Resolution No. 454047
RESOLUTION NO. 4540
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CYPRESS ESTABLISHING MAXIMUM PERMITTED
RATES FOR REGULATED BASIC CABLE SERVICES
AND EQUIPMENT, ORDERING REFUNDS FOR EXCESSIVE RATES
AND APPROVING A REFUND PLAN FOR PAST RATE OVERCHARGES.
WHEREAS, the City of Cypress (the "City ") was certified to
regulate rates for basic cable service and equipment pursuant to
the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of
1992.
WHEREAS, Copley /Colony Cablevision of Cypress, Inc.,
( "Copley /Colony ") holds a franchise to operate a cable television
system within the City.
WHEREAS, on or about August 15, 1994, Copley /Colony filed its
Forms 1200 and 1205 and a second form 1205, which was provided to
the City on or about September 1, 1995 (collectively the "Forms ")
with the City seeking approval of its Maximum Permitted Rates for
regulated services and equipment.
WHEREAS, the City has retained Telecommunications Management
Corp. ( "TMC ") to review the Forms and any additional information
submitted by Copley /Colony related to rates. On June 12, 1995 and
August 11, 1995, TMC provided written evaluations of the Forms as
well as the additional information provided. TMS's reports, the
City's correspondence, and Copley /Colony's supplemental information
are hereby incorporated into this Resolution by this reference,
copies of which are on file in the City Clerk's office.
WHEREAS, the City promptly sent Copley /Colony copies of each
TMC report and requested clarification or responses on each issue
that the City found required additional clarification or response.
WHEREAS, the City timely sent Copley /Colony an Accounting
Order that is allowed pursuant to Section 76.933(c) of the FCC
Rules and Regulations. This reserved any right and remedies for
which the City may possess in relation to rates and charges for the
Basic Service Tier and associated equipment which are found to be
in excess of the amounts authorized by the Rules and Regulations of
the FCC.
WHEREAS, on September 25, 1995, the Council held a duly
noticed public hearing to determine if Copley /Colony's rates were
in accordance with the second round of FCC rate regulations. The
Council considered TMC's reports, Copley /Colony's responses, and
all of the evidence and testimony presented at the September 25,
1995 meeting and all other written and oral evidence received in
connection with this matter.
WHEREAS, based upon the evidence submitted, including, but not
limited to, the Forms submitted by Copley /Colony, the staff and
consultant reports and all other written and oral evidence received
in connection with this matter, the Council hereby finds that the
Maximum Permitted Rates for the Basic Service Tier shall be those
rates set forth as the ordered rates in Figure 1 to this
Resolution, and the Maximum Permitted Rates for the Hourly Service
Charge and equipment shall be those rates set forth as the ordered
rates indicated on Figure 2, both of which are attached hereto and
incorporated herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the City Council of
the City of Cypress:
Section 1. The Council hereby resolves that pursuant to the
FCC regulations effective on July 15, 1994, the rates listed as
ordered rates in Figures 1 and 2 are the Maximum Permitted Rates
Copley /Colony may charge for the Basic Service Tier and the hourly
service charge and equipment and orders that the rates set forth in
Figures 1 and 2 (with the exception of the rates for Tier 2 which
are listed for informational purposes only) shall be the
48
established rates for the Basic Service Tier and related service
and equipment charges. The Council orders Copley /Colony to
establish and implement, within sixty days of the date of this
Resolution, a new rate schedule conforming to those rates contained
in Figures 1 and 2. The Council orders Copley /Colony to maintain
the ordered rates with any future increases to be in accordance
with the provisions of the FCC regulations.
Section 2. The Council further orders Copley /Colony to refund
all charges since July 15, 1994, in excess of those prescribed in
this Resolution to the affected subscribers within the City of
Cypress, with interest in accordance with FCC regulations, within
sixty days of the date of this Resolution.
Section 3. Copley /Colony, in its discretion, may implement
the refund required in Section 2 in the following manner:
(A) By returning overcharges to those subscribers who
actually paid the overcharges, either through direct
payment or as a specifically identified credit to those
subscribers' bill, or
(B) By means of a prospective percentage reduction in the
rates for the Basic Service Tier or associated equipment
to cover the cumulative overcharge. This shall be
reflected as a specifically identified, one -time credit
on prospective bills to the class of subscribers that
currently subscribe to the cable system.
Section 4. All refunds required pursuant to Section 2 shall
include interest computed at the same rate as established by the
United States Internal Revenue Service for tax refunds and
additional tax payments.
Section 5. At least ten (10) days prior to implementing any
refunds, Copley /Colony shall notify the City how it intends to
implement the refund order and how it calculated the amount of the
refund.
Section 6. Copley /Colony shall notify the City of the gross
amount of the refund owing subscribers and the amount of the refund
upon which Copley /Colony paid any franchise fee to the City.
Within thirty (30) days of receiving the statement from
Copley /Colony, the City shall refund to Copley /Colony that portion
of the franchise fee that was paid on refunds actually made to
subscribers.
Section 7. The Refund Plan submitted in relation to
Copley /Colony's FCC Form 393 attached as Figure 3 is hereby deemed
approved and ordered to be implemented.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Cypress
at a regular meeting held on the 25th day of September, 1995.
ATTEST:
CITY CL$RK OF HE CITY OF CYPRESS
- 2 -
Ael!
•'• OF THE CITY OF C P 'ESS
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS
49
I, DARRELL ESSEX, City Clerk of the City of Cypress, DO HEREBY
CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted at a regular
meeting of the said City Council held on the 25th day of September,
1995, by the following roll call vote:
AYES : 5 COUNCIL MEMBERS : Bowman, Carroll, Jones,
Kerry and Age
NOES: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
CITY
iS Y OF CYPRESS
3
50
FIGURE 1
FORM 1200
Premium Plus
(for subscribers
with only "a la
carte" services
on additional
outlets)
Actual
Rate
Permitted
Rate
Difference
Basic Service
$ 10.67
$ 10.58
- 0.09
Tier 2
6.91
6.86
- 0.05
Total
$ 17.58
$ 17.44
- 0.14
Premium Plus
(for subscribers
with only "a la
carte" services
on additional
outlets)
$ 2.00
0.00
- 2.00
All rates include a possessory interest tax of zero ($0.00) since
Colony has failed to document this item despite repeated requests.
Where the permitted rate exceeds current or actual rates, a " +" is
indicated in the "Difference" column. Where the permitted rate is
less than current or actual rates, a " -" is indicated in the
"Difference" column.
Tier 2 is subject to regulation by the FCC.
EXHIBIT "A"
51
FIGURE 2
Hourly Service and Equipment Rates
Period Commencing July 14, 1994
(First Form 1205)
Period Commencing Upon Approval of Proposed Rates
(Second Form 1205)
Actual
Rate
Permitted
Rate
Difference
Installation
Unwired Home
Aerial
$ 33.00
$ 41.85
+ 8.85
Unwired Home
Underground
53.00
53.48
+ 0.48
Prewired Home
20.00
20.59
+ 0.59
Add'l Outlet
Same Time
20.00
20.59
+ 0.59
Add'l Outlet
Later
33.00
33.43
+ 0.43
Tier Change
2.00
2.00
-0-
Remote Control
0.22
0.22
-0-
Converter #1
1.53
1.58
+ 0.05
Period Commencing Upon Approval of Proposed Rates
(Second Form 1205)
Where the permitted rate exceeds current or actual rates, a " +" is
indicated in the "Difference" column.
Actual
Rate
Permitted
Rate
Difference
Installation
Unwired Home
$ 53.00
$ 89.50
+ 36.50
Prewired Home
20.00
34.46
+ 14.46
Add'l Outlet
Same Time
20.00
33.56
+ 13.56
Add'l Outlet
Later
33.00
55.94
+ 22.94
Tier Change
2.00
2.00
-0-
Remote Control
0.22
0.38
+ 0.16
Converter #1
1.53
2.08
+ 0.55
Where the permitted rate exceeds current or actual rates, a " +" is
indicated in the "Difference" column.