Cable bills in Boston are on the rise again, just 10 months after sharp increases in fees charged by Comcast Corp. provoked both Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Senator John Kerry to request the Federal Communications Commission take action against rising prices.

Starting with next month’s billing cycle, the average bill for customers of cable giant Comcast will increase by 2.9 percent in Greater Boston. Comcast spokeswoman Doreen Vigue cited “the impact of higher programming costs and increased operating expenses,’’ for the rate hike.