MUMBAI: American organisation Consumers for Cable Choice has announced that 15 new groups have joined its effort to bring further competition to the US cable television industry.

The expansion increases the alliance's group members to 38, and combined membership to nearly 700,000.

Consumers for Cable Choice executive director Jim Conran says, "We are thrilled that so many advocacy groups have joined our alliance, and we expect to continue to grow both group and individual memberships. These diverse groups are coming together because competition offers so many obvious benefits to so many different customers. Clearly, momentum for competition is building."

The newest members of Consumers for Cable Choice include the American Agriculture Movement, American Corn Growers Association, California Farmers Union, Federation of Southern Cooperatives and the League of Rural Voters.

Organisations who have joined say that many rural citizens in the US can't get basic cable except through satellite companies. High-speed Internet is largely unavailable making it easier for companies to offer these services.