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

In the Matter of                   )
                              )
Suburban Cable TV Co., Inc.             )    CUID No.    PA1927 (Upper Merion)
                              )              
                              )
Complaints Regarding                    )
Cable Programming Services Tier Rates   )


                             ORDER

   Adopted:  January 12, 1999           Released:  January 14, 1999  

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

     1.   In this Order we consider a complaint concerning the rate charged by the above-captioned
operator ("Operator") for its cable programming services tier ("CPST") in the community referenced above. 
Operator's response includes benchmark justifications filed on FCC Form 1200, multiple FCC Forms 1210
and FCC Forms 1240.  We find that the CPST rates charged by the Operator in the community above
beginning February 25, 1995 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.  The Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 ("1992
Cable Act"), and our rules in effect at the time the complaint was filed, required the Commission to 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.  Cable operators
attempting to justify their rates for the period prior to May 15, 1994 using a benchmark showing must complete
and file FCC Form 393.  Operators must use the FCC Form 1200 series to justify their rates for the period 
beginning May 15, 1994 using a benchmark showing.  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. 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.  If actual and projected costs are different during the rate year a "true-up" mechanism is
available to correct estimated costs with actual cost changes.  The "true-up" requires operators to decrease their
rates or alternatively permits them to increase their rates to make an adjustment for over or under estimation
of these costs changes.

     4.   Upon review of Operator's FCC Forms 1200, 1210 and 1240, we find that Operator's CPST
rates, effective February 25, 1995 through March 31, 1998, are not unreasonable.  Upon review of Operator's
FCC Form 1240, for the projected period April 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999, we find that Operator's CPST rate
of $15.95, effective April 1, 1998 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 rates charged by Operator in the community referenced above, from
February 25, 1995 through March 31, 1998, ARE REASONABLE.
          
     6.   IT IS FURTHER 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 community referenced above,
effective April 1, 1998, IS REASONABLE.

     7.   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 community
referenced above IS DENIED.

     
                              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 



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