European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 23, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes sunday. August 23,1987 fawning Over Hope the Winner among 18 who applied to play the role of Fin Hill in in or a coat a Hwing Pitnof b Ely i Lall 21 no relation to Fawn. The a Kuke gho  Bob Hope i big hug Friday at to Lull Uke Calif. The Vul nun woman Wilt appear in a to it Cal Bob Hope s comedy  acc phone rate ruling upheld Washington Jap a Federal appeals court on Friday upheld the Federal communications commis Sion s authority to order Telephone companies to lower Rales to compensate for excessive earnings. In a 2-1 decision he court said the acc acted within its authority when it ordered american Tele phone & Telegraph co. And its operating companies  million in excess profits earned in 1978. The acc said at to s Rale of return was 10.22 per cent that year above the 10 percent rate Sel by the commission. In 1984, the commission ordered at to and its operating companies which by then had been spun off by an antitrust decree to return the excess to ratepayers. The companies appealed to the . Court of appeals for the District of Columbia challenging the acc s authority to order refunds. Although the Appeal was pending the companies lowered rates in compliance with the order in 198 5. The companies Aid the refund order amounted to retroactive Rale making which they said was inconsistent with the communications act of 1934, granting the government the Power to regulate phone Compa Nies. The court rejected their argument saying the acc refund order merely recognized that the prior prescription had been violated and imposed a remedy for that  judge James l. Buckley dissented in the decision saying the Section of la cited by the court never be fore has been used to authorize refunds. At to officials declined to comment on the ruling because they had not yet read it. Diane Killory acc general counsel said the com Mission was heartened by the decision and in Strong and unequivocal language affirming the Agency s authority to use refunds to enforce its rate of re Lurn regulation. The ruling has some application to another Case hat is before the appeals court she said. One of the issues in that Case is whether the acc has the authority to use refunds As an enforcement tool and on that the court has spoken unequivocally she said. In another refund Case the acc in april ordered communications satellite corp. To refund about 162 million in excess earnings. Comsat officials said they had not read the appears court ruling and could no comment on any effect it May have on the company. At to implemented the rate reduction june i 1985, As part of a 11.1 billion or 5.6 percent Cut in rates that resulted from initial imposition of the sub Scriber line charge said at to spokeswoman Edith Herman. The line fee which has since risen to 12.60 month charges ratepayers More for local service and allows phone companies to reduce Long distance rates. The local companies implemented their reduction with a one time Cut in Access charges paid by at to which at to passed along to ratepayer she said. Stateside Calif Rodeo ring named in Honor of Baldrige ant1och. Calif. A the Laic Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige his had a Rodeo Arena atthe Contra Costa county Fairgrounds named in Hij Honor. Baldric was killed july 2i in an Accident at Jack Roddy s arc Elwood ranch during a practice session the Day before he was to appear in a Rodeo at the Fairgrounds Balange was a longtime steer roping Champion and a Cowboy Hall of Fame member. The action was taken with the unanimous Vole of the fair Board. Chris Baldwin the fair manager said the Board Felt it appropriate to Honor a Man who had contributed much to the Calile Industry. Reagan to be guest at London s 100th birthday Santa Barbara Calif