Cablevision Systems Corporation recently announced its intention to increase rates averaging over 6 percent with extended basic service rates increasing more than 12 percent on Long Island in early 2001. This increase is quadruple the rate of inflation and more than double the 4 to 5 percent annual rate hikes the industry said they would try to maintain when prices were deregulated by the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996.

By having no cable television competition on Long Island, Cablevision's monopoly has been at the great expense of Long Island residents. The time is now for competition on Long Island and for the immediate fix of the 1996 Telecommunications Act for the protection of Long Island consumers.

Charles J. Fuschillo

New York State Senator