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The Commission previously determined that service of a multichannel video programming distributor will be deemed offered:  Xx(1) When the multichannel video programming distributor is physically able to deliver service to  ~potential subscribers, with the addition of no or only minimal additional investment by the  distributor, in order for an individual subscriber to receive service; and (2) When no regulatory,  mtechnical or other impediments to households taking service exist, and potential subscribers in the  franchise area are reasonably aware that they may purchase the services of the multichannel video programming distributor.  47 C.F.R. 76.905(e).  video programming service  xkin the unaffiliated cable operator's franchise area, Cablevision asserts that Ameritech New Media was  S- xrecently awarded a 15 year franchise to provide cable television service in Westlake.` W yO- xԍAmeritech New Media was awarded a cable franchise by Westlake, Ohio on November 6, 1997, and the  xfranchise agreement was finalized on December 19, 1997. Westlake is a suburban community located south of  xJCleveland with approximately 13,000 households. Under the terms of the franchise agreement, the construction of  xJthe cable system by Ameritech New Media must be completed within thirtysix (36) months after the effective date of the franchise agreement. Cablevision Petition at 6, Exhibit 4.` According to press  S- xreports, Cablevision states that Ameritech New Media has its cable television service available in a  S`- xsignificant portion of Westlake`hW {Oh- xԍCablevision Petition at 67, Exhibit 1 ("Cablevision Faces New Ameritech Scrap," Multichannel News, April 13, 1998). and will be offered to 12,000 of the city's 13,000 households (over 92  S8- xpercent) in the near future.$8W {O- xԍId. at 7, Exhibit 5 ("Ameritech Begins Cable TV Service in Westlake," PR Newswire, March 26, 1998). See  {Od- xalso Exhibit 6 ("Westlake Gets Ameritech Cable," Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 27, 1998). The Cleveland Plain  xwDealer article states that Ameritech New Media would offer service throughout the City of Westlake within the next few months.  Cablevision further reports that it has learned from promotional materials  xKdistributed by Ameritech New Media that in those areas of Westlake already wired by Ameritech, potential  S- xsubscribers can obtain service by contacting the company by telephone, 24 hours a day.DW {O6-čId., Exhibit 7. D Cablevision also  S- xasserts that some of its subscribers have discontinued service and switched to Ameritech New Media.@W {O - xԍId., Exhibit 8 (Declaration of James P. Evangelista, Senior Director of Communications and Government Affairs of Cablevision Systems Corporation's Midwest operations).  xThus, Cablevision asserts that Ameritech New Media is physically able to, and in fact is, offering service  x>to Westlake residents. Moreover, Cablevision states that because Ameritech New Media has a cable  SH - xfranchise for Westlake, there are no regulatory impediments to households taking its cable service.7H W {O%-ԍId. at 8.7 As  S - xfurther evidence that there are no technical or other impediments to households taking service, Cablevision" ,,>(>(II "  xjnotes that Ameritech is currently offering service to a significant portion of Westlake and will be offering  S-service through the City within a few months after March 1998.PW {O@-ԍId., Exhibits 1 and 5.P  S- ` ~x6.` ` Cablevision asserts that potential subscribers in the franchise area are reasonably aware  xthat they may purchase Ameritech New Media's service. Cablevision submits sample marketing materials,  x-promotional materials, and advertisements that Ameritech New Media has distributed throughout Westlake  S- xfor purposes of promoting its services.SZW yO -ԍCablevision Petition 89, Exhibits 7 and 9.S Cablevision also notes that Ameritech New Media's promotional  S- xmaterials include offerings of free service, free installation, and service discounts.1W {Or -ԍId.1 In addition,  S- xyCablevision states that Ameritech relies upon doortodoor sales efforts in order to increase awareness of  S-its service.M|W yO-ԍCablevision Petition at 9, Exhibit 8.M  Sp-  SH - ` ox7.` ` Finally, Cablevision states that Ameritech New Media offers comparable programming  S - xto Westlake subscribers.z W yO- xԍCablevision Petition at 910. The Commission observed that Congress specified a different definition of  x<comparable programming for the LEC effective competition test from that adopted for the first three effective  x,competition tests enacted as part of the 1992 Cable Act. Although soliciting comment as to the revised definition,  x,the Commission on an interim basis determined that it will apply this new comparable programming standard which  x"includes access to at least 12 channels of programming, at least some of which are television broadcasting signals"  {O- xto the LEC effective competition test. See Cable Act Reform Order, 11 FCC Rcd at 5942 (quoting 1996 Act Conference Report, S. Rep. 104230 at 170 (Feb. 1, 1996) ).  to Westlake subscribers. Specifically, Cablevision provides Ameritech New  xjMedia's channel lineup which demonstrates that Ameritech New Media offers subscribers more than 80  S - xychannels of programming, of which 12 are local television broadcasting signals.O N W yO-ԍCablevision Petition at 10, Exhibit 9. O Cablevision also asserts  x that Ameritech New Media's channel lineup presently replicates a number of programming services  xLCablevision offers to its subscribers, including network affiliates of local broadcast stations and satellite SX-delivered cable programming networks, such as A&E, CNN and the Discovery Channel.?XW {O-ԍId., Exhibit 11. ?  S0-  S-III.xANALYSIS:  S- ` x8.` ` #%F In the absence of a demonstration to the contrary, cable systems are presumed not to be  S- xsubject to effective competition as defined in the Communications Act.=pW yO$-ԍ47 C.F.R. 76.906.= The cable operator bears the  xMburden of rebutting the presumption that such effective competition does not exist and must provide"h,>(>(II"  xNevidence sufficient to demonstrate that effective competition, as defined by Section 76.905 of the  S-Commission's rules, is present in the franchise area.DW yO@-ԍ47 C.F.R. 76.911(b)(1). D Cablevision has met this burden.  S- ` Ax9.` ` With regard to the first part of the LEC effective competition test, which requires that the  x[alleged competitive service be provided by a LEC or its affiliate (or any multichannel video programming  x/distributor ("MVPD") using the facilities of such a LEC or its affiliate), we find that Cablevision has  S- x[provided sufficient evidence demonstrating that Ameritech New Media is an MVPD wholly owned by a  S- xLEC. Ameritech is a LEC as defined by the Communications Act,P@XW yO -ԍThe Communications Act defines the term "local exchange carrier" as:  }Xxany person that is engaged in the provision of telephone exchange service or exchange access.  `Such term does not include a person insofar as such person is engaged in the provision of a  @commercial mobile service under Section 332(c), except to the extent that the Commission finds that such service should be included in the definition of such term.  Communications Act 3(26), 47 U.S.C. 153(26). P and Ameritech New Media meets  S- x\the Commission's definition of a MVPD.\` W {O- xԍSee 47 C.F.R. 76.905(d). The Commission has previously noted that Ameritech is unquestionably a LEC as  x-defined by the Communications Act, and Ameritech New Media meets the Commission's definition of a MVPD.  {OR-See Time Warner Entertainment Co., L.P., Columbus OH, 11 FCC Rcd 17298 (1996).  Therefore, we find that Ameritech New Media meets the affiliation prong of the LEC effective competition test.  SH - ` x 10.` ` We also find that Cablevision has submitted sufficient evidence to show that the  xprogramming of Ameritech New Media is comparable to Cablevision's programming. The channel  xLinformation for Ameritech New Media submitted by Cablevision establishes that Ameritech offers more than 80 channels of programming, including 12 local broadcast channels.  S - ` x 11.` ` We find that Cablevision has submitted sufficient evidence demonstrating that Ameritech  xzNew Media is offering service in Cablevision's franchise area. Cablevision has provided evidence that  S0- xLAmeritech New Media's cable television service is available in WestlakeC0 W {OT-ԍSee supra note 15. C and will be offered through the  S- xCity pursuant to the franchise agreement that Ameritech New Media signed with Westlake.G W {O-ԍSee supra note 14. G Cablevision  xalso reports that some of its subscribers have switched to Ameritech New Media's cable service. Thus, we find that Ameritech New Media is physically able to offer service to Westlake residents.  Sh- ` x 12.` ` We note that Ameritech New Media's marketing efforts, including advertisements and  xdistribution of promotional materials, as well as local press coverage of Ameritech New Media's  xconstruction and service offerings, ensure that potential subscribers are reasonably aware of the availability  xof Ameritech New Media's service. In those areas wired and marketed by Ameritech New Media,  xpotential subscribers can contact the company 24 hours a day to activate service. Moreover, those  x[subscribers are able to receive Ameritech New Media's cable service for little or no additional investment" ,>(>(II"  xand without encountering regulatory or technical obstacles. Consistent with Congressional intent in  S- xadopting Section 623(1)(1)(D) of the Communications Act,C!W yO@-ԍ47 U.S.C. 543(1)(1)(D).C and under the circumstances presented to us  S-in this matter, we find "effective competition" to be present.  S`-  S8-IV.xORDERING CLAUSES  S- ` &x 13.` ` Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the Petition for Special Relief seeking a  S-determination of effective competition by Cablevision of the Midwest, Inc. IS GRANTED.  Sp- ` x 14.` ` IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the certification of the City of Westlake to regulate  SH -the basic cable rates of Cablevision of the Midwest, Inc. in Westlake, Ohio IS REVOKED.  S -  S - ` x15.` ` This action is taken pursuant to the interim rules adopted in Implementation of Cable  S - x[Reform Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and is without prejudice to any further action  xtaken by the Commission in adopting final rules pursuant to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking contained  S -therein.p" XW {O|-ԍCable Act Reform Order, 11 FCC Rcd at 59385945, 59615964. p  S4- ` x16.` ` This action is taken pursuant to delegated authority under Section 0.321 of the  S -Commission's rules, as amended.<# W yO-ԍ47 C.F.R. 0.321.<  #%F   #%F  x` `  hhFEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION x` `  hhDeborah A. Lathen  S-x` `  hhChief, Cable Services Bureau