CABLE-TV FEE REFUND UPHELD RULING FAVORS SUBSCRIBERS IN 2 LOCAL CITIES.Byline: Sylvia Sylvia may refer to:
BURBANK Burbank, city (1990 pop. 93,643), Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1911. Tourism and the entertainment industry are central to its economy; several motion-picture studios and television headquarters are here. Burbank's aerospace industry collapsed with the end of the Cold War. - Federal regulators have upheld a fee-reduction order by the cities of Glendale and Burbank to local cable-TV operator Charter Communications Charter Communications NASDAQ: CHTR is an American company providing cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephone services to more than 5.7 million customers in 29 states. It is the third-largest publicly traded cable operator in the U.S. , paving the way for subscriber refunds going back one year for an optional wire maintenance fee, officials said Monday. While cities are not normally able to regulate so-called ``whole house'' programs - which cover cable wiring as well as other indoor wiring - the FCC (1) (Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, www.fcc.gov) The U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications including wire, cable, radio, TV and satellite. The FCC was created under the U.S. ruled that customers may not have been aware of the scope of the program and were not able to fully take advantage of it. Therefore, the agency concluded that the cities had a right to review the fee. Charter Communications officials did not return calls for comment Monday. The ruling leaves the door open for the cable company to charge what the market will bear in the future as long as it clearly defines that the program covers all indoor wiring and that customers are aware of that when they sign up, the federal agency said. ``The question becomes, how is this rate going to be implemented so that (subscribers) know it's a whole-house service and what it covers?'' said Michael Friedman, vice president of Telecommunications Communicating information, including data, text, pictures, voice and video over long distance. See communications. Management Corp., which was hired by the cities to conduct an audit of the company. ``Customer education is important.'' The cities filed a rate change order in November because officials thought the 95-cents-a-month wire maintenance fee was too high. They asked for a reduction to just 4 cents per month. Charter Communications offers the program as a kind of insurance against repairs done to the cable wiring inside the home, saving customers from having to pay an hourly service fee if something goes wrong. Local telephone companies offer similar protection for a similar fee. Although the fee is not under the cities' purview The part of a statute or a law that delineates its purpose and scope. Purview refers to the enacting part of a statute. It generally begins with the words be it enacted and continues as far as the repealing clause. , the company has to justify the rate and show it is based on proper data. In its Feb. 1 ruling, the FCC said it was reasonable for the cities to review the fee. The ruling stated: ``What is described to the cities and the (FCC) as a low-price competitive option for the maintenance of telephone facilities becomes a high-priced option if plan subscribers unaware of the scope of Charter's plan also purchase the local exchange carrier's plan, or pay on an as-needed basis for telephone line repairs.'' But the FCC also said the cities overstepped their authority by asking for a refund TO REFUND. To pay back by the party who has received it, to the party who has paid it, money which ought not to have been paid. 2. On a deficiency of assets, executors and administrators cum testamento annexo, are entitled to have refunded to them legacies going back two years, when Charter took over the system. Under federal rules, refunds can only go back 12 months from the date a rate change order is filed. City officials have asked the FCC to reconsider re·con·sid·er v. re·con·sid·ered, re·con·sid·er·ing, re·con·sid·ers v.tr. 1. To consider again, especially with intent to alter or modify a previous decision. 2. and allow the extended time. Meanwhile, the city of Burbank is scheduled to consider amending the time period for the rate order at its meeting tonight. |
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