Hacienda Heights : Cable Firm Plans Rate Hike

United Cable Television, which has 30,000 subscribers in Hacienda Heights, La Puente, South Whittier, Pico Rivera, Bassett, Valinda and West Whittier, plans a $2 to $3 increase for its basic package of cable programming. But the package, which now costs $9.95 a month, will be expanded to include some services for which subscribers now pay extra, company President Bill Cullen said. The company has served the area three years.

The increase comes in the wake of the federal Cable Communication Policy Act, which ends the authority of state and local governments to control cable prices, although municipalities can still award franchises. The federal act took effect Dec. 29.