It’s not exactly what L.A.’s long suffering cable customers had in mind when Time Warner Cable took over the bankrupt and technologically lagging Adelphia Communications.

In its first play from scrimmage since becoming the cable provider for 1.6 million Southern Californian customers last week, Time Warner drew a flag from the FCC after removing the NFL Network from its lineup without proper notice.

Responding to a complaint from the NFL, the Federal Communication Commission ordered Time Warner to return the network to cable systems in Southern California, as well as New York, Ohio, Texas, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Time Warner picked up 3.5 million subscribers in its $12.5 billion deal for Adelphia that closed July 24, though it’s unclear exactly how many customers actually had access to the network. Time Warner said the number was closer to 1.3 million nationwide.

At issue is an FCC requirement that cable operators give their subscribers at least a 30-day notice before making such changes. The NFL charged that Time Warner dropped its cable network without providing such notice, though the cable company said it complied with all regulatory requirements.

But what’s really at the core of the dispute is a disagreement between the two sides on whether the network should be available on basic cable as the NFL wishes, or on a sports tier which consumers pay more as Time Warner would like.

The FCC ordered the NFL Network be restored until the complaint was resolved and asked both sides for speedy responses.

Time Warner Cable said it is reviewing the FCC order.