What Is Up With This World?

I have despised the cable television services offered in Lafayette Parish (Louisiana) since the day I moved here. At that time, TCA Cable out of Tyler, Texas was the provider. It was overpriced and the channel lineup was awful, compared to most of the other parts of the state. Citizens in Lafayette Parish were being taken advantage of by TCA, as it was the "only game in town". If you are from anywhere in South Louisiana, I am sure you are sitting there with a look of utter shock on your face. Citizens being taken advantage of? In South Louisiana? The devil you say!

I despised TCA, but I tell you what, I should have been thankful for what we had then because a few years later, they were bought out by what is now COX Communications. COX is the Haliburton of the local cable industry. While it is true that is the company from which I secured cable service, this was only because my two choices were as follows: 1) Sit in my livingroom watching the same DVDs over and over and over again; or 2) Getting in bed with the devil so to speak and purchasing cable service from our local monopoly. It is absolutely ridiculous what we are required to pay here, when one can travel less than 85 miles down Highway 90 and pay 2/3 of what we pay, for better service. Of course, that's because there is some competition there.

I cannot wait until LUS publicizes its channel lineup and price range. Though it might start out with less channels, I have a feeling that as long as they offer my favorites, the price difference is going to want to make me switch. I feel terrible if it turns out that COX has massive layoffs, but a company that is as greedy as that, was going to meet the same fate anyway.

I hope LUS can pull this off. I do not have a lot of confidence in the Lafayette Consolidated Government when it comes around to it helping the average citizen, however I must applaud them for the excellent job LUS always does with its utilities. Compared to ENTERGY, DEMCO and CLECO, they are certainly a cut above. I know their prices have risen tremendously in the past year, but so has everything. Dollar for dollar, LUS offers the best utility service in our area.

Below is a link to an article in this morning's addition of The Advertiser. Let me know what you think about this. What do you plan to do? Are you taking a wait & see attitude? I am hopeful at the very least, that COX will lower its rates. And I must point out that it could always be worse - Lafayette could have COMCAST, which is the Beezelbub of all cable companies. At least that's what I hear from my friends in the Sugarland, Texas area.

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20081222/NEWS01/812220317&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL