Cox to hike Las Vegas cable rates

Friday, Dec. 8, 2000 | 10:22 a.m.

Cox Communications Inc. is seeking a 3.9 percent rate increase for basic cable television service in the Las Vegas area next year, franchise regulators said.

Cox, the primary cable television provider for Southern Nevada with more than 330,000 local subscribers, is requesting an increase that would boost the cost of basic service 43 cents from $11.03 a month to $11.46.

The $11.46 rate includes a monthly 4-cent Federal Communications Commission regulatory fee.

Clark County, one of four government entities franchising the company, received a letter proposing the rate hike this week. The new rates would take effect March 1.

Roma Haynes, franchise services coordinator for Clark County, said the increase is within the maximum permitted rate ceiling allowed in the franchise agreement, which could have been as high as 53 cents.

Haynes said financial analysts are reviewing the proposal. The cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City also will review the rate-hike plan.

The price of service calls and the use of other equipment also would increase under Cox's proposal. The use of addressable digital converters would go from $2.75 to $3.35 a month and remote control usage would go from 18 cents to 20 cents a month.

Two-dollar increases are proposed for installations. For unwired homes, the fee would increase from $18.50 to $20.50 and on prewired homes, the fee would move from $12 to $14.

On addressable outlet installations, an initial visit would increase from $14.25 to $16.25 and a separate installation would increase from $18 to $20, Haynes said.

Premium cable services are not under local government regulatory authority.

Steve Schorr, a vice president with Cox Communications in Las Vegas, said the company would review premium channel rates in January to consider possible increases.

The Greenspun family, owner of the Las Vegas Sun, is a minority owner of the Cox system in Las Vegas.