Menino Wants To Regulate Cost Of Basic Cable In Boston

BOSTON (CBS) - Mayor Tom Menino is filing an emergency petition with the Federal Communications Commission seeking authority to regulate the cost of basic cable TV service in the city.

"We get them regulated, they'll be managed much better," Menino told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Monday.

"The problem we have is they're unregulated and whatever they want to charge they can charge. We're asking the FCC to really look at this issue and try and protect the consumers in Boston."

The mayor decided to take action after Comcast hiked the cost for its lowest tier of service more than 60-percent over the past three years.

Menino said he's asked Comcast several times to look at this issue, but "they continue to ignore us."

Comcast declined to comment to the Boston Globe over the weekend, because it had not seen the petition.

Menino also told WBZ Verizon was an option to compete with Comcast, but it chose not to come to Boston.