Federal Communications Commission DA 11-122 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, Petition for Determination of Effective Competition in Six Gadsden, Alabama, Franchise Areas ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CSR 7203-E MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Adopted: January 21, 2011 Released: January 24, 2011 By the Senior Deputy Chief, Policy Division, Media Bureau: I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1. Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, hereinafter referred to as “Petitioner,” has filed with the Commission a petition pursuant to Sections 76.7, 76.905(b)(1-2), and 76.907 of the Commission’s rules for a determination that Petitioner is subject to effective competition in those communities listed on Attachment A and hereinafter referred to as the “Attachment A Communities.” Petitioner alleges that its cable system serving the Attachment A Communities is subject to effective competition pursuant to Section 623(l) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (“Communications Act”)1 and the Commission’s implementing rules,2 and is therefore exempt from cable rate regulation in the Communities because of the competing service provided by two direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) providers, DIRECTV, Inc. (“DIRECTV”), and DISH Network (“DISH”). Petitioner additionally claims to be exempt from cable rate regulation in the Community listed on Attachment B and hereinafter referred to as Attachment B Community because the Petitioner serves fewer than 30 percent of the households in the franchise area. The petition is unopposed. 2. In the absence of a demonstration to the contrary, cable systems are presumed not to be subject to effective competition,3 as that term is defined by Section 623(l) of the Communications Act and Section 76.905 of the Commission’s rules.4 The cable operator bears the burden of rebutting the presumption that effective competition does not exist with evidence that effective competition is present within the relevant franchise area.5 For the reasons set forth below, we grant the petition based on our finding that Petitioner is subject to effective competition in the Communities listed on Attachments A and B. 1 See 47 U.S.C. § 543(l)(1)(B). 2 47 C.F.R. § 76.905(b)(2). 3 47 C.F.R. § 76.906. 4 See 47 U.S.C. § 543(l); 47 C.F.R. § 76.905. 5 See 47 C.F.R. §§ 76.906 & .907(b). Federal Communications Commission DA 11-122 2 II. DISCUSSION A. The Competing Provider Test 3. Section 623(l)(1)(B) of the Communications Act provides that a cable operator is subject to effective competition if the franchise area is (a) served by at least two unaffiliated multi-channel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”) each of which offers comparable video programming to at least 50 percent of the households in the franchise area; and (b) the number of households subscribing to programming services offered by MVPDs other than the largest MVPD exceeds 15 percent of the households in the franchise area.6 This test is referred to as the “competing provider” test. 4. The first prong of this test has three elements: the franchise area must be “served by” at least two unaffiliated MVPDs who offer “comparable programming” to at least “50 percent” of the households in the franchise area.7 5. Turning to the first prong of this test, it is undisputed that the Attachment A Communities are “served by” both DBS providers, DIRECTV and DISH, and that these two MVPD providers are unaffiliated with Petitioner or with each other. A franchise area is considered “served by” an MVPD if that MVPD’s service is both technically and actually available in the franchise area. DBS service is presumed to be technically available due to its nationwide satellite footprint, and presumed to be actually available if households in the franchise area are made reasonably aware of the service's availability.8 The Commission has held that a party may use evidence of penetration rates in the franchise area (the second prong of the competing provider test discussed below) coupled with the ubiquity of DBS services to show that consumers are reasonably aware of the availability of DBS service.9 The “comparable programming” element is met if a competing MVPD provider offers at least 12 channels of video programming, including at least one channel of nonbroadcast service programming10 and is supported in this petition with copies of channel lineups for both DIRECTV and DISH.11 Also undisputed is Petitioner’s assertion that both DIRECTV and DISH offer service to at least “50 percent” of the households in the Attachment A Communities because of their national satellite footprint.12 Accordingly, we find that the first prong of the competing provider test is satisfied. 6. The second prong of the competing provider test requires that the number of households subscribing to MVPDs, other than the largest MVPD, exceed 15 percent of the households in a franchise area. Petitioner asserts that it is the largest MVPD in the Attachment A Communities.13 Petitioner sought to determine the competing provider penetration in there by purchasing a subscriber tracking report from the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association that identified the number of subscribers attributable to the DBS providers within the Attachment A Communities on a five-digit zip code basis.14 7. Based upon the aggregate DBS subscriber penetration levels that were calculated using 6 47 U.S.C. § 543(l)(1)(B); see also 47 C.F.R. § 76.905(b)(2). 7 47 C.F.R. § 76.905(b)(2)(i). 8 See Petition at 3. 9 Mediacom Illinois LLC, 21 FCC Rcd 1175, 1176, ¶ 3 (2006). 10 See 47 C.F.R. § 76.905(g). See also Petition at 4. 11 See Petition at Exh. 2. 12 See id. at 3. 13 See id. at 5. 14 Id. Federal Communications Commission DA 11-122 3 Census 2000 household data,15 as reflected in Attachment A, we find that Petitioner has demonstrated that the number of households subscribing to programming services offered by MVPDs, other than the largest MVPD, exceeds 15 percent of the households in the Attachment A Communities. Therefore, the second prong of the competing provider test is satisfied for each of the Attachment A Communities. 8. Based on the foregoing, we conclude that Petitioner has submitted sufficient evidence demonstrating that both prongs of the competing provider test are satisfied and Petitioner is subject to effective competition in the Attachment A Communities. B. The Low Penetration Test 9. Section 623(l)(1)(A) of the Communications Act provides that a cable operator is subject to effective competition if the Petitioner serves fewer than 30 percent of the households in the franchise area. This test is referred to as the “low penetration” test.16 Petitioner alleges that it is subject to effective competition under the low penetration effective competition test because it serves less that 30 percent of the households in the Attachment B Community. 10. Based upon the subscriber penetration level calculated by Petitioner, as reflected in Attachment B, we find that Petitioner has demonstrated the percentage of households subscribing to its cable service is less than 30 percent of the households in the Attachment B Community. Therefore, the low penetration test is satisfied as to the Attachment B Community. III. ORDERING CLAUSES 11. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the petition for a determination of effective competition filed in the captioned proceeding by Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, IS GRANTED. 12. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the certification to regulate basic cable service rates granted to any of the Communities set forth on Attachments A and B IS REVOKED. 13. This action is taken pursuant to delegated authority pursuant to Section 0.283 of the Commission’s rules.17 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Steven A. Broeckaert Senior Deputy Chief, Policy Division, Media Bureau 15 Id. at Exh. 7. 16 47 U.S.C. § 543(l)(1)(A). 17 47 C.F.R. § 0.283. Federal Communications Commission DA 11-122 4 ATTACHMENT A CSR 7203-E COMMUNITIES SERVED BY COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICAITONS, LLC Communities CUIDs CPR* 2000 Census Households Estimated DBS Subscribers Gadsden AL0003 22.36% 16456 3680 Glencoe AL0004 34.52% 2000 690 Lake View AL0763 53.22% 457 243 Northport AL0041 22.87% 7844 1794 Rainbow City AL0011 24.57% 3586 881 *CPR = Percent of competitive DBS penetration rate. Some CPRs are not precisely accurate due to use of fractional DBS subscribers not set forth above. Federal Communications Commission DA 11-122 5 ATTACHMENT B CSR 7203-E COMMUNITY SERVED BY COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC Community CUID Franchise Area Households Cable Subscribers Penetration Percentage Tuscaloosa County AL0130, AL0489 23295 2970 12.75%