Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 19, 1995 TAG: 9509190034
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The cable company's 18,000 subscribers in Roanoke County will receive rebates of $1.20 for what the Federal Communications Commission says were overcharges for its Mind Extension University from September 1993 to May 1994.
Gretchen Shine, Cox general manager in Roanoke, said her company agreed to pay the rebate even though it contends what it charged was appropriate. The dispute involves the classification of the Mind Extension University service and the rates the FCC allows for it. Cox contends the FCC engaged in retroactive rulemaking that lowered the allowable rate for the televised classes after rates had been approved.
The rebate will go to Roanoke County customers because that was the only locality in the area from which anyone complained about the rates, Shine said. FCC procedures to petition for rate relief are decided by locality, not by company. In this case, two of Cox's 55,000 Roanoke Valley customers - both from Roanoke County - complained.
Shine said since the company contends it was acting appropriately in setting rates for Mind Extension University, it will not offer rebates to customers in localities from which there were no complaints.
The company has until January to issue the payments.
Nationally, a number of cable companies recently acquired by Cox from Times Mirror Co. also were ordered to issue refunds to customers who had been charged extra for basic service to additional TV sets in their homes.
That has not been the case in the Roanoke Valley, Shine said.
by CNB