The other point, that the article fails to mention, is that oftentimes these providers have local monopolistic markets where the opportunity for consumers to choose a competitive provider are nonexistent.
That allows them to increase fees 600%. I would dump Comcast in a heartbeat if I had an alternative. Their service is unstable and inconsistent in my area and we are forced to pay very high rates.
For cable TV specifically, lack of competition is a harder case to make than for Internet given that al least most people with houses have the option to get satellite TV instead. (Or streaming TV services assuming they have broadband.)
Lack of competitive choices is the reason they get away with this. My choices are 1 cable provider, Dish, and DirecTV. Not much competition. I have tried cutting the cord and streaming TV, but it's not ready for prime time yet. I also tried DirecTV and they had their own set of junk fees. At this point, I just pay the fees and hope technology improves enough to have ubiquitous choices.
I'm finally dropping cable TV entirely because my TiVo with lifetime subscription finally died. But I basically don't watch it so it's not that hard a decision even if the alternatives aren't perfect.
I mean, not really, as it includes other services. It probably goes some thing like this
$65 for internet,
$60 for tv
$35 for phone.
$20 for rented devices (such as a DVR)
Phone services and the rented devices are increasingly unnecessary, but when I’ve looked into cutting the cord and maintaining the same level of media accessibility (live sports and certain kids programs mostly) my savings come almost entirely from dropping phone and devices, not TV.
I feel for you. The (near-)monopoly in some service areas is disgusting.
$150-220 for triple play (tv, internet, phone) is still preposterous. It is 2-4 times more expensive than the most expensive package I could find for my current location (Northwest Europe), including all extra pay-tv channels (live sports, etc).
$20 per month for a DVR is $240 per year, which is insane. $35 for landline is insane. Internet price you quote ($60) would get you almost commercial-grade internet here.
Don't get me started on the price of USA mobile phone networks!
