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A. a.(1)(a) i) a)DocumentgPleadingHeader for Numbered Pleading PaperE!n    X X` hp x (#%'0*,.8135@8:Bullet ListIndented Bullet List*M0 Y XX` ` (#` ",tB^ f ^;C]ddCCCdCCCCddddddddddCCdxN`xoCCCddCdoYoYFdo8Co8odooYNCodddYdddd4dddddCddddddddo8dddddYYYYYN8N8N8N8oddddooooddpddddxodddXXddXddXdddddooL8doddNorddo8PdN8ppoddXXdpLoNpLodPDdopoopodXYXodoodddCddCCCWxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxNdddCdUUddddddFddddFCCssd44ddzzddd~ooCsdF"dsd9dCCzCddoddCdYds`zUvdddCCCCzozoYNYYYN8YooYdYzzdzddYYzozzzNdzYzzzzCCdddddddzCzdYC\   pxtll\tll@\@\`L2IFOR FCC RECORD ONLY $//Russell Cable Television Company, MO&O, DA95613//$ $/76.922 Rates for Cable Programming Service Tiers/$  Y-$/benchmark cable rates$  X-   (2Before the W FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION  X_-Washington, D.C. 20554 ă x` `  hh@hpp    X1-x` `  hh@X01Í ÍX01Í Í#Xw PE37XP#hpp   DA 95 é613  Y -In the Matter of: hh@)  Y -x` `  hh@)h  Y -Russell Cable Television Companyhh@)hCUID No. KS0025  Y -Russell, Kansas hh @)  Y -x` `  hh@)h  Y-Classic Cable` `  hh@)hCUID No. KS0158  Yy-Anthony, Kansas hh@) x` `  hh@)  YK-Douglas Cable hh@)hCUID No. KS0306  Y4-Axtell, Kansas hh@) x` `  hh@)  Y-USA Cablesystems, Inc.hh@)hCUID No. MS0395  Y-Carriere, Mississippi hh@) x` `  hh@)  Y-Tennessee Cablevisionhh@)hCUID No. TN0045  Y-Oak Ridge, Tennesseehh@) x` `  hh@)  Y|-Overton County Cable TVhh@)hCUID No. TN0220  Ye-Livingston, Tennesseehh@)hpp  xx 0  YN-x` `  hh@)h  Y7-Order Denying Jurisdictionhh@) x` `    Y-}  MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER ă Adopted: March 24, 1995 Released: March 28, 1995 By the Deputy Chief, Cable Services Bureau:  Yi$-x1.` ` In this Order we dismiss complaints against the prices the above referenced operators were charging for their cable programming service ("CPS") tiers in the above referenced communities, on the ground that the complaints concern rates that are outside the jurisdiction and authority of this Commission. As explained below, the Commission regulates rates for CPS only, and then only upon filing of a valid complaint. Our review reveals that the complaints filed against the operator, while asserting that they challenge CPS"(0*0*0*0*" rates, challenge only rates for basic service, not for CPS. The complaints therefore do not trigger the Commission's jurisdiction, and they are accordingly dismissed. "(0*0*0*0*"Ԍ Y(-x2.` ` The Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992"(0*0*0*0*"  Y-("Cable Act of 1992")4 Xy-#Xj\  P6G;yoXP#эxCable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act, Pub. L. No. 102385, 106Stat. 1460 (1992) (Cable Act of 1992). distinguishes among basic cable service, premium cable service, and  Y-cable programming service.b4 X-#Xj\  P6G;yoXP#эxCable Act of 1992, Section 602, 47 U.S.C.  522. The basic service tier is the minimum package of cable service that a consumer can buy. Except in limited circumstances, the Commission does not have jurisdiction over rates for the basic service tier, and cannot act upon complaints concerning rates for that tier. Premium cable service consists of channels that are paid for individually  Y-(perchannel) or perprogram. By statute, these channels are not subject to rate regulation.4 XQ -#Xj\  P6G;yoXP#эxCable Act of 1992, Section 623(a)(1), 47 U.S.C.  543(a)(1). CPS includes all video programming that is not on the basic service tier which the operator offers as a package of channels. Rates for CPS tiers are subject to regulation by the Commission in response to a valid complaint.  Y -x3.` ` In these cases, the operators have indicated that as of September 1, 1993, they only offered one tier of service in the communities addressed in this Order. The channel lineups and rate cards that the operators have submitted support their assertion.  Y -x4.` ` The complaints under consideration here were filed with the Commission on FCC Form 329. FCC Form 329 is used by subscribers or local franchising authorities wishing to lodge with the Commission a complaint about an operator's CPS rates. The form is entitled "Cable Programming Service Rate Complaint." While the form is designed for use in challenging CPS tier rates, the definition of CPS tier rates is not made clear on the face of the form and it is possible that someone might complete the form without understanding the difference between basic tier rates, premium service rates, and CPS tier  Y-rates.v4 X-#Xj\  P6G;yoXP#эxWe note that operators have great latitude in determining what channels will be included in the basic tier; once the statutory minimum (broadcast and public educational and governmental access channels) is met, the operator may include as many additional channels in the basic tier as it wants, or it may move additional channels to a higher tier. Thus it is possible that a complainant might not clearly understand which channels are part of which tier.  Y-x5.` ` We have examined the complaints and the operators' responses, and we conclude that the complaints challenge only basic rates, not CPS rates. Although the complainants indicate that the rates challenged violate the Commission's rules, the specific information provided by the complainants indicates that only basic rates are at issue. When only basic rates are being challenged, the complaint should properly be brought to the attention of the local franchising authority in the first instance, and not filed with this Commission. If the complaints do in fact challenge CPS rates, the complainants may file a"e 0*((l" petition for reconsideration providing information adequate to support their challenge.  Y-  x6.` ` Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section 623(a)(2)(A) and (B) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 543(a)(2)(A) and (B), that the complaints filed prior to May 14, 1994, against the cable programming service prices charged by Russell Cable Television Company, in Russell, Kansas, CUID No. KS0025; Classic Cable, in Anthony, Kansas, CUID No. KS0158; Douglas Cable, in Axtell, Kansas, CUID No. KS0306; USA Cablesystems, Inc., in Carriere, Mississippi, CUID No. MS0395; Tennessee Cablevision, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, CUID No. TN0045; and Overton County Cable TV, in Livingston, Tennessee, CUID No. TN0220 ARE DISMISSED. x` `  hh@hpp  Y -x7.` ` This action is taken pursuant to delegated authority under Section 0.321 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.321. x x` ` x` `  hhFEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION x` `  hhGregory J. Vogt x` `  hhDeputy Chief, Cable Services Bureau