Going up!

Cox raising cable rates $4 per month but only expanded service is affected

Cox Communications rates will increase for St. Charles Parish customers in February.

Customers subscribing to the expanded cable service which offers viewers access to 68 television channels can expect to pay an additional $4 monthly, bringing the total fee to $35.49, not including taxes and other assessed charges.

A spokesman from Cox Communications says Hurricane Katrina is to blame for the rate hike. The cable company’s contract with the parish is scheduled to expire this year and new companies will be allowed to bid to provide service to the area.