers in Albert Lea to Charter Communications cable television will see an increase in rates soon.

Tucker Carlson, Charter’s director of government affairs for Minnesota and Nebraska, said the rate for basic cable is going from $17.99 to $19.99 in Albert Lea. With the expanded package cost remaining $32, it brings the price for expanded basic to $51.99.

About 90 percent of Charter subscribers have expanded basic or higher services. The new rates will be on the December bill.

Carlson said the cable company is making its prices for expanded basic uniform in the Rochester-Austin-Albert Lea market. Austin will experience a $5 hike for basic, from $14.99 to $19.99. That makes the cost for expanded basic in Austin also $51.99.

Customers who had rate-guarantee packages purchased during promotions will not be effected, Carlson said.

Charter also has been making the channel lineups in the Rochester group similar, except, of course, for public-access channels. There are about 50,000 customers in Charter’s Rochester group, which includes Albert Lea, Austin and many smaller cities. Charter is the second-largest cable-television provider in Minnesota.

He said making uniform prices and channel lineups will make the company more efficient than before.