The Associated Press is trying to become your cable company: Overcharging you for the services you do want by tacking on tons of unnecessary and unwanted options that you don't have a choice in refusing.

The wire service took another round of beatings over its rate hikes, announced last year, at yesterday's Capital Conference media convention, where AP prez Tom Curley's appearance was followed by a vocal group of editors expressed their discontent. Not only do they want to see about a 30 percent reduction in charges, but they're also after transparency: "Susan Goldberg, editor of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, also cited the lack of response to editors’ concerns. 'As of even late last night, we were turned down flat,' she said. 'We do want to understand what each other is paying.'"

Added Boston Globe editor Martin Baron later on:

"They can’t tell us how we are going to save money. It is just appalling that they are unwilling to tell us how. It reminds me of when I see on 14th Street in New York, the Three-Card Monte."

Um, is anyone still playing Three-Card Monte on 14th Street, or are we more out of touch than Baron?