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

In the Matter of                )
                                )
Mediacom Communications Corporation  )  File No. EB-02-TS-617
                                )    
Operator of Cable Systems in the States of:  )
                                )
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa,   )
Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi,    )
Missouri and Wisconsin          )
                                )
Request for Waiver of Section 11.11(a) of the     )    
Commission's Rules              )    
                                        
                              ORDER 

Adopted:  April 16, 2003                Released:  April 21, 2003 

By the Chief, Technical  and Public Safety Division,  Enforcement 
Bureau:

1.        In  this  Order,   we  grant  Mediacom   Communications 
  Corporation  (``Mediacom'')  temporary,  12-month  waivers   of 
  Section 11.11(a) of the Commission's Rules (``Rules'') for  107 
  cable  television systems  in  the 11  above-captioned  states.  
  Section  11.11(a) requires  cable  systems serving  fewer  than 
  5,000 subscribers  from a  headend to  either provide  national 
  level  Emergency  Alert   System  (``EAS'')  messages  on   all 
  programmed  channels or  install EAS  equipment and  provide  a 
  video interrupt and audio alert on all programmed channels  and 
  EAS  audio  and  video messages  on  at  least  one  programmed 
  channel by October 1, 2002.1

2.        The Cable Act of 1992  added new Section 624(g) to  the 
  Communications  Act  of 1934  (``Act''),  which  requires  that 
  cable  systems be  capable of  providing  EAS alerts  to  their 
  subscribers.2  In 1994, the Commission adopted rules  requiring 
  cable systems to participate in EAS.3  In 1997, the 





     Commission amended the EAS rules to provide financial relief 
for small  cable systems.4   The  Commission declined  to  exempt 
small cable systems  from the EAS  requirements, concluding  that 
such an  exemption  would  be  inconsistent  with  the  statutory 
mandate of Section 624(g).5  However, the Commission extended the 
deadline for cable systems serving fewer than 10,000  subscribers 
to begin complying  with the EAS  rules to October  1, 2002,  and 
provided cable systems serving  fewer than 5,000 subscribers  the 
option of either  providing national  level EAS  messages on  all 
programmed channels or installing  EAS equipment and providing  a 
video interrupt and  audio alert on  all programmed channels  and 
EAS audio and video messages on at least one programmed channel.6  

3.        Mediacom  filed  a  request  for  temporary,   12-month 
  waivers of  Section 11.11(a) for  107 cable systems  in the  11 
  captioned  states on  September 30,  2002.  In  support of  its 
  waiver  request, Mediacom  states that  it  has embarked  on  a 
  capital expenditure  to upgrade,  interconnect and  consolidate 
  its    cable   systems.     Mediacom   further    states    the 
  interconnection  and consolidation  of these  107 small,  rural 
  cable systems,  which serve between  25 and 5,697  subscribers, 
  will not be completed  before October 1, 2002.  Based on  costs 
  associated with  providing EAS  equipment for  its other  cable 
  systems,  Mediacom estimates  that it  would  cost a  total  of 
  approximately $826,000  to install EAS  equipment at 107  cable 
  systems.  Mediacom asserts  that its purchase of EAS  equipment 
  before the interconnection  and consolidation of these  systems 
  are completed  would result  in economic  waste.  In  addition, 
  Mediacom submits  that its  subscribers will  continue to  have 
  ready access  to national EAS  information from other  sources, 
  including its  cable systems.  Mediacom  also asserts that  its 
  subscribers will have  access to EAS information through  over-
  the-air reception of  broadcast television and radio  stations.  
  Finally, Mediacom believes that it can bring its cable  systems 
  into EAS compliance within the next six months.

4.        Based upon our review  of the information submitted  by 
  Mediacom,  we  conclude that  temporary,  12-month  waivers  of 
  Section 11.11(a) for the 107 cable systems are warranted.7   

5.        Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED  that, pursuant to  Sections 
  0.111,   0.204(b)   and   0.311   of   the   Rules,8   Mediacom 
  Communications  Corporation  IS GRANTED  a  waiver  of  Section 
  11.11(a)  of the  Rules until  October 1,  2003 for  107  cable 
  television systems in Attachment A.

6.        IT IS  FURTHER  ORDERED  that  Mediacom  Communications 
  Corporation place a copy of this waiver in its system files.







7.        IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that  a copy of this Order  shall 
  be sent by  Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested to  counsel 
  for Mediacom  Communications Corporation, Stuart F.  Feldstein, 
  Esq., Fleischman  and Walsh, L.L.P,  1400 Sixteenth Street,  N. 
  W., Washington, D. C. 20036.



                         FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

                         


                         Joseph P. Casey
                         Chief, Technical and Public Safety 
Division
                         Enforcement Bureau



                          Attachment A

Mediacom Communications Corporation

Cable Systems:                          Temporary Waiver Granted 
Until:

Alabama
Hale County, Alabama                         October 1, 2003
Linden, Alabama                         October 1, 2003
York, Alabama                           October 1, 2003

Florida
Greensboro, Florida                     October 1, 2003
Gretna, Florida                              October 1, 2003
Havana, Florida                              October 1, 2003
Pensacola NAS, Florida                       October 1, 2003

Georgia
Eastman (city of), Georgia                   October 1, 2003
Lumber City, Georgia                         October 1, 2003
Ray City, Georgia                       October 1, 2003
Seminole (unincorp.), Georgia                October 1, 2003
Shellman (city of), Georgia                  October 1, 2003
Sparks (town of), Georgia                    October 1, 2003
Telfair (unincorp.), Georgia                 October 1, 2003
Tift (unincorp.), Georgia                    October 1, 2003
Vienna (city of), Georgia                    October 1, 2003
Willacoochee, Georgia                        October 1, 2003

Iowa
Bedford (city of), Iowa                      October 1, 2003
Bloomfield (city of), Iowa                   October 1, 2003
Bonaparte, Iowa                         October 1, 2003
Clarinda (city of), Iowa                     October 1, 2003
Creston (city of), Iowa                      October 1, 2003
Corning (city of), Iowa                      October 1, 2003
Eddyville (city of), Iowa                    October 1, 2003
Fairbank, (Fayette County) Iowa              October 1, 2003
Fredonia (city of), Iowa                     October 1, 2003
Garnavillo, Iowa                        October 1, 2003
Greenfield (city of), Iowa                   October 1, 2003
Knoxville (unincorp.), Iowa                  October 1, 2003
Leon, Iowa                              October 1, 2003
Lucas (unincorp.), Iowa                      October 1, 2003
Mills (portion) (unincorp.), Iowa            October 1, 2003
Montezuma, Iowa                         October 1, 2003Cable Systems:                          Temporary Waiver Granted 
Until:

Mt Aye (city of), Iowa                       October 1, 2003
New Albin, Iowa                         October 1, 2003
New Sharon, Iowa                        October 1, 2003
Newton (city of), Iowa                       October 1, 2003
Osceola (city of), Iowa                      October 1, 2003
Pella (unincorp.), Iowa                      October 1, 2003
Perry (city of), Iowa                        October 1, 2003
Poweshiek (unincorp.), Iowa                  October 1, 2003
Prairie City (city of), Iowa                 October 1, 2003
Shenandoah (city of), Iowa                   October 1, 2003
Sully, Iowa                             October 1, 2003
Villisca (city of), Iowa                     October 1, 2003
Wellman, Iowa                           October 1, 2003
Winterset (city of), Iowa                    October 1, 2003
Wright (unincorp.), Iowa                October 1, 2003

Illinois
Arenzville, Illinois                         October 1, 2003
Burlington, Illinois                         October 1, 2003
Cantrall (unincorp. outside), Illinois            October 1, 2003
Casey (city of), Illinois                         October 1, 2003
Clay City (village of), Illinois                  October 1, 2003
Coffeen, Illinois                       October 1, 2003
Crawford, Illinois                      October 1, 2003
Farina (village of), Illinois                October 1, 2003
Garden Prairie, Illinois                     October 1, 2003
Gilberts, Illinois                      October 1, 2003
Greenview, Illinois                     October 1, 2003
Hampshire, Illinois                     October 1, 2003
Hanover (city of), Illinois                  October 1, 2003
Harrisburg (town of), Illinois                    October 1, 2003
Herrick, Illinois                            October 1, 2003
Irving, Illinois                             October 1, 2003
Kirkland, Illinois                      October 1, 2003
Lacon, Illinois                              October 1, 2003
Malta, Illinois                              October 1, 2003
Maple Park, Illinois                         October 1, 2003
Marshall (city of), Illinois                 October 1, 2003
McHenry, Illinois                       October 1, 2003
Neoga (city of), Illinois                         October 1, 2003
Oconee, Illinois                             October 1, 2003
Pulaski County, Illinois                     October 1, 2003
Ridott, Illinois                             October 1, 2003
Robinson, Illinois                      October 1, 2003
Shipman, Illinois                       October 1, 2003

Cable Systems:                          Temporary Waiver Granted 
Until:

Smithton, Illinois                      October 1, 2003
Strasburg (village of), Illinois                  October 1, 2003
Stewardson (village of), Illinois                 October 1, 2003
Tilden, Illinois                             October 1, 2003
Toledo (village of), Illinois                October 1, 2003
Tower Hill, Illinois                         October 1, 2003
Union County, Illinois                       October 1, 2003
Williamson (unincorp.), Illinois                  October 1, 2003
Wilsonville, Illinois                        October 1, 2003
Windsor (city of), Illinois                  October 1, 2003

Kansas
Eureka, Kansas                          October 1, 2003
Hamilton, Kansas                        October 1, 2003
Madison, Kansas                         October 1, 2003
Mulberry, Kansas                        October 1, 2003

Kentucky
Edmonson, (Rough River) Kentucky             October 1, 2003
St. Paul, Kentucky                      October 1, 2003

Minnesota
City of Brownsville, Minnesota                    October 1, 2003
New Hartford, Minnesota                 October 1, 2003
Silver Bay, Minnesota                        October 1, 2003
Two Harbors (unincorp. outside), Minnesota        October 1, 2003

Missouri
Archie, Missouri                        October 1, 2003
Sarcoxie, Missouri                      October 1, 2003

Mississippi
George County, Mississippi                   October 1, 2003
Pearlington, Mississippi                     October 1, 2003
Wiggins (unincorp. outside), Mississippi               October 1, 
2003

Wisconsin
City of Albany, Wisconsin                    October 1, 2003
Argyle, Wisconsin                       October 1, 2003
Blanchardville, Wisconsin                    October 1, 2003
Ferryville, Wisconsin                        October 1, 2003
Orfordville, Wisconsin                       October 1, 2003
Wheatland, Wisconsin                         October 1, 2003

_________________________

  1 47 C.F.R. § 11.11(a).

  2 Cable Television  Consumer Protection and Competition Act  of 
1992, Pub. L. No. 102-385, § 16(b), 106 Stat. 1460, 1490  (1992).  
Section 624(g) provides that  ``each cable operator shall  comply 
with such standards as the  Commission shall prescribe to  ensure 
that viewers of video programming  on cable systems are  afforded 
the same emergency  information as is  afforded by the  emergency 
broadcasting system pursuant to Commission regulations ....''  47 
U.S.C. § 544(g).  

  3 Amendment  of Part 73, Subpart  G, of the Commission's  Rules 
Regarding the Emergency  Broadcast System, Report  and Order  and 
Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, FO Docket Nos. 91-171/91-
301, 10  FCC  Rcd  1786  (1994)  (``First  Report  and  Order''), 
reconsideration granted in part, denied in part, 10 FCC Rcd 11494 
(1995).

  4 Amendment  of Part 73, Subpart  G, of the Commission's  Rules 
Regarding the  Emergency  Broadcast  System,  Second  Report  and 
Order, FO  Docket Nos.  91-171/91-301, 12  FCC Rcd  15503  (1997) 
(``Second Report and Order'').

  5 Id. at 15512-13.

  6 Id. at 15516-15518.

  7 The waivers will  extend from October 1, 2002, until  October 
1, 2003.   Additionally,  we  clarify that  the  waivers  we  are 
granting  also   encompass  the   EAS  testing   and   monitoring 
requirements.  

  8 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.111, 0.204(b) and 0.311.