Source: https://ecode360.com/11351021
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 00:58:16+00:00

Document:
§ 49-3 Grant of franchise.
§ 49-4 Duration of franchise.
§ 49-5 Expiration and subsequent renewal.
§ 49-8 Extension of service.
§ 49-11 Construction and system requirements.
§ 49-12 Technical and customer service standards.
§ 49-13 Local office or agent.
§ 49-14 Designation of complaint officer.
§ 49-20 Removal of facilities.
§ 49-21 Public, educational, and governmental access.
§ 49-22 Incorporation of application.
§ 49-23 Consistency with applicable laws.
§ 49-26 When effective; Board of Public Utilities approval.
Utilities — See Ch. 219.
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 49, Cable Television Franchise, adopted 10-15-1997 by Ord. No. 97-10, as amended.
The governing body of the Borough of Seaside Heights in the County of Ocean and the State of New Jersey.
Cablevision of Monmouth, LLC (Cablevision), the grantee of rights under this chapter.
That federal statute relating to cable communications, commonly known as the "Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984," 47 U.S.C. § 521 et seq., and the "Telecommunications Act of 1996," or as those statutes may be amended.
Editor's Note: The terms referred to can be found in the preceding clauses of Ord. No. 13-30, which is on file in the Borough offices.
The Borough hereby grants to Cablevision its nonexclusive consent to place in, upon, along, across, above, over, and under its highways, streets, alleys, sidewalks, public ways, and public places in the municipality poles, wires, cables, and fixtures necessary for the maintenance and operation in the Borough of a cable television system or other communications facility, and for the provision of any communication service over such facilities. Operation and construction, pursuant to said consent, is conditioned upon prior approval of the Board of Public Utilities.
If Cablevision seeks successive consent, it shall, prior to the expiration of this consent, apply for a municipal consent and certificate of approval in accordance with N.J.S.A. 48:5A-16, and applicable state and federal rules and regulations. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 48:5A-25.1, both the Borough and Cablevision shall be bound by the terms of this municipal consent until such time as Cablevision converts the municipal consent (and any certificate of approval) into a system-wide franchise.
Commercial entities will be proffered service in accordance with the company's line extension policy as identified in the application.
Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Cable Television Act, Cablevision shall pay to the Borough, as an annual franchise fee, a sum equal to 2% of the actual gross revenues received from all recurring charges in the nature of subscription fees paid by subscribers for its cable television reception services in the Borough. In the event applicable law hereinafter permits a larger franchise fee to be collected, but does not fix the amount thereof, the Borough and Cablevision shall negotiate in good faith with respect to the amount thereof; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed to permit the Borough to require payment of a franchise fee by Cablevision that is higher than the fee paid by all other cable television service providers offering service in the municipality.
Cablevision shall, upon written request, provide free of charge, one standard installation and monthly cable television reception service to all state or locally accredited public schools and all municipal public libraries, as well as municipal buildings located within the Borough.
Upon written request from the Borough, the Company shall provide to state and locally accredited elementary and secondary schools and municipal public libraries in the Borough, without charge, the following: one standard installation per school or library; one cable modem per installation; and basic cable modem service for the term of this chapter for each installation. This offer shall be subject to the terms, conditions and use policies of the Company, as those policies may exist from time to time.
Upon written request from the Borough, the Company shall provide to one municipally owned facility, without charge, the following: one standard installation; one cable modem per installation; and basic cable modem service for the term of this chapter for each installation. This offer shall be subject to the terms, conditions and use policies of the Company as those policies may exist from time to time.
If at any time during the period of this consent, the municipality shall alter or change the grade of any street, alley or other way or place, the Company, upon reasonable notice by the Borough, shall remove or relocate its equipment at its own expense.
Cablevision agrees to maintain and keep in force and effect, at its sole cost, at all times during the term of this consent, sufficient liability insurance naming the Borough as an additional insured and insuring against loss by any such claim, suit, judgment, execution or demand in the minimum amounts of $500,000 for bodily injury or death to one person and $1,000,000 for bodily injury or death resulting from any one accident or occurrence stemming from or arising out of the Company's exercise of its rights hereunder.
The Company shall have no further obligation to provide the senior discount herein in the event that the Company converts the municipal consent granted herein to a system-wide franchise in accordance with N.J.S.A. 48:5A-25.1; or upon Board approval of a certification that another cable television service provider offering services to residents of the Township files, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 48:5A-30(d), is capable of serving 60% or more of the households within the Township. In the event the Company does cease providing a senior discount pursuant to this provision, it shall comply with all notice requirements of applicable law.
Cablevision shall be required to have the capability to override the audio portion of the system in order to permit the broadcasting of emergency messages by the Borough pursuant to state and federal requirements. The Company shall in no way be held liable for any injury suffered by the Borough or any other person, during an emergency, if for any reason the municipality is unable to make full use of the cable television system as contemplated herein. The Borough shall utilize the state-approved procedures for such emergency uses.
In the event that the service of another multichannel video program provider not subject to the Borough's regulatory authority within the Borough creates a significant competitive disadvantage to Cablevision, the Company shall have the right to request from the Borough lawful amendments to its franchise that relieve it of burdens which create the unfair competitive situation. Should the Company seek such amendments to its franchise, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith appropriate changes to the franchise in order to relieve the Company of such competitive disadvantages. If the parties can reach an agreement on such terms, the Borough agrees to support the Company's petition to the Board for modification of the consent in accordance with N.J.S.A 48:5A-47 and N.J.A.C. 14:17-6.7.
In any subsequent municipal consent, Borough shall require, at a minimum, the same terms and conditions of any other provider of multichannel video programming subject to the Borough's regulatory authority as those contained in the instant consent. In the event such subsequent consent does not contain the same terms and conditions as the instant consent, Borough agrees to support the Company's petition to the Board for modification of the consent in accordance with N.J.S.A. 48:5A-47 and N.J.A.C. 14:17-6.7 to relieve the Company of competitive disadvantages identified in the Company's petition.
Upon expiration, termination or revocation of this chapter, Cablevision, at its sole cost and expense and upon direction of the Board, shall remove the cables and appurtenant devices constructed or maintained in connection with the cable services authorized herein, unless Cablevision, its affiliated entities or assignees should, within six months after such expiration, termination or revocation obtain certification from the FCC to operate an open video system or any other federal or state certification to provide telecommunications.
Cablevision shall continue to make available noncommercial public, educational and governmental (PEG) access services available to the residents of the Borough as described in the application for municipal consent. All Cablevision support for PEG access shall be for the exclusive benefit of Cablevision's subscribers.
Cablevision shall construct and maintain a fiber access return line at the Borough Building, 901 Boulevard, for use by the Borough in the production of noncommercial educational and governmental access programming on the cable system.
Cablevision shall provide the Borough with a one-time PEG grant of up to $8,500, payable as follows: an initial grant payment of $1,304 within 60 days of the issuance of the certificate of approval by the Board of Public Utilities (the initial grant); and a grant of $514, provided in annual installments, upon written request by the Borough (the annual grant). Each annual grant installment shall be payable to the Borough within 90 days from receipt of the Borough's written request. Cablevision shall not be obligated to make any additional payments beyond year 15 of the franchise term.
The Borough agrees that the initial grant and the annual grant provided pursuant to Subsection E shall be used for the exclusive support of PEG access programming, such as the purchase and/or rental of PEG access equipment and facilities. On request, the Borough shall provide Cablevision with a certification of compliance with this subsection.
All of the commitments contained in the application and any amendment thereto submitted, in writing, to the Borough by the Company except as modified herein, are binding upon Cablevision as terms and conditions of this consent. The application and any other written amendments thereto submitted by Cablevision in connection with this consent are incorporated in this chapter by reference and made a part hereof, except as specifically modified, changed, limited, or altered by this chapter, or to the extent that they conflict with state or federal law.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this chapter is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion thereof.
Notices required under this chapter shall be in writing and shall be mailed, first class, postage prepaid, to the addresses below. Either party may change the place where notice is to be given by providing such change, in writing, at least 30 days prior to the time such change becomes effective. The time to respond to notices under this chapter shall run from receipt of such written notice.
This chapter shall take effect upon issuance of a certificate of approval as issued by the Board of Public Utilities that incorporates the material terms of this chapter. Nothing herein shall alter the right of the Company to seek modification of this chapter in accordance with N.J.S.A. 48:5A-47 and N.J.A.C. 14:17-6.7.

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