WHAT PRICE CABLE TV?

The House Commerce telecommunications subcommittee approved legislation deregulating cable television rates. The provision is part of a larger billreforming telecommunications lawsthat would allowlocal, long distance and cable companiesto get into each other's businesses. According to the Federal Communications Commission, cable customers have saved an average of $4 a month since rate regulation took effect in 1993. The full Commerce Committee will vote on the bill next week.Suneel Ratan, TIME Washington economics correspondent, says that while people will talk a lot about deregulation, he doubts it will become law. "You can get it out of committee, but you can never get on to the floor. In the end, everyone wants cheap cable rates."