Government is protecting you again. This is just what the cable companies wanted. Out of sight, out of mind. It is far harder for you to get a response from a Washington agency than from city hall. The cable companies still have their local monopolies.
Cable companies claim that costly new services have been added to the consumer's menu.
The jury is still out on this argument, but it may well have some merit. Whether new and higher quality of cable services compensates for the higher prices may determine whether re-regulation of rates will take place. At least a modicum of technology exists to accommodate myriad kinds of new competition. Local Bells are engaged in some serious foot dragging with local competition. Baby Bells want a piece of the lucrative long-distance trade rather than tinker with less remunerative local cable competition.