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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. VTU-A <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: September 21, 1993 <br /> SUBJECT: Authorization to Regulate Cable Television Rates <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING YES: NO: X <br /> ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert Kittrell <br /> FCC Form 328, Certification EXT. 2300 <br /> to Regulate Cable Rates TELEPHONE NUMBER- <br /> Hillsborough -732-8181 <br /> Chapel Hill -968-4501 <br /> Mebane -227-2031 <br /> - Durham -688-7331 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve certification process authorizing the County to <br /> apply to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for = <br /> authorization to regulate certain cable rates. <br /> BACKGROUND: The Cable Television Consumer Protection And <br /> Competition Act of 1992 (Cable TV Act) expanded the <br /> authority of the FCC to regulate rates of cable systems <br /> for various services. <br /> The FCC recently disseminated guidelines for <br /> implementation of the legislations. The guidelines <br /> permit local governments to apply to the FCC for <br /> certification to enforce rates for local broadcast <br /> television signals and "public access" channels. <br /> The earliest date a local government could apply for <br /> certification was September 1, 1993. After review of <br /> the certification and no action taken by the FCC, the <br /> certification is considered approved 30 days after <br /> submission. <br /> The attached certification form must confirm that the <br /> County will enforce the applicable rate regulations <br /> consistent with FCC guidelines, that the County <br /> considers the local cable system subject to FCC rate <br /> regulations, and that the County has the authority and <br /> ability to enforce the rate regulations. <br />