Adelphia’s Increase in Rates Grates

The day Adelphia Communications Corp. filed for bankruptcy protection, I received my monthly bill from the company for cable service [“Adelphia Submits Bankruptcy Filing,” June 26].

Under “Important News About Your Cable Services,” the bill listed new rate information. This listing compared the new prices, commencing next month, with the current prices.

Guess what--the new prices are all higher than the current ones. The price increases range from 3% to more than 33%. I guess we’re one of the fortunate ones--our bill will go up by approximately 6%.

Amazing timing. Do you think the increases are to provide “golden parachutes” for the outgoing management (having performed such a stellar job) or to “sweeten” the pot for any prospective bidders for the remains of the company?

Jack Frisch

Manhattan Beach

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Wasn’t it just a year or so ago that Adelphia spokesman Paul Heimel told us Adelphia was blocking its subscribers’ access to adult films because of the “small-town values” of its owners, the Rigas family?

“They don’t believe in chasing the almighty buck at the sacrifice of your personal values,” Heimel said.

While I’m as entertained as anyone by the sight of hypocrites being flattened by a few tons of irony, I still feel bad for the stockholders whose investments were pillaged under the guise of “family values.”

Steve Hoffmann

Redondo Beach