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

In the Matter of                )  CUID Nos. CA1264 (Athens)
                                )            CA1265 (Firestone)
MediaOne of Los Angeles, Inc.                )              CA1268 (Willow Brook)
                                )            
                                )            
Complaint Regarding             )
Cable Programming Services Tier Rates)


                             ORDER

   Adopted:  June 30, 1999              Released:  July 2, 1999  

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

     1.   In this Order we consider a complaint against the January 15, 1999 rate increases by the
above-referenced operator ("Operator") for its cable programming services tiers ("CPSTs") in the communities
referenced above.  On August 1, 1995, the Federal Communications Commission ("Commission") adopted an
Order approving a Social Contract entered into between Operator and the Commission which resolved all
previous complaints filed against Operator's CPST rates ("Social Contract").  This Order will address the
reasonableness of Operator's January 15, 1999 rate increases consistent with the terms of the Social Contract.

     2.   Under the Communications Act, the Commission is authorized to review the CPST rates of
cable systems not subject to effective competition to ensure that rates charged are not unreasonable.  If the
Commission finds a rate to be unreasonable, it shall determine the correct rate and any refund liability.   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 more than one subscriber complaint.
       
     3.   The LFA for the franchise areas referenced above filed a complaint with the Commission on
June 1, 1999 against Operator's January 15, 1999 CPST rate increases from $2.18 to $2.62 for its CPST-1
and from $16.35 to $17.21 for its CPST-2.  The LFA verified that it received more than one subscriber
complaint and that the first valid complaint was received by the LFA on February 2, 1999.  The filing of a
complete and timely LFA complaint triggers an obligation upon the cable operator to file a justification of its
CPST rates.  The Operator has the burden of demonstrating that the CPST rates complained about are
reasonable. 

     4.    To justify rates for the period beginning May 15, 1994, operators must use the FCC Form
1200 series.  Operators are permitted to make changes to their rates on a quarterly basis using FCC Form
1210.  There are no official forms available for use to implement the one-time changes in rates as required
by the Social Contract.  The Commission, seeking to simplify the implementation of the Social Contract, found
that the rate form proposed by Operator ("SC Rate Form") to implement the rate restructuring under the Social
Contract, was consistent with the methodologies of the Commission's Forms 1200 and 1210 and greatly
simplified the review of the restructured rates under the Social Contract. Therefore, pursuant to the terms of
the Social Contract, the Commission permitted Operator to file an SC Rate Form to establish its initial CPST
rates, which are updated by FCC Form 1210s.

     5.   Upon review of Operator's SC Rate Form, setting an initial maximum permitted rate ("MPR")
in accordance with the Social Contract, and Operator's FCC Form 1210s covering the period from the SC Rate
Form through December 31, 1998, we find Operator's actual CPST-1 rate of $2.62 and actual CPST-2 rate
of $17.21, effective January 15, 1999, to be reasonable.  

     6.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section 0.321 of the Commission's rules, 47
C.F.R. 0.321, that the CPST-1 rate of $2.62 and the CPST-2 rate of $17.21, charged by Operator in the
communities referenced above, effective January 15, 1999, ARE 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 against Operator's CPST rates, in the communities referenced above, IS DENIED.

                         FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 



                         Patrick A. Boateng
                         Acting Chief, Financial Analysis and Compliance Division
                         Cable Services Bureau