SIMMONS CABLE TV CUTS RATE INCREASE BY 50 CENTS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 8, 1992                   TAG: 9201080128
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Short
SIMMONS CABLE TV CUTS RATE INCREASE BY 50 CENTS
Simmons Cable TV has cut its rate increase for next month by 50 cents.
The standard cable package will cost $21.45 monthly, plus franchise fees and utility taxes where applicable. The new rate is an increase of $1.50 over the current $19.95 monthly cost.
Also, the new cost for additional outlets was trimmed by 25 cents to $3.75 per month. The cost had been $3.50 monthly.
"We felt like the people in this area were being hit hard," said Erv Stauss, general manager of Simmons Cable, which has more than 10,000 customers in Christiansburg, Radford and parts of Montgomery and Pulaski counties.
"We made this move in response to that. We felt we could tighten our belts somewhat to help out the situation."
Stauss also said the decision to reduce the price increase was made even before the announcement of the increase was mailed to customers.
The reduced price increase will not affect the system's plans to add Comedy Central to the basic package or Encore as a pay movie channel at $4 monthly.
After the price increase, the effective cost for cable in the area served by Simmons will be $22.11 in Pulaski County, $22.84 in Christiansburg, $23.11 in Radford and $23.70 in Montgomery County.
This compares to $21.48 in Montgomery County and $19.81 in Christiansburg in areas served by Blacksburg Cable and $21.60 in Pulaski County areas served by Adelphia Cable.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB