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. ***************************************************************** ******** $//Meredith Cable, MN, MO&O, DA 95-2114//$ $/76.922 for Cable Programming Service tiers/$ $benchmark cab le rates/$ Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. DA 95-2114 In the Matter of ) ) Meredith Cable ) CUID Nos. MN0232 (Columbia Heights) ) MN0233 (Hilltop) Benchmark Filing to Support ) Cable Programming Service Price ) MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Adopted: October 2, 1995 Released: October 16, 1995 By the Chief, Cable Services Bureau: 1. Here we consider complaints about the price 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 price through a benchmark showing on FCC Form 393. This Order addresses the reasonableness of Operator's price only through May 14, 1994. At a later date we will issue a separate order addressing the reasonableness of the price 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 both of the franchise areas which are the subject of this Order were completed and served on Operator on February 25, 1994 and received by the Commission on February 28, 1994. In response, Operator filed FCC Form 393 on March 24, 1994. Operator submitted supplemental information on February 24, 1995. 5. Operator asserts that its monthly CPS tier price of $13.76 is higher than the maximum permitted charge of $13.74 as calculated in its filing. Thus, Operator has failed to show that its CPS tier price is not unreasonable. However, upon review of Operator's Form 393 filing, we have found that it has not correctly calculated its maximum permitted price, and it is therefore appropriate to make the following adjustments to Operator's calculations in Form 393: a. Operator's Form 393, Part II, Worksheet 1, Line 104 entry does not represent its current monthly equipment revenue as of the initial date of regulation. Since Operator restructured its rates, including its equipment rates, on September 1, 1993, the current monthly equipment revenue figure it entered on Line 104 should have been close or identical to its equipment cost figure on Part III, Step G, Line 34. However, Operator's entries on these two lines differed substantially. We therefore adjusted Line 104 to equal the amount entered on Line 34. b. This adjustment results in a reduction of the Base Rate Per Channel (Form 393, Part II, Worksheet 1, Line 110) such that Line 110 is now less than Line 128E (Adjusted Benchmark Rate). As a result, in accordance with Form 393 instructions, Operator's Maximum Initial Rate Per Channel is calculated based upon Worksheet 1 rather than Worksheet 2. 6. Upon review of the record herein, and having incorporated the adjustment discussed above, we conclude that Operator's showing justifies the maximum reasonable CPS tier price of $13.55 per month (plus franchise fee) for the period from February 28, 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 referred to in this Order against the cable programming service price 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 shown in the caption that portion of the amounts paid for cable programming service for the period from February 28, 1994 to May 14, 1994 which exceeded the maximum price per month (plus franchise fee) of $13.55 for each franchise area set forth in the caption, 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 periods, 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 filing 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 of $13.55 (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, a price that reflects the reduction in the CPS rate determined in this Order. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Meredith J. Jones Chief, Cable Services Bureau