NOTICE ********************************************************* NOTICE ********************************************************* This document was originally prepared in Word Perfect. If the original document contained-- * Footnotes * Boldface & Italics --this information is missing in this version The document format (spacing, margins, tabs, etc.) is changed too. If you need the complete document, download the Word Perfect version. For information about downloading documents (FTP) see file how2ftp. File how2ftp (.txt & .wp) is in directory \pub\Public_Notices\Miscellaneous. ***************************************************************** ******** $//Greater Media Cable, MO&O, DA-1739//$ $/76.922 Rates for Cable Programming Service tier/$ $/benchmark cable rates/$ Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20554 DA 95-1739 In the Matter of ) ) Greater Media Cable ) CUID Nos. MA0018 (Worcester) ) MA0107 (Easthampton) ) MA0209 (Sturbridge) Benchmark Filings to Support ) MA0260 (Boylston) Cable Programming Service Prices ) MA0319 (West Boylston) MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Adopted: August 8, 1995 Released: August 16, 1995 By the Chief, Cable Services Bureau: 1. Here we consider complaints about the prices that the above-captioned operator ("Operator") was charging for its cable programming service ("CPS") tier in the communities referenced above. Operator has chosen to attempt to justify its prices through benchmark showings on FCC Form 393. This Order addresses the reasonableness of Operator's prices only through May 14, 1994. At a later date we will issue a separate order addressing the reasonableness of the prices after that date. 2. Under the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, and our rules implementing it, 47 C.F.R. Part 76, Subpart N, the Commission must review CPS prices upon the filing of a valid complaint. The filing of a valid complaint triggers an obligation on behalf of the cable operator to file a justification of its CPS prices. Under our rules, an operator may attempt to justify its prices through either a benchmark showing or a cost-of-service showing. In either case, the operator has the burden of demonstrating that its CPS prices are not unreasonable. 3. The Commission's original rate regulations took effect on September 1, 1993. The Commission subsequently revised its rate regulations effective May 15, 1994. Operators with valid CPS complaints filed against them prior to May 15, 1994 must demonstrate that their CPS prices were in compliance with the Commission's initial rules from the time the complaint was filed through May 14, 1994, and that their prices were in compliance with the revised rules from May 15, 1994 forward. Operators attempting to justify their prices for the period prior to May 15, 1994 through a benchmark showing must complete and file FCC Form 393. Generally, to justify their prices for the period beginning May 15, 1994 through a benchmark showing, operators must use the FCC Form 1200 series. 4. The first valid CPS complaints in each of the franchise areas which are the subject of this Order were completed and served on Operator on January 26, 1994 and received by the Commission on February 2, 1994. Operator filed FCC Form 393 in response; Operator also filed amended Form 393 filings on June 24, 1994. 5. Operator's actual CPS tier prices were above the maximum permitted prices that Operator calculated for the CPS tier and, thus, Operator failed to demonstrate that its prices for the CPS tier were not unreasonable. Furthermore, upon review of Operator's submissions for the franchise areas, we have found that Operator has miscalculated its maximum permitted prices, and it is therefore appropriate to make the following adjustments to Operator's calculations in its Form 393: a. In Part III, Schedule B, Operator did not account for any real estate taxes or utilities expenses. In response to a request for further information, Operator provided information as to the proper allocation of these expenses. These costs were included in the calculation of Schedule B costs. b. Because Operator has failed to demonstrate that its prices for the CPS tiers were not unreasonable, we must recalculate the Inflation Adjustment Factor in Form 393, Part II, Worksheets 1 and 4, on the basis of the most accurate data currently available for the date for which Operator filed. On its amended Form 393s, (using data released on August 31, 1993), Operator calculated the Inflation Adjustment Factor as of the end of October 1993 for CUID Nos. MA0018, MA0107, MA0209, and MA0260, and as of the end of November 1993 for CUID No. MA0319. On July 29, 1994, the U.S. Department of Commerce released corrected inflation data including Gross National Product Price Index ("GNP-PI") figures of 122.3 for the third quarter of 1992 and 125.7 for the third quarter of 1993. Using these GNP-PI figures, we calculate an Inflation Adjustment Factor of 1.030 through October 1993 and 1.032 through November 1993, the base dates Operator used in justifying its rates for the franchise areas under consideration in this Order. 6. Upon review of the record herein, and having incorporated the adjustments discussed above, we conclude that Operator has failed to justify the rates it was charging during the period in question. Operator's showings justify the maximum reasonable CPS tier prices shown on the Appendix (plus franchise fee) for the period from February 2, 1994 to May 14, 1994. 7. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section 0.321 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.321, that the complaints against the cable programming service prices charged by Operator in the franchise areas referenced in the caption ARE GRANTED TO THE EXTENT INDICATED HEREIN. 8. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 76.961 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  76.961, that Operator shall refund to subscribers in the franchise areas referenced in the caption that portion of the amounts paid for cable programming service for the period from February 2, 1994 to May 14, 1994 which exceeded the maximum price for each franchise area (plus franchise fee) per month, plus interest to the date of the refund. 9. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Operator shall promptly determine the overcharges to CPS subscribers for the stated period, and shall within 30 days of the release of this Order file a report with the Chief, Cable Services Bureau, stating the cumulative refund amount so determined (including franchise fees and interest), describing the calculation thereof, and describing its plan to implement the refund within 60 days of Commission approval of the plan. 10. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 76.922(b)(4)(C) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  76.922(b)(4)(C), that Operator shall, within 30 days of the release of this Order, revise its Form 1200 filings with respect to the franchise areas listed herein, for the period beginning May 15, 1994, to reduce the monthly charge per tier as of March 31, 1994 for Tier 2 (Line A6b) to equal the maximum price in each franchise area set forth in Appendix A (plus franchise fee). 11. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Operator shall place into effect, within 30 days after its submission of the revised Form 1200 filings required above, prices that reflect the reductions in the CPS rates determined in this Order. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Meredith J. Jones Chief, Cable Services Bureau Appendix CUID No. Actual Rates Maximum Permitted Rates MA0018 $11.75 $11.49 MA0107 $10.71 $ 9.45 MA0209 $11.52 $11.20 MA0260 $12.24 $11.13 MA0319 $12.00 $11.68