I took a look at a relative’s cable bill last year. He lives in a town with three competing cable&#x2F;ISP services. Here is how the monthly costs broke down:<p><i>Expanded basic service: $60<p>High definition converter box: $10<p>Digital converter rental: $3<p>HBO Cinemax package: $18<p>Premiere Total Pack: $16<p>Showtime&#x2F;TMC: $5<p>Starz: $5<p>Franchise fee: $7<p>Broadcast TV surcharge: $4<p>Sports programming surcharge: $2<p>Total monthly cost: $130<p>Annual cost: $130 × 12 months = $1,560</i><p>That doesn’t include Internet access, which adds another $60 or $70 per month, plus the land line. So they’re paying close to $250&#x2F;month. Sadly, that’s typical for a lot of people around here, who often get suckered in by $99 “triple play” deals and don’t read the fine print about extra fees, premium packages, or escalating rates after years 1 and 2.<p>It’s a total racket.<p>One thing to add about TFA: DTV reception even over a good antenna within 10 miles of the broadcast towers can be spotty. We live near Boston, and every time a car drives by our house the image freezes even for the big VHF channels.