CONGRESS TO ACT AS CABLE RATES CONTINUE RISE

Cable rates had increased 68 percent since 1986, according to a 1989 year-end survey of 528 cable TV systems by the United States Telephone Association (USTA). A May followup survey of 226 of those companies found rate increases over the last six months of 10 percent. Congress has just concluded hearings on the issue of cable's rising rates, anti-competitive practices, and customers' service problems. In June, both the House and the Senate will mark up legislative proposals to address these problems, according to USTA.