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

In the Matter of                )  CUID No.  NY0239 (Islip)
                                )            
Cablevision Systems             )            
                                )            
Complaints Regarding            )            
Cable Programming Services Tier Rates   )


                             ORDER

      Adopted:  August 13, 1999                            Released:  August 17, 1999  

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

     1.   In this Order we consider a complaint against the January 1, 1999 rate increase of the above-
referenced operator ("Operator") for its cable programming services tier ("CPST") in the community referenced
above.  We have already issued an order in which we resolved all prior complaints against Operator's CPST
rates in the community referenced above ("Prior Order").  This Order addresses only the reasonableness of
Operator's January 1, 1999 CPST rate increase.   

     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 Telecommunications Act of 1996 ("1996 Act") and our rules implementing
the legislation ("Interim Rules"), require that a complaint against the CPST rate 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 area referenced above filed a complaint with the Commission on
June 29, 1999 against Operator's January 1, 1999 CPST rate increase to $17.79.  The LFA verified that it
received more than one subscriber complaint and that the first valid complaint was received by the LFA on
January 5, 1999.  The filing of a complete and timely 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. If the Commission finds a rate to be unreasonable, it shall determine the
correct rate and any refund liability. 

     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.  Operators may justify 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.  

     5.   Upon review of Operator's FCC Form 1240, for the projected period January 1, 1999 through
December 31, 1999, we find Operator's actual CPST rate of $17.79, effective January 1, 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 rate of $17.79, charged by Operator in the community referenced above,
effective January 1, 1999, IS REASONABLE.

     7.   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 0.321 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.
Section 0.321, that the complaint against Operator's January 1, 1999 CPST rate increase in the community
referenced above, IS DENIED. 

                         FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 


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