§ 1003. Review of request for increase in Basic Cable Service Rates.

A.

Notice. A Cable Operator in the City who wishes to increase the rates for the Basic Cable Service Tier or associated equipment shall file a request with the City and notify all subscribers at least thirty (30) days before the Cable Operator desires the increase to take effect. This notice may not be given more often than quarterly, to the extent consistent with federal law, and not until at least one (1) year after the determination of the Initial Basic Cable Service Rates.

B.

Expedited determination and public hearing.

1.

If the City Council is able to expeditiously determine that the Cable Operator's rate increase request for basic cable service is within the FCC's Reasonable Rate Standard, as determined by the applicable Price Cap, the City Council shall:

a.

Hold a public hearing at which interested persons may express their views; and

b.

Act to approve the rate increase within thirty (30) days from the date the Cable Operator filed its request with the City.

2.

If the City Council takes no action within thirty (30) days from the date the Cable Operator filed its request with the City, the proposed rates shall go into effect.

C.

Extended review period.

1.

If the City Council is unable to determine whether the proposed rate increase is within the FCC's Reasonable Rate Standard based on the material before it, or if the Cable Operator submits a Cost-of-Service Showing, the City Council, by adoption of a formal resolution, may invoke the following additional periods of time, as applicable, to make a final determination:

a.

Ninety (90) days, if the City Council needs more time to ensure that the proposed increase is within the FCC's Reasonable Rate Standard as determined by the applicable Price Cap; and

b.

One hundred-fifty (150) days, if the Cable Operator has submitted a Cost-of-Service Showing seeking to justify a rate increase above the applicable Price Cap.

2.

A proposed rate increase shall be tolled during any extended review period.

3.

If the City Council has not made a decision within the ninety (90) or one hundred fifty (150) day period, the City Council shall issue a brief written order at the end of the period requesting the Cable Operator to keep accurate account of all amounts received by reason of the proposed rate increase and on whose behalf the amounts are paid.

D.

Public hearing. Before taking action on the proposed rate increase, the City Council shall hold at least one (1) public hearing at which interested persons may express their views and record objections.

E.

Objections. An interested person who wishes to make an objection to the proposed rate increase may request the Council Secretary to record the objection during the public hearing or may submit the objection in writing anytime before the decision resolution is adopted. In order for an objection to be made part of the record, the objector shall provide the Council Secretary with the objector's name and address.

F.

Delayed determination. If the City Council is unable to make a final determination concerning a proposed rate increase within the extended time period, the Cable Operator may put the increase into effect, subject to subsequent refund if the City Council later issues a decision disapproving any portion of the increase.

G.

Price Cap analysis. If a Cable Operator presents its request for a rate increase as being in compliance with the FCC's Price Cap, the City Council shall review the rate using the Price Cap analysis in accordance with the standard form authorized by the FCC. Based on the City Council's findings, Basic Cable Service Rates shall be established as follows:

1.

If the proposed Basic Cable Service Rate increase is within the Price Cap established by the FCC, the proposed rates shall become the new Basic Cable Service Rates.

2.

If the proposed Basic Cable Service Rate increase exceeds the Price Cap established by the FCC, the City Council shall disapprove the proposed rate increase and order a Basic Cable Service Rate that is in compliance with the Price Cap.

H.

Cost-of-service showings. If a Cable Operator submits a Cost-of-Service Showing in an attempt to justify a rate increase above the Price Cap, the City Council shall review the submission pursuant to the FCC standards for Cost-of-Service review. The City Council may approve a rate increase above the Price Cap if the Cable Operator makes the necessary showing; however, a Cost-of-Service determination resulting in a rate below the Price Cap or below the Cable Operator's then current Basic Cable Service Rate shall prescribe the Cable Operator's new rate.

I.

Decision. The City Council's decision concerning the proposed rate increase, shall be adopted by formal resolution. If a rate increase proposed by a Cable Operator is disapproved in whole or in part, or if objections were made by other parties to the proposed rate increase, the resolution shall state the reasons for the decision. Objections may be made at the public hearing by a person requesting the Council Secretary record the objection or may be submitted in writing at anytime before the decision resolution is adopted.

J.

Refunds.

1.

The City Council may order refunds of subscribers' Basic Cable Service Rate payments, with interest, if:

a.

The City Council was unable to make a decision within the extended time period as described in subsection C. above; and

b.

The Cable Operator implemented the rate increase at the end of the extended review period; and

c.

The City Council determines that the rate increase as submitted exceeds the applicable Price Cap or that the Cable Operator failed to justify the rate increase by a Cost-of-Service Showing, and the City Council disapproves any portion of the rate increase.

2.

The method for paying any refund and the interest rate shall be in accordance with FCC regulations as directed in the City Council's decision resolution.

K.

Appeal. The City Council's decision concerning Basic Cable Service Rates may be appealed to the FCC in accordance with applicable federal regulations.

(Ord. No. 18125)