*****************************************************  
 
                         NOTICE
****************************************************

This document was converted from
WordPerfect to ASCII Text format.

Content from the original version of the document such as
headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, graphics, and page numbers
will not show up in this text version.

All text attributes such as bold, itallic, underlining, etc. from the
original document will not show up in this text version.

Features of the orginal document layout such as
columns, tables, line and letter spacing, pagination, and margins
will not be preserved in the text version.

If you need the complete document, download the
WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available.

*****************************************************
                  Before the
      Federal Communications Commission
            Washington, D.C. 20554


                      )
In the Matter of      )
                      )
Bee Line Cable, Inc.  )  CUID No. ME0070 (Town of
Skowhegan)
                      )                           Complaints Regarding )
Cable Programming Services Tier)
Rate Increases        )

                   ORDER

     Adopted:  April 9, 1997            Released:  April 14, 1997 

By the Chief, Financial Analysis and Compliance Division, Cable
Services Bureau:

     1.   In this Order we consider complaints concerning the
rate increases of the above-referenced Operator ("Operator") for its
cable programming services tier ("CPST") in the community
referenced above.  Operator increased its CPST rate on January 1,
1995 from $8.22 to $9.49. Operator's response includes benchmark
justifications filed on FCC Forms 1200 and 1210.  This Order
addresses the reasonableness of Operator's rates for the period after
May 14, 1994.  We conclude that Operator's CPST rates after May
14, 1994 are not unreasonable.  

     2.   Under the Communications Act, the Federal
Communications Commission ("Commission") is authorized to review
the CPST rates of cable systems not subject to effective competition
to ensure that rates charged are not unreasonable.  Under the Cable
Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992,
("1992 Cable Act") the Commission must review CPST rates upon the
filing of a valid complaint by a subscriber.  The filing of a valid
complaint triggers an obligation on behalf of the cable operator to file
a justification of its CPST rates.  If the Commission finds the rate to
be unreasonable, it shall determine the correct rate and any refund
liability.  

     3.   The Commission's original rate regulations took effect
on September 1, 1993.  The Commission subsequently revised its rate
regulations effective May 15, 1994.  Cable operators with valid CPST
complaints filed against them prior to May 15, 1994 must demonstrate
that  their CPST rates were in compliance with the Commission's initial
rules from the time the complaint was filed through May 14, 1994, and
that their rates were in compliance with the revised rules from May 15,
1994 forward.  To justify their rates for the period beginning May 15,
1994 using a benchmark showing Operators must use the FCC Form
1200 series.  Cable operators may also justify rate increases based on
the addition and deletion  of channels, changes in certain external
costs, and inflation, by filing FCC Form 1210.  FCC  Form 1210
must be filed at least 30 days before new rates are scheduled to go into
effect where the Commission has found the cable programming service
rate to be unreasonable less than one year prior to the filing, or where
there is a pending complaint against the CPST rate.  

     4.   Upon review of Operator's FCC Forms 1200 and 1210,
we conclude that Operator has justified its CPST rate of $9.49
implemented on January 1, 1995.  Therefore, we find that Operator's
CPST rates in the community referenced above are justified and are
not unreasonable.
          
     5.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section
0.321 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.321, that the CPST
rate of $9.49 implemented by the Operator on January 1, 1995, in the
community referenced above IS NOT UNREASONABLE.



     6.   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section
0.321 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.321, that the
complaints referenced herein against the CPST rate of $9.49 
implemented by the Operator on January 1, 1995, in the community
referenced above ARE DENIED.

                              FEDERAL
COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 



                              Elizabeth W. Beaty
                              Chief, Financial Analysis
and Compliance Division
                              Cable Services Bureau