Protesting Adelphia’s Cable Rate Hike

I just received a notice that Adelphia Communications Corp. is raising my cable rates because it faces “increases in operational expenses such as wages, specialized training for our employees, utilities, fuel, insurance, equipment to 24-hour service and support and rising fees from providers of many of the popular programming services our customers enjoy and expect” [“Adelphia Subscribers Notified of Rate Hike,” Aug. 9].

Think maybe the couple of billions of dollars that former Adelphia Chief Executive John Rigas pocketed in phony off-balance-sheet loans might belong somewhere on this laundry list?

If this isn’t preposterous enough, the notice touchingly concludes that Adelphia is raising rates in order to remain competitive and “to continue to meet our customers’ expectations.”

Can you please give me that phone number you can call to stop companies from sending you junk mail?

Don Garrison

Los Angeles