Cable TV getting more expensive

Comcast is raising prices in Santa Rosa as it finishes upgrading its new digital network.

Prices will increase as much as 27 percent for some customers.

The rate hikes bring Santa Rosa on par with pricing elsewhere in the county, where rates increased back in October.

The cost of basic cable will increase from $30.92 to $39.42. Standard cable rises from $48.99 to $55.99, and digital cable pops from $53.50 to $56.99.

However the rates for its lowest cable offering, so-called limited basic, actually decreased $1.50.

Comcast is notifying customers of the rate increases while updating Santa Rosa neighborhoods to a next-generation cable network. The upgrade has caused widespread outages across the city — some longer than a week.

For years, customers in Santa Rosa paid similar prices to customers elsewhere but were unable to receive features such as extra high-definition channels or video on demand. With the new network, Santa Rosa customers will get the extra features and also access to the fastest residential Internet service in the county.

Are you affected?

Some Comcast customers have experienced long outages as the cable company updates its network in Santa Rosa. Comcast will not identify which neighborhoods are being upgraded, citing competitive reasons. The company has blamed the delays on contractors, which Comcast hires to install new equipment.

Tell us if your service has been interrupted by filling out the form below. We will not share your name or address, but it will help us track neighborhoods where work is being done and where service has been disrupted. Please include your telephone number or e-mail if you're willing to speak with a reporter.