WASHINGTON — Some Spectrum customers will be facing higher bills next month, as the company has announced rate hikes at the end of January.
The company has announced certain packages spanning its cable television and internet options will see increased rates beginning on Jan. 30.
Owned by Charter Communications, Spectrum is a well-known internet and cable TV provider. According to Charter's website, more than 32 million customers in 41 states use their services to get online.
But some of those customers will have higher costs for a number of popular packages starting in February.
While most of the changes affect Spectrum's cable offerings, one of the most notable changes is the price jump for those on Spectrum's low income internet plan. The option, which is designed for those in low-income houses, will see a 25% rate hike with the next bill.
A spokesperson for Spectrum confirmed the change, but said the $5 price bump comes after a "significant speed enhancement" to the service
"Spectrum has taken a stand for a new, customer-focused model that provides more value and choice for video entertainment when negotiating all of our programming agreements," Charter Communications Vice President of Communications Lara Pritchard said in a statement about the changes. "Despite these ongoing efforts, programmers continually raise fees for their content, which are passed through as increased fees to viewers and drive higher costs across the entire industry."
Here's the breakdown of what's changing:
Internet packages
- Spectrum's affordable internet option, Spectrum Internet Assist, will jump from $19.99 to $24.99 per month.
- The company's Advanced WiFi charge will go from $5 to $7 per month.
Cable packages
- The mandatory broadcast TV surcharge included in every Spectrum package will increase from $23.20 to $25.75 per month.
- The monthly HD Box rental fee will jump to $12.50, up from $10.99.
- The Entertainment View and Latino View packages, previously priced at $12, will now be $15 per month.
- And Spectrum TV Essentials will increase from $24.99 to $29.99 per month.
Editors Note: A previous version of this story inaccurately stated the nature of Spectrum's service offerings, and indicated it would be all packages that would see a price increase. The story has been updated and corrected to indicate which cable and internet packages are affected.