What is the City of Mercer Islands authority to regulate Cable Television Service on the island?
The City of Mercer Island is a franchising authority within the meaning of the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act passed by Congress in 1992. Under the rules of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), this rate regulation is limited to a review of rates imposed for Basic Cable services, equipment and installation charges only. The Citys authority to regulate cable television rates is limited to the Basic Cable service package (currently marketed as Limited Basic). The City may see charges listed in rate filings for expanded or premium packages, but these rates are not part of the Citys regulatory scope. Cities have the authority to review and regulate the rates its residents will be subject to for the coming year. Cities that regulate these Basic Cable services, such as the City of Mercer Island, have 90 days to review, comment on, and, if necessary, appeal the rate adjustments proposed by the operator in the FCC forms.
