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Sh-Petition for a Declaratory Rulinghh@)T  S@-Regarding a Rate Order from thehh@)  S -City of Sugar Hill, Georgiahh@)hT T  S -  MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER ă  SP -X` hp x (#%'0*,.8135@8: S yO4-ԍ9 FCC Rcd 6841 (1994).>  S^-#Xn4  pG;|X##Xj\  P6G;9XP# #&a\  P6G;&P#III. DISCUSSION  S6- x  S- ` x5.` ` The Commission requires that an LFA issue a written decision to the public, and a public  xnotice of it, whenever the LFA ". . . disapproves, in whole or in part either the initial rates for the basic  xservice tier and accompanying equipment, or a request for an increase in those rates, or approves a  S- x.proposed rate over the objections of interested parties."LxS {O-ԍRate Order, 8 FCC Rcd at 5715.L Any participant in a ratemaking proceeding at  xthe franchising authority level may file an appeal of the LFA's decision with the Commission within thirty  SF- xj(30) days of the release of the text of the franchising authority's decision.CF S yO-ԍ47 C. F. R.  76.944(b).C Although the Bureau has held  xthat written decisions must affirmatively demonstrate why an operator's proposed rates are unreasonable,  xand that issues of service quality should be addressed outside the ratemaking context, the alleged  xlinsufficiency of an LFA's rate order does not toll the filing deadline under the Commission's rules.  S- xExtremely brief LFA opinions have previously been recognized as final;S {O!-ԍSee Cablevision VII, Inc., supra; Falcon Cablevision, DA 97614 (released March 26, 1997). their brevity in no way affects  xthe requirement that any appeal of them be made in a timely fashion. Gwinnett's request for a declaratory ruling that cable operators can determine unilaterally whether a rate order is sufficient is denied.  S- ` x6.` ` Gwinnett also has not shown good cause for waiving the Commission's deadline for  x\appealing the LFA's order. Gwinnett offers no showing that it made a diligent effort to timely file an  S- xappeal or even to ascertain the status of the disputed rate order in order to protect its right to appeal after", ,p(p(88<"  S- xreceiving the City Manager's letter. S yOh- xԍThe record shows that Gwinnett responded to the City Manager's March 25, 1997 letter by advising him that  xhthe City had already approved the proposed rates by not issuing a timely tolling order or a rate order. City's Motion  xto Dismiss, Attach., 4/14/97 letter from O'Keeffe to Nevad. A Councilman's May 12, 1997 response cited to a  x<tolling order issued February 10, 1997 and reminded Gwinnett of the City's right to prescribe rates prospectively  xwithout a tolling order. Gwinnett Petition, Attach. C. According to Gwinnett, this response prompted this petition. Gwinnett Petition at 1. This lack of diligence distinguishes Gwinnett's circumstances from  S- xzthose in Continental Cablevision of Ohio,L @S yO-ԍDA 97789 (released April 16, 1997).L upon which it relies. Although Gwinnett argues that local  xifranchising authorities should work cooperatively with cable operators, it bears responsibility for protecting  S- xkits own interests if it is unclear about the status of a rate order. S yO - x-ԍGwinnett easily could have satisfied any remaining doubt about this being the LFA's final action by a simple telephone call to the City Manager. The Commission made it clear in its  Sb- xdecision in Meredith/New Heritage Strategic Partners, L.P that it will strictly apply the good cause  xstandard in connection with filing deadlines initiating adjudicatory proceedings, and it overruled precedent  S-to the contrary. ( S yO- xԍ 9 FCC Rcd at 6843. (Appeal allowed in spite of a oneday filing delay because of possible confusion caused  {O-by language in Ellis Thompson Corp., 7 FCC Rcd 3932, 3936 n.2 (1992).) The petition submitted by Gwinnett, therefore, is untimely, and it will be denied.  S-  IV. ORDERING CLAUSES  S-  St- ` x7.` ` Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the Petition For Emergency Declaratory Ruling filed  SL -June 11, 1997 by Northeast Gwinnett Cablevision IS DENIED .  S - ` _x8.` ` IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Motion For Extension Of Time And Leave To  xFile Motion To Dismiss Petition For Emergency Declaratory Ruling filed July 11, 1997 by the City of  S -Sugar Hill, Georgia IS GRANTED .  S\- ` Bx9.` ` This action is taken by the Acting Chief, Cable Services Bureau, pursuant to authority delegated by  0.321 of the Commission's rules. 47 C .F. R.  0.321. x` `  hh@FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION x` `  hh@John E. Logan x` `  hh@Acting Chief, Cable Services Bureau $A   $A