Comcast customers in New Hampshire are facing a rate hike for cable, broadband and phone service on Jan. 22.

Basic cable rates are going up nearly 6 percent, from $23.02 to $24.60 per month, but expanded basic customers will enjoy a slight decrease from $46.11 to $45.35.

Most customers signed to a Comcast bundle will see slightly larger increases — around $5 a month — for triple play packages. Comcast blamed the rate increase on increased technology expenses, bringing faster Internet service to customers, improved customer service, and more on-demand online viewing.

Customers on price-lock agreements, promotional plans, or other contracts are unaffected until those agreements expire.

Local officials around New Hampshire say their hands are tied. Cable operators enjoy almost complete power setting their own rates as they see fit. The largest competitors for Comcast in New Hampshire are satellite dish providers, and those rates are increasing as well.