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Basic cable service prices increased 6.5 percent for...

Basic cable service prices increased 6.5 percent for the 12 months ended Jan. 1, 2013, the FCC annual cable programming and equipment survey found. The report was released Friday. Expanded basic cable prices increased by 5.1 percent, and equipment prices…

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for basic and expanded basic services grew by 4.4 percent and 4.2 percent respectively, the report said (http://bit.ly/1mBmOld). Prices were 19.4 percent lower in communities with rival operators and 12.5 percent lower for incumbent operators in communities with at least two cable operators as compared with the average basic price that cable system operators charged in communities that don’t have effective competition, it said. For expanded basic cable, prices were less than 1 percent lower for rival operators, and 4.1 percent higher for incumbent operators in communities with at least two cable operators, it said. For expanded basic service, rivals and incumbents had a lower price per channel at 5.4 percent and 13.5 percent respectively, the report said. “Most equipment prices increased on an annual basis.” As of Jan. 1, 2013, the average equipment price was $7.55 with basic service, $7.70 with expanded basic service and $8.40 “with the next most popular service package,” it said. The bureau directed cable operators to respond to a price survey questionnaire no later than June 30 for the next report. The survey includes questions about an operator’s monthly charge for basic service and expanded service as of Jan. 1, 2013, and Jan. 1, 2014, it said (http://bit.ly/1hRJLeR).