Beginning on the 1st of July your cable company may be asking if you want to rent or own your digital cable box thanks to the government.

Should you continue to rent or buy your cable box? That’s the question.

On average a regular cable box costs $5 a month to rent, one with a DVR, $7. With this new law it’s expected that rents will rise to $8 and $10, respectively.

Standard boxes are expected to cost $130, DVRs $700, with prices coming down. But where will you find these boxes? There’s no great supply making its way to a consumer electronics store near you any time soon.

Manufacturers and stores alike are waiting to see if consumer demand is strong enough to warrant mass manufacturing. So for now you’ll either want to continue renting your cable box, or you’ll have to because of lack of boxes to buy.

About the only sure thing to come from the government interference in the cable industry is higher monthly cable bills for you and me.

Thanks, Uncle Sam.

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