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

                                )
In the Matter of                )
                                )
Suburban Cable TV Co., Inc.     )  CUID No.  PA2384 (Lower Salford Township)
                                )
                                )
                                )
                                )
Complaint Regarding             )
Cable Programming Services Tier Rates)


                             ORDER

     Adopted:  September 16, 1997       Released:  September 19, 1997  

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

     1.   In this Order we consider a complaint concerning the rates of the above-captioned operator
("Operator") for its cable programming services tier ("CPST") in the community referenced above. 
Operator's response includes a rate justification filed on FCC Form 1240.

     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.  The Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992
("1992 Cable Act"), and our rules implementing the 1992 Cable Act, required the Commission to review
CPST rates upon the filing of a valid complaint by a subscriber.  The filing of a valid complaint under the
1992 Cable Act triggered an obligation on behalf of the cable operator to file a justification of its CPST
rates.  The Telecommunications Act of 1996 ("1996 Act") and our rules implementing the new legislation
("Interim Rules"), require that complaints against CPST rates be filed with the Commission by a local
franchising authority ("LFA") that has received subscriber complaints.  An LFA may not file a CPST rate
complaint unless it receives more than one subscriber complaint within 90 days after such increase becomes
effective.  Under both the 1992 Cable Act and the 1996 Act, 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.  Operators must use the FCC
Form 1200 series to justify their rates for the period beginning May 15, 1994 using a benchmark showing. 
Operators may justify adjustments to their rates on an annual basis using FCC Form 1240 to reflect
reasonably certain and quantifiable changes in external costs, inflation, and the number of regulated channels
that are projected for the twelve months following the rate change.  Any incurred cost that is not projected
may be accrued with interest and added to rates at a later time.

     4.   On August 11, 1997, the LFA for the community referenced above filed a complaint against
Operator's April 1, 1997 CPST rate increase.  The LFA certified that it has received more than one subscriber
complaint for the community referenced above and that it has complied with the Interim Rules.  Operator
stated that it received its first valid complaint for the community referenced above on April 8, 1997.  Upon
review of Operator's FCC Form 1240 for the projected period April 1, 1997 to March 31, 1998, we find that
Operator's actual CPST rate of $15.95, effective April 1, 1997, in the above-referenced community, is 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 monthly CPST rate of $15.95 charged by Operator in the communities referenced
above, effective April 1, 1997, 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 complaint referenced herein against the CPST rates charged by Operator in the
communities referenced above IS DENIED.

                         FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 



                         Margaret M. Egler
                         Acting Chief, Financial Analysis and Compliance Division
                         Cable Services Bureau