Margate cable subscribers who use TCI of North Broward won’t be seeing a rate reduction soon, even though the Federal Communications Commission ordered a rate rollback last week.
TCI of North Broward is appealing the FCC’s Aug. 26 ruling, claiming its rates are fair.
“What it basically means is everything is going to be stayed. [Residents) will not see any refunds or credits until the appeal is over,” said city attorney Eugene Steinfeld. “‘It could take a few months.”
Margate city manager Len Golub was notified of the appeal this week in a letter from TCI general manager Stuart Easterly. The appeal comes a week after the FCC said TCI arbitrarily raised rates and ordered the company to pay customers a refund that includes franchise fees and interest dating back to June.
The rollback applies only to the company’s expanded basic service.
In its ruling, the FCC said the new $11.30 monthly rate was unreasonable and must be rolled back to $10.75. Only cable customers in Margate are affected because Margate officials were the only ones who filed a challenge with the FCC.
TCI officials insist their rates are properly calculated.
“TCI has reviewed the FCC’s findings and has determined that the rate structure currently in effect for Expanded Basic tier is actually under the maximum permitted rate pursuant to federal guidelines,” Easterly wrote in a letter to Golub.
“TCI is therefore filing an appeal with the FCC for further review of the rate calculation,” the letter read. “Consequently, no refund or decrease in rate will be instituted until a final ruling on the appeal has been issued.”
