Once Time Warner acquired the cable TV franchise in Thousand Oaks, it didn't take them very long to start doing what they do so well: raising rates.

Although I subscribe to a satellite service for premium programming, I've always paid a little extra to get local channels on cable, mainly because it also carries the excellent local channel, TOTV.

Now, after two rate increases just half a year apart, I find that my cable bill has risen a whopping 42 percent. Consequently, I've canceled my cable service and activated local channels through my satellite provider at a fraction of the cost.

For me, the decision was an easy one, and technological advances are making even more choices available to those who wish to subscribe to expanded programming.

However, on behalf of those families who depend on cable for low-cost broadcast channel reception, and especially at a time when so many are feeling the effects of the economic downturn, I must express my disappointment that city management has apparently failed to protect them from seemingly unlimited rate increases by its sole franchise operator for this basic service. Stephen Bishop Thousand Oaks