Rate Hike Hits Optimum Online Subscribers
By Ryan Naraine
Cablevision Systems
Cable subscribers who purchase the Family Cable basic service now have to cough up $39.95 per month for Internet access, up from $29.95 a month.
Overall, the Optimum Online ISP service, which is sometimes bundled with the Bethpage, NY-based Cablevision's cable TV subscriptions, has increased by between $5 and $10 per month.
Gemma Toner, senior VP of high-speed data products for Cablevision, told atNewYork the monthly rate hike was the first since the company launched its high-speed Internet access five years ago. Even after the rate increase, Toner said the Optimum Online was the cheapest in the New York metropolitan area.
Optimum Online, which competes head-to-head with AOL Time Warner's Road Runner and Verizon DSL services in the New York market.
By comparison, Road Runner charges $44.95 per month for unlimited high-speed Internet connectivity. This fee is in addition to Time Warner's regular monthly cable subscription. Verizon DSL charges between $49.95 and $79.95 for its high-speed Internet access packages.
Toner said the new prices would also affect existing subscribers and would take effect upon expiration of current contracts throughout the year.
has upped the rates for its Optimum Online high-speed Internet access service, a move that affects more than 400,000 subscribers.