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Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
)
File No.:
) EB-11-KC-0058
In the Matter of
) NAL/Acct. No.:
Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse 201232560002
Partnership )
FRN: 0003476298
Kansas City, MO )
Physical ID No.:
) 004677
)
NOTICE OF APPARENT LIABILITY FOR FORFEITURE AND ORDER
Adopted: July 17, 2012 Released: July 17, 2012
By the District Director, Kansas City Office, South Central Region,
Enforcement Bureau:
I. INTRODUCTION
1. In this Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order (NAL),
we find that Time Warner Entertainment - Advance/Newhouse Partnership
(Time Warner), owner of a cable system in Kansas City, Missouri,
apparently willfully and repeatedly violated Sections 76.1703 and
76.1704(a) of the Commission's rules (Rules), by failing to maintain
and make available required records and data. We conclude that Time
Warner is apparently liable for a forfeiture in the amount of twenty
five thousand dollars ($25,000). In addition, we direct Time Warner
to submit, no later than thirty (30) calendar days from the date of
this NAL, a statement signed under penalty of perjury that it is
maintaining the required children's programming records and proof of
performance test data.
II. BACKGROUND
2. On July 18, 2011, agents from the Enforcement Bureau's Kansas City
Office (Kansas City Office) requested to inspect documents required to
be in the public file at Time Warner's office located at 6550
Winchester Avenue, Kansas City during regular business hours. After an
hour of waiting and discussions with eight Time Warner employees, the
agents were provided the requested records. The agents observed that
the last entry for commercial records for children's programming was
dated March 27, 2008, and that proof of performance test data for
years 2008 and 2009 were missing.
III. DISCUSSION
3. Section 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act),
provides that any person who willfully or repeatedly fails to comply
substantially with the terms and conditions of any license, or
willfully or repeatedly fails to comply with any of the provisions of
the Act or of any rule, regulation, or order issued by the Commission
thereunder, shall be liable for a forfeiture penalty. Section
312(f)(1) of the Act defines "willful" as the "conscious and
deliberate commission or omission of [any] act, irrespective of any
intent to violate" the law. The legislative history to Section
312(f)(1) of the Act clarifies that this definition of willful applies
to both Sections 312 and 503(b) of the Act, and the Commission has so
interpreted the term in the Section 503(b) context. The Commission
may also assess a forfeiture for violations that are merely repeated,
and not willful. The term "repeated" means the commission or omission
of such act more than once or for more than one day.
A. Failure to Comply with Children's Programming and Test Data
Recordkeeping Requirements
4. Section 76.1703 of the Rules states: "Cable operators airing
children's programming must maintain records sufficient to verify
compliance with S: 76.225 and make such records available to the
public. Such records must be maintained for a period sufficient to
cover the limitations period specified in 47 U.S.C. 503(b)(6)(B)."
With respect to this rule, the Commission has clarified, since 1991,
that such records must be placed in the cable system's public file no
later than the tenth day of the quarter following the quarter in which
the covered programming aired and must be maintained for a period
sufficient to cover the limitations period specified in 47 U.S.C. S:
503(b)(6)(B) (one year). Section 76.1704(a) of the Rules states:
"The proof of performance tests required by S: 76.601 shall be
maintained on file at the operator's local business office for at
least five years. The test data shall be made available for inspection
by the Commission or the local franchiser, upon request."
5. On July 18, 2011, agents from the Kansas City Office requested to
inspect Time Warner's required files at one of its offices in Kansas
City during regular business hours. The agents observed that Time
Warner's files were missing the required children's programming
records for five quarters and also the proof of performance tests for
2008 and 2009. There was no evidence that the missing records were
ever compiled. Based on the record evidence, we find that Time Warner
apparently willfully and repeatedly violated Section 76.1703 of the
Rules by failing to maintain required children's programming records
for the first quarter 2010 through first quarter 2011. We further find
that Time Warner apparently willfully and repeatedly violated Section
76.1704(a) of the Rules by failing to maintain proof of performance
tests for 2008 and 2009. Finally, we find that Time Warner apparently
willfully violated Sections 76.1703 and 76.1704(a) of the Rules by
failing to make those required records available to FCC agents at the
time of the inspection.
B. Proposed Forfeiture Amount and Reporting Requirement
6. Pursuant to the Commission's Forfeiture Policy Statement and Section
1.80 of the Rules, the base forfeiture amount for violating public
file rules is $10,000. In assessing the monetary forfeiture amount, we
must also take into account the statutory factors set forth in Section
503(b)(2)(E) of the Act, which include the nature, circumstances,
extent, and gravity of the violations, and with respect to the
violator, the degree of culpability, any history of prior offenses,
ability to pay, and other such matters as justice may require. In
similar cases, the Commission recently has imposed the base
forfeiture. Because of Time Warner's ability to pay and its prior
violations of the rules at issue today, however, we find the
appropriate forfeiture amount to be $25,000. Applying the Forfeiture
Policy Statement, Section 1.80 of the Rules, and the statutory factors
to the instant case, we conclude that Time Warner is apparently liable
for a total forfeiture in the amount of $25,000.
7. We further order Time Warner to submit a written statement, pursuant
to Section 1.16 of the Rules, signed under penalty of perjury by an
officer or director of Time Warner, stating that it is maintaining the
required children's programming material and proof of performance
tests. This statement must be provided to the Kansas City Office at
the address listed in paragraph 10, below, within thirty (30) calendar
days of the release date of this Notice of Apparent Liability for
Forfeiture and Order.
IV. ORDERING CLAUSES
8. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 503(b) of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Sections 0.111, 0.204,
0.311, 0.314, and 1.80 of the Commission's rules, Time Warner
Entertainment - Advance/Newhouse Partnership is hereby NOTIFIED of
this APPARENT LIABILITY FOR A FORFEITURE in the amount of twenty five
thousand dollars ($25,000) for violations of Sections 76.1703 and
76.1704(a) of the Rules.
9. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 1.80 of the
Commission's rules, within thirty (30) calendar days of the release
date of this Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order,
Time Warner Entertainment - Advance/Newhouse Partnership SHALL PAY the
full amount of the proposed forfeiture or SHALL FILE a written
statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed
forfeiture.
10. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Time Warner Entertainment -
Advance/Newhouse Partnership SHALL SUBMIT a written statement, as
described in paragraph 7, within thirty (30) calendar days of the
release date of this Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and
Order. The statement must be mailed to Federal Communications
Commission, Enforcement Bureau, South Central Region, Kansas City
Office, 520 NE Colbern Road, 2nd Floor, Lee's Summit, MO, 64086. Time
Warner shall also e-mail the written statement to
SCR-Response@fcc.gov.
11. Payment of the forfeiture must be made by check or similar instrument,
wire transfer, or credit card, and must include the NAL/Account number
and FRN referenced above. Time Warner Entertainment - Advance/Newhouse
Partnership shall send electronic notification of payment to
SCR-Response@fcc.gov on the date said payment is made. Regardless of
the form of payment, a completed FCC Form 159 (Remittance Advice) must
be submitted. When completing the FCC Form 159, enter the Account
Number in block number 23A (call sign/other ID) and enter the letters
"FORF" in block number 24A (payment type code). Below are additional
instructions you should follow based on the form of payment you
select:
* Payment by check or money order must be made payable to the order of
the Federal Communications Commission. Such payments (along with the
completed Form 159) must be mailed to Federal Communications
Commission, P.O. Box 979088, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000, or sent
via overnight mail to U.S. Bank - Government Lockbox #979088,
SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101.
* Payment by wire transfer must be made to ABA Number 021030004,
receiving bank TREAS/NYC, and Account Number 27000001. To complete
the wire transfer and ensure appropriate crediting of the wired funds,
a completed Form 159 must be faxed to U.S. Bank at (314) 418-4232 on
the same business day the wire transfer is initiated.
* Payment by credit card must be made by providing the required credit
card information on FCC Form 159 and signing and dating the Form 159
to authorize the credit card payment. The completed Form 159 must then
be mailed to Federal Communications Commission, P.O. Box 979088, St.
Louis, MO 63197-9000, or sent via overnight mail to U.S. Bank -
Government Lockbox #979088, SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St.
Louis, MO 63101.
12. Any request for full payment under an installment plan should be sent
to: Chief Financial Officer-Financial Operations, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 1-A625,
Washington, D.C. 20554. If you have questions regarding payment
procedures, please contact the Financial Operations Group Help Desk by
phone, 1-877-480-3201, or by e-mail, ARINQUIRIES@fcc.gov.
13. The written statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the
proposed forfeiture, if any, must include a detailed factual statement
supported by appropriate documentation and affidavits pursuant to
Sections 1.16 and 1.80(f)(3) of the Rules. Mail the written statement
to Federal Communications Commission, Enforcement Bureau, South
Central Region, Kansas City Office, 520 NE Colbern Road, 2nd Floor,
Lee's Summit, MO, 64081, and include the NAL/Acct. No. referenced in
the caption. Time Warner also shall e-mail the written response to
SCR-Response@fcc.gov.
14. The Commission will not consider reducing or canceling a forfeiture in
response to a claim of inability to pay unless the petitioner submits:
(1) federal tax returns for the most recent three-year period; (2)
financial statements prepared according to generally accepted
accounting practices (GAAP); or (3) some other reliable and objective
documentation that accurately reflects the petitioner's current
financial status. Any claim of inability to pay must specifically
identify the basis for the claim by reference to the financial
documentation submitted.
15. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Notice of Apparent Liability
for Forfeiture and Order shall be sent by both Certified Mail, Return
Receipt Requested, and First Class Mail to Time Warner Entertainment -
Advance/Newhouse Partnership at 13820 Sunrise Valley Drive, Herndon,
VA 20171-3000.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Ronald D. Ramage
Director
Kansas City Office
South Central Region
Enforcement Bureau
47 C.F.R. S:S: 76.1703, 76.1704(a).
Id.
47 U.S.C. S: 503(b).
47 U.S.C. S: 312(f)(1).
H.R. Rep. No. 97-765, 97th Cong. 2d Sess. 51 (1982) ("This provision
[inserted in Section 312] defines the terms `willful' and `repeated' for
purposes of section 312, and for any other relevant section of the act
(e.g., Section 503) . . . . As defined[,] . . . `willful' means that the
licensee knew that he was doing the act in question, regardless of whether
there was an intent to violate the law. `Repeated' means more than once,
or where the act is continuous, for more than one day. Whether an act is
considered to be `continuous' would depend upon the circumstances in each
case. The definitions are intended primarily to clarify the language in
Sections 312 and 503, and are consistent with the Commission's application
of those terms . . . .").
See, e.g., Application for Review of Southern California Broadcasting Co.,
Memorandum Opinion and Order, 6 FCC Rcd 4387, 4388 (1991), recons. denied,
7 FCC Rcd 3454 (1992).
See, e.g., Callais Cablevision, Inc., Notice of Apparent Liability for
Monetary Forfeiture, 16 FCC Rcd 1359, 1362, para. 10 (2001) (Callais
Cablevision, Inc.) (proposing a forfeiture for, inter alia, a cable
television operator's repeated signal leakage).
Section 312(f)(2) of the Act, 47 U.S.C. S: 312(f)(2), which also applies
to violations for which forfeitures are assessed under Section 503(b) of
the Act, provides that "[t]he term 'repeated', when used with reference to
the commission or omission of any act, means the commission or omission of
such act more than once or, if such commission or omission is continuous,
for more than one day." See Callais Cablevision, Inc., 16 FCC Rcd at
1362.
47 C.F.R. S: 76.1703.
See Policies and Rules Concerning Children's Television Programming,
Memorandum Opinion and Order, 6 FCC Rcd 5093, 5097, para. 23 (1991).
47 C.F.R. S: 76.1704(a).
The Commission's Forfeiture Policy Statement and Amendment of Section 1.80
of the Rules to Incorporate the Forfeiture Guidelines, Report and Order,
12 FCC Rcd 17087 (1997) (Forfeiture Policy Statement), recons. denied, 15
FCC Rcd 303 (1999); 47 C.F.R. S: 1.80.
47 U.S.C. S: 503(b)(2)(E).
See, e.g., Southern Media Associates, Inc., Notice of Apparent Liability
for Forfeiture, 27 FCC Rcd 3215 (MB 2012, Indiana Wesleyan University,
Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, 27 FCC Rcd 2993 (MB 2012);
Belo TV, Inc., Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, 27 FCC Rcd
2311 (MB 2012); Joseph V. Earley, Notice of Apparent Liability for
Forfeiture, 27 FCC Rcd 2166 (MB 2012).
Currently, Time Warner is ranked 103 on the Fortune 500 ranking of
American corporations, with reported revenues of more than $28.9 billion.
See
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2012/snapshots/10472.html
(last visited May 31, 2012).
See Time Warner Entertainment - Advance/Newhouse Subsidiary, LLC d/b/a
Time Warner Cable, Forfeiture Order, 19 FCC Rcd 10412 (Enf. Bur. 2004)
(missing required commercial records on children's programming, proof of
performance test data, and signal leakage log and repair records)
(forfeiture paid); Time Warner Cable, Notice of Violation, EB-09-LA-0088
(Enf. Bur. Jan. 4, 2010).
47 C.F.R. S: 1.16.
47 U.S.C. S: 503(b); 47 C.F.R. S:S: 0.111, 0.204, 0.311, 0.314, 1.80,
76.1703, 76.1704(a).
47 C.F.R. S: 1.80.
An FCC Form 159 and detailed instructions for completing the form may be
obtained at http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form159/159.pdf.
See 47 C.F.R. S: 1.1914.
47 C.F.R. S:S: 1.16, 1.80(f)(3).
(...continued from previous page)
(continued....)
Federal Communications Commission DA 12-1138
Federal Communications Commission DA 12-1138