*Pages 1--8 from Microsoft Word - 40371* Federal Communications Commission DA 04- 2151 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Charter Communications, Inc. ) File No. EB- 03- TS- 090 ) Operator of 153 Cable Systems in 24 States ) ) Petition for Declaratory Relief and/ or Waiver of ) the Commission’s Emergency Alert System ) Requirements for Cable Television Systems ) ORDER Adopted: July 21, 2004 Released: July 21, 2004 By the Director, Office of Homeland Security, Enforcement Bureau: 1. In this Order, we grant Charter Communications, Inc. (Charter) a temporary waiver of section 11.11( a) of the Federal Communications Commission’s (Commission) Rules for the 153 cable television systems in 24 states listed in Appendix A. Section 11.11( a) required that, no later than October 1, 2002, cable systems serving fewer than 5,000 subscribers from a headend provide national level Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages on all programmed channels, or provide such messages on at least one programmed channel, with video interrupts and audio alerts on all other programmed channels. 1 2. The Cable Act of 1992 added new section 624( g) to the Communications Act of 1934, which requires that cable systems be capable of providing EAS alerts to their subscribers. 2 In 1994, the Commission adopted rules requiring cable systems to participate in EAS. 3 In 1997, the Commission amended the EAS rules to provide financial relief for small cable systems. 4 The Commission declined to exempt small cable systems from the EAS requirements, concluding that such an exemption would be inconsistent with the statutory mandate of section 624( g). 5 However, the Commission extended the 1 47 C. F. R. § 11.11( a). 2 Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, Pub. L. No. 102- 385, § 16( b), 106 Stat. 1460, 1490 (1992). Section 624( g) provides that “each cable operator shall comply with such standards as the Commission shall prescribe to ensure that viewers of video programming on cable systems are afforded the same emergency information as is afforded by the emergency broadcasting system pursuant to Commission regulations ….” 47 U. S. C. § 544( g). 3 Amendment of Part 73, Subpart G, of the Commission’s Rules Regarding the Emergency Broadcast System, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 10 FCC Rcd 1786 (1994), reconsideration granted in part, denied in part, 10 FCC Rcd 11494 (1995). 4 Amendment of Part 73, Subpart G, of the Commission’s Rules Regarding the Emergency Broadcast System, Second Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 15503 (1997). 5 Id. at 15512- 13. 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 04- 2151 2 deadline for cable systems serving fewer than 10,000 subscribers to begin complying with the EAS rules to October 1, 2002, and provided cable systems serving fewer than 5,000 subscribers the option of either providing national level EAS messages on all programmed channels or installing EAS equipment and providing a video interrupt and audio alert on all programmed channels and EAS audio and video messages on at least one programmed channel. 6 In addition, the Commission stated that it would grant waivers of the EAS rules to small cable systems on a case- by- case basis upon a showing of financial hardship. 7 3. On August 14, 2002, Charter filed a petition for declaratory relief and/ or waiver seeking Commission approval of an alternative means for approximately 146 small cable systems that have digital transmission capability (participating systems) to comply with the EAS rules. Specifically, Charter requests that the Commission declare that it can satisfy the EAS rules by using a satellite communications system to deliver national EAS messages to the participating systems and that it need not install a full set of EAS equipment at each of the systems in order to receive and retransmit the national EAS messages. At the request of the Enforcement Bureau, Charter supplemented its petition on May 30, 2003 to provide additional background on testing and monitoring, and again on December 8, 2003 to clarify that the number of cable systems for which it was seeking relief was 153, not 146. In May, 2004, Charter withdrew its request for a declaratory ruling filing, asking rather that we treat its petition as a timely filed (i. e., as of August 14, 2002) request for a waiver of the requirement to install EAS equipment at each of the subject small cable systems. 8 4. Charter asserts that installing a full set of EAS equipment at each of the participating systems would impose a significant financial burden on the company. In this regard, Charter states that, using the Commission’s estimated equipment cost of $6,000 to $10,000 per system, 9 the total cost of EAS equipment for the participating systems would be between $876,000 and $1,460,000. Based on our review of the information provided by Charter, we agree that Charter has shown sufficient economic hardship to warrant temporary waivers of section 11.11( a) of the Rules for the 153 cable systems listed in Appendix A, and grant Charter a waiver of these rules until October 1, 2005. 10 5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Sections 0.111, 0.204( b) and 0.311 of the Rules, 11 Charter Communications, Inc. IS GRANTED a waiver of Sections 11. 11( a), 11. 52( d) and 11.61 of the Rules as specified herein and the request for a declaratory ruling IS DISMISSED AS MOOT because it was withdrawn by Charter Communications, Inc. 6 Id. at 15516- 15518. 7 Id. at 15513. 8 E- mail confirmation of agreement concerning this matter dated May 28, 2004. 9 Second Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd at 15515. 10 As in past cases, this waiver also extends to the EAS monitoring and testing requirements. We recognize that we do not reach the merits of Charter’s proposal that its satellite system can substitute for the EAS system provided for in our rules. We note that the Commission intends to initiate a proceeding in the near future to explore certain issues, including the application of EAS to digital and satellite technologies. 11 47 C. F. R. §§ 0.111, 0. 204( b) and 0.311. 2 Federal Communications Commission DA 04- 2151 3 6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Charter Communications, Inc. place a copy of this waiver in its system files. 7. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Order shall be sent by certified mail return receipt requested to counsel for Charter Communications, Inc., Steven J. Horvitz, Esq., Cole, Raywid & Braverman, L. L. P., 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W., Suite 200, Washington, D. C. 20006. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION James A. Dailey Director, Office of Homeland Security Enforcement Bureau 3 Federal Communications Commission DA 04- 2151 4 Appendix A Charter Communications, Inc. Cable System All Temporary Waivers Granted Until PSID October 1, 2005 Berry, Alabama 011361 Cedar Bluff, Alabama 008707 Centerville, Alabama / Centerville, Tennessee 002280 Centerville, Alabama / Centerville, Tennessee 008877 Cherokee, Alabama 000290 Colombiana, Alabama 002282 Curry, Alabama 015471 Double Springs, Alabama 015472 Elgin, Alabama 006028 Gurley, Alabama 011236 Hackberry, Alabama 009809 Haleyville, Alabama 000102 Heflin, Alabama 001131 Henegar, Alabama 003279 Hokes Bluff, Alabama 010710 Lay Lake, Alabama 016682 Leighton, Alabama 009746 Locust Fork, Alabama 012037 Oakman, Alabama 015473 Rainsville, Alabama 008121 Southside, Alabama 010711 Thorsby, Alabama 009683 Trafford, Alabama 011965 West Blockton, Alabama 013995 Westover, Alabama 012036 Hardy, Arkansas 005387 Maumelle, Arkansas 003298 King City, California 003172 Soledad, California 008541 Julesburg, Colorado 006734 Cusetta, Georgia 013366 Greenville, Georgia 009208 Greenville, Georgia 009238 Woodbury, Georgia 009239 Zebulon, Georgia 009237 4 Federal Communications Commission DA 04- 2151 5 Cable System All Temporary Waivers Granted Until PSID October 1, 2005 Anna, Illinois 006881 Mount Carmel, Illinois 005160 Fairfield, Indiana 000142 Fairfield, Indiana 002375 Hillsboro, Indiana / Hillsboro, West Virginia 003966 Hillsboro, Indiana / Hillsboro, West Virginia 007941 Mitchell, Indiana 002818 Mitchell, Indiana 014525 Black Mountain, Kentucky 011453 Boyle, Kentucky 013473 Columbia, Kentucky 000001 Columbia, Kentucky 000033 Columbia, Kentucky 000292 Columbia, Kentucky 008186 Eolia, Kentucky 008044 McKinney, Kentucky 002471 Wallins Creek, Kentucky 007030 Basile, Louisiana 008688 Cameron, Louisiana 009810 Cameron, Louisiana 020300 Esterwood, Louisiana 012458 Ferriday, Louisiana 000881 Iowa, Louisiana 008691 Jonesville, Louisiana 000886 Merryville, Louisiana 011410 Olla, Louisiana 007046 Crisfield, Maryland 008138 Newberry, Michigan 001527 St. Ignace, Michigan 001525 Babbitt, Minnesota 000926 Balaton, Minnesota 005803 Canby, Minnesota 004066 Ely, Minnesota 004094 Glencoe, Minnesota 009817 Glencoe, Minnesota 013666 Montevideo, Minnesota 003105 Tower, Minnesota 012093 5 Federal Communications Commission DA 04- 2151 6 Cable System All Temporary Waivers Granted Until PSID October 1, 2005 Belmont, Mississippi 007212 Burnsville, Mississippi / Burnsville, West Virginia 007200 Burnsville, Mississippi / Burnsville, West Virginia 007644 Burnsville, Mississippi / Burnsville, West Virginia 009286 Fayette, Mississippi 010963 Bowling Green, Missouri / Bowling Green, Virginia 002679 Bowling Green, Missouri / Bowling Green, Virginia 004475 California, Missouri 006046 El Dorado Springs, Missouri 004085 Nevada, Missouri 001876 Potosi, Missouri 005593 Vandalia, Missouri 005549 Versailles, Missouri 007197 West Plains, Missouri 011635 Broken Bow, Nebraska 002764 Chadron, Nebraska 028197 Gordon, Nebraska 028297 Mc Cook, Nebraska 002744 Gates, North Carolina 014077 Kenly, North Carolina 010955 Princeton, North Carolina 010956 Troy, North Carolina 001139 Troy, North Carolina 004609 Troy, North Carolina 005964 Troy, North Carolina 010268 Haileyville, Oklahoma 000427 Longtown, Oklahoma 010835 Verdigris, Oklahoma 020304 Wilburton, Oklahoma 020324 Myrtle Creek, Oregon 000505 Iva, South Carolina 008949 Clifton, Tennessee 014458 Flintville, Tennessee 016358 Loretto, Tennessee 007713 McEwen, Tennessee 010512 Mountain City, Tennessee 007708 6 Federal Communications Commission DA 04- 2151 7 Cable System All Temporary Waivers Granted Until PSID October 1, 2005 Ten Mile, Tennessee 013378 Sneedville, Tennessee 000387 Waynesboro, Tennessee 004080 Alvarado, Texas 009998 Bracketville, Texas 004381 Coleman, Texas 000740 Coleman, Texas 003442 Coleman, Texas 011665 Colorado City, Texas 007759 Comanche, Texas 006418 Devine, Texas 010559 Haskell, Texas 005418 Shiner, Texas 005244 Wills Point, Texas 012523 Accomack, Virginia 001804 Belle Haven, Virginia 005659 Cape Charles, Virginia 010579 Clarksville, Virginia 007709 Clarksville, Virginia 008497 Colonial Beach, Virginia 001136 Damascus, Virginia 009491 Farmville, Virginia 000532 Lawrenceville, Virginia 000610 Lawrenceville, Virginia 001135 Tappahonnock, Virginia 002680 Warsaw, Virginia 003575 Warsaw, Virginia 003583 Warsaw, Virginia 006988 Ansted, West Virginia 007967 Bellington, West Virginia 002610 Dingess, West Virginia 010596 Gassaway, West Virginia 003194 Gilbert, West Virginia 009595 Glenville, West Virginia 007945 Grantsville, West Virginia 000569 Harrisville, West Virginia 000568 Harts, West Virginia 009890 Jenkins, West Virginia 000141 Matewan, West Virginia 010960 Page, West Virginia 020285 7 Federal Communications Commission DA 04- 2151 8 Cable System All Temporary Waivers Granted Until PSID October 1, 2005 Richwood, West Virginia 000389 Scarbro, West Virginia 005732 Webster Springs, West Virginia 002017 Lancaster, Wisconsin 000622 Wautoma, Wisconsin 006013 8