In the Matter of: 
Charter Communications 
Request for Declaratory Ruling 
FCC Form 394 
Adopted: March 18, 1999 
Federal Communications Commission 
Before the 
Federal Communications Commission 
Washington, D.C. 20554 
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ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION 
CSR-5329 
Released: March 18, 1999 
By the Chief, Cable Services Bureau: 
INTRODUCTION 
DA 99-548 
1. On February 16, 1999, the Cable Services Bureau released an order, pursuant to a Request 
for Declaratory Ruling filed by Charter Communications ("Charter"). 1 Charter requested that the 
Commission declare that exhibits to FCC Form 394 may be submitted in electronically readable format 
over the internet. Since issuance of that order, the Local and State Government Advisory Committee 
("LSGAC") has informally advised the Commission at a March 4, 1999 meeting that the procedures 
approved in our order for electronic filing of documents might produce unintended consequences relating 
to the timing and processes available for reviewing franchise transfers. Accordingly, we are reconsidering 
this matter on our own motion in order to clarify our earlier decision. 
BACKGROUND 
2. Section 617 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, provides a local franchising 
authority ("LFA") with 120 days to act upon a request for approval of a sale or transfer of the cable 
television franchise, provided that the franchise itself requires such approval. If the LF A fails to render 
a final decision in that time period, the request is deemed granted unless the requesting party and the LF A 
agree to an extension oftime.2 Section 76.502(a) of the Commission's rules states that the LFA shall have 
120 days :from the submission ofForm 394, including exhibits, and any other information required by the 
:franchise or applicable state or local law, to act upon the application for transfer of the franchise. 
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 
3. Our order stated that submission of the Form 394 and required documents, with 
electronically posted exhibits, will be sufficient to start the 120 day clock pursuant to §76.502. In order 
to safeguard franchising authorities choosing to receive hard copies of exhibits to the Form 394, we 
specified that if the exhibits are not available to the LF A because of a lack of access to the applicant's 
web site, the submission requirements of §76.502(a) will not be satisfied and the 120 period will not begin 
1Charter Communications, DA 99-322 (Cable Services Bur., reL February 16, 1999). 
2See 47 U.S.C. §537, 47 C.F.R. §76.502. 
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Federal Communications Commission DA 99-548 
until receipt of the paper copies of the exhibits by the LF A.3 In this order, we clarify that the LF A may 
choose, for whatever reason, to request paper copies of the exhibits, and that the 120. day clock will not 
begin until receipt of the paper copies of the exhibits by the LF A.4 
ORDERING CLAUSES 
4. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED on reconsideration, pursuant to Section 617 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S. C. Section 537, and Section 76.502 of the 
Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. Section 76.502, that the order issued on February 16, 1999, pursuant to a 
request for declaratory ruling (CSR-5329) filed on behalf of Charter Communications, is amended, as 
indicated above. · 
5. This action is taken pursuant to authority delegated by Section 0.321 of the Commission's 
rules, 47 C.F.R. Section 0.321. 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
Deborah A. Lathen 
Chief, Cable Services Bureau 
3Charter Communications, supra, at footnote 8. 
4LFAs will have 10 days from receipt of the Form 394 to request paper copies of the exhibits. The 120 period 
will not begin to run until receipt of the paper copies of the exhibits by the LF A. 
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