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If you need the complete document, download the WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available. ***************************************************************** Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Cablevision of the Midwest, Inc. ) CUID No. OH0663 (City of Lyndhurst) and Telerama, Inc. ) d/b/a CSC/VTV Ohio ) ) ) Complaints Regarding ) Cable Programming Services Tier Rates) ORDER Adopted: February 26, 1998 Released: March 2, 1998 By the Deputy Chief, Cable Services Bureau: 1. In this Order we consider complaints against the June and July, 1997 rate increase that the above-captioned operator ("Operator") implemented for its cable programming services tier ("CPST") in the community set forth above. Operator has attempted to justify its CPST rate through a cost of service showing on FCC Form 1235. This Order addresses only the reasonableness of Operator's CPST rate of $17.18 that became effective in June and July, 1997. 2. The Communications Act authorizes the Federal Communications Commission ("Commission") 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 the rate 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 the CPST rates be filed with the Commission by a local franchising authority ("LFA") that has received subscriber complaints. An LFA may not file a CPST rate complaint unless, within 90 days after such increase becomes effective, it receives more than one subscriber complaint. 3. FCC Form 1235 is an abbreviated cost of service filing used in cases of network upgrades. It allows cable operators to justify rate increases related to significant capital expenditures used to improve rate-regulated services. This option is extended only in cases of significant upgrades requiring added capital investment, such as bandwidth capacity and conversion to fiber optics, and for system rebuilds. Normal improvements and expansions of service will remain subject to the usual rate adjustments allowed by filings of FCC Forms 1210, 1220 and 1240. Cable operators that incur increases in operating costs associated with a significant network upgrade will be permitted to charge additional rates as justified by their FCC Form 1235 filing. 4. On December 10, 1997, the LFA filed a complaint regarding the June and July, 1997 increase in Operator's CPST rate in the community referenced above. In its complaint, the LFA asserts that it has received more than one subscriber complaint against Operator's CPST rate increase in the community set forth above, thereby triggering the Commission's jurisdiction to review these complaints. The valid complaint from the LFA triggers an obligation by the cable operator to file a justification of its CPST rates with the LFA. Thus, in this case, Operator is required to justify the increase in its CPST rate which is the subject of the LFA's complaint. Operator submitted FCC Form 1235 for the community set forth above to justify the rate increase that went into effect in June and July, 1997. 5. Operator's June and July, 1997 rate increase reflects the recovery of costs for its network upgrade as reflected on FCC Form 1235. Operator initially filed its FCC Form 1235 on April 21, 1997 and selected the pre-approval option for the FCC Form 1235. Operator subsequently filed an amended FCC Form 1235 on January 7, 1998. On its amended FCC Form 1235, Operator chose to allocate its Monthly Network Upgrade Add-on (Part III, Lines 4 and 5) to both its basic service tier ("BST") and its CPST rates. Such an election is consistent with the FCC Form 1235 instructions. Upon review of Operator's amended FCC Form 1235, we find that Operator has correctly calculated its CPST upgrade increase of $4.14. 6. Therefore, when Operator's actual CPST rate of $14.18 is combined with the FCC Form 1235 MPR of $4.14, the combined MPR is $18.32. Operator is actually charging a combined rate of $17.18, effective June and July, 1997. We conclude that the CPST rate of $17.18 is reasonable for the upgraded system. 7. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section 0.321 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.321, that Operator's CPST rate of $17.18 effective June and July, 1997 in the community set forth above, IS NOT UNREASONABLE. 8. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 0.321 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.321, that the complaints referenced herein ARE DENIED. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION John E. Logan Deputy Chief, Cable Services Bureau