Source: https://www.ecode360.com/8429175
Timestamp: 2020-04-01 00:09:15
Document Index: 473737550

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 66', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 893', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 96', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 96', '§ 96']

City of Franklin, WI Cable Television Franchise
§ 96-4 Franchise agreement.
§ 96-6 Duration and acceptance of franchise agreement.
§ 96-8 Police powers.
§ 96-9 Cable television franchise required.
§ 96-12 Notices.
§ 96-13 Letter of credit/security deposit.
§ 96-14 Performance bond.
§ 96-15 Liability insurance.
§ 96-16 Indemnification.
§ 96-18 Public notice.
§ 96-19 Service availability and record request.
§ 96-20 System construction.
§ 96-21 Construction and technical standards.
§ 96-22 Use of streets.
§ 96-23 Operational standards.
§ 96-24 Continuity of service mandatory.
§ 96-25 Complaint procedure.
§ 96-26 Grantee rules and regulations.
§ 96-27 Franchise fee.
§ 96-28 Transfer of ownership or control.
§ 96-29 Availability of books and records.
§ 96-30 Other petitions and applications.
§ 96-31 Fiscal reports.
§ 96-32 Removal of cable television system.
§ 96-33 Required services and facilities.
§ 96-34 Additional rules and regulations.
§ 96-35 Performance evaluation sessions.
§ 96-36 Rate change procedures.
§ 96-37 Forfeiture and termination.
§ 96-38 Foreclosure.
§ 96-39 Right of acquisition by City.
§ 96-40 Receivership.
§ 96-41 Compliance with state and federal laws.
§ 96-42 Landlord/Tenant.
§ 96-43 Applicant's bids for initial franchise.
§ 96-44 Financial, contractual, shareholder and system disclosure for initial franchise.
§ 96-45 Theft of services and tampering.
§ 96-46 Violations and penalties.
§ 96-47 Procedures.
Chapter 96 Cable Television Franchise
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Franklin 8-5-1997 by Ord. No. 97-1461 as Sec. 13.21 of the 1997 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Franklin Telecommunications Franchise Ordinance," hereinafter "this chapter."
Any subscriber tier provided by the Grantee which includes the delivery of local broadcast stations and public, educational and governmental access channels. The basic service does not include optional program and satellite service tiers, a la carte services, per channel, per program or auxiliary services for which a separate charge is made. However, the Grantee may include other satellite signals on the basic tier.
A system of antennas, cables, wires, lines, towers, wave guides and/or other conductors, converters, equipment or facilities, designed and constructed for the purpose of producing, receiving, transmitting, amplifying and distributing audio, video and/or other forms of electronic, electrical or optical signals, which includes cable television service and which is located in the City. This definition does not include any such facility which only serves or only will serve subscribers in one or more multiple unit dwellings under common ownership, control or management and which does not use any City rights-of-way.
The City of Franklin, Wisconsin.
An electronic device which converts signals to a frequency not susceptible to interference within a television receiver of a subscriber and by an appropriate channel selector permits a television receiver of a subscriber to televise or depict for viewing by a subscriber more than 12 channels delivered by the system at designated converter dial locations.
The rights and privileges granted by the City, under an agreement (hereinafter "franchise agreement") incorporating the terms and provisions of this chapter with a Grantee, to construct, maintain or operate a cable system in the City.
A person or entity to whom or which a franchise agreement under this chapter is awarded by the City, along with the lawful successors or assigns of such person or entity.
All revenue collected directly or indirectly by the Grantee from the provision of cable service within the City, including but not limited to basic subscriber service monthly fees, pay cable fees, installation and reconnection fees, franchise fees, leased channel fees, converter rentals, program guides, studio rental, production equipment, personnel fees, late fees, downgrade fees, revenue from the sale, exchange, use or cable cast of any programming developed on the system for community or institutional use, advertising fees, any value (at retail price levels) of any non-monetary remuneration received by the Grantee in consideration of the performance of advertising or any other service of the system, and such other revenues to the maximum permitted by law; provided, however, that gross revenue shall not include any local, state or federal taxes, denominated as a tax by statute or ordinance, upon services furnished by the Grantee to subscribers in the City, which are imposed directly upon any such subscriber and collected by the Grantee on behalf of and for full payment to the governmental unit imposing such tax. Subject to applicable federal law, the term "gross revenues" includes revenues attributed to franchise fees and revenues collected directly or indirectly from other ancillary telecommunications services, including but not limited to point-to-point telecommunications, point-to-point multipoint telecommunications and data transmissions, but only to the extent that all other providers of such telecommunications services in the City are subject to the same compensation requirements of the City.
Observing a communications signal, or the absence of a signal, where the observer is neither the subscriber nor the programmer, whether the signal is observed by visual or electronic means, for any purpose whatsoever, provided that monitoring does not mean system-wide, non-individually addressed sweeps of the system for purposes of verifying system integrity, controlling return paths transmissions or billing for pay services.
As applied to the Grantee, those hours during which similar businesses in the City are open and operating to serve customers. In all cases, normal business hours shall include some evening hours at least one weeknight per week and/or some weekend hours.
The surface of and all rights-of-way and the space above and below any public street, road, highway, freeway, lane, path, public way or place, sidewalk, alley, court, boulevard, parkway, drive or easement now or hereafter held by the City for the purpose of public travel, and shall include other easements or rights-of-way as shall be now held or hereafter held by the City which shall, within their proper use and meaning, entitle the Grantee to the use thereof for the purposes of installing poles, wires, cable, conductors, ducts, conduits, vaults, manholes, amplifiers, appliances, attachments and other property as may be ordinarily necessary and pertinent to a telecommunications system.
Any person, firm, Grantee, corporation, partnership or association lawfully receiving basic and/or any additional or other service from a Grantee.
A party utilizing a cable television system channel for purposes of production or transmission of material to subscribers, as contrasted with the receipt thereof in a subscriber capacity.
Any franchise granted by the City pursuant to a franchise agreement incorporating the terms and provisions of this chapter, as authorized by § 66.0419, Wis. Stats., shall grant to the Grantee under the franchise agreement, the rights and privileges to erect, construct, install, operate and maintain in, upon and along, across, above, over and under the streets now in existence and as may be created or established during the term of such franchise agreement: any poles, wires, cable, underground conduits, manholes and other television conductors and fixtures necessary for the maintenance and operation of a cable system.
Any Grantee also agrees to provide all services specifically set forth in its application, if any, and to provide cable television service within the confines of the City; and by its acceptance of its cable franchise application, the Grantee specifically grants and agrees that its application, if any, is thereby incorporated by reference and made a part of the franchise agreement. In the event of a conflict between the elements of the application and the provisions of this chapter, that term or provision which provides the greatest benefit to the City or its residential subscribers, as determined in the sole discretion of the City, shall control.
Any franchise granted by the City shall be effective for all areas within and shall extend to the City municipal boundaries as they may exist from time to time during the term of the franchise agreement.
The franchise and the rights, privileges and authority granted shall take effect and be in force as set forth in the franchise agreement and shall continue in force and effect for a term of no longer than 15 years, provided that within 15 days after the Grantee's receipt from the City of a franchise agreement, executed by duly authorized officials of the City before a notary public, the Grantee executes before a notary public or other officer authorized by law to administer oaths and delivers such executed franchise agreement to the City. Such franchise shall be nonexclusive and revocable.
Upon completion of the proceeding under Subsection A(1) above, the Grantee may, on its own initiative, or shall, at the request of the City, submit a proposal for renewal. The City may establish a date by which such proposal shall be submitted.
Upon submittal by the Grantee of a proposal to the City for the renewal of the franchise, the City shall provide prompt, public notice of such proposal and renew the franchise or issue a preliminary assessment that the franchise should not be renewed, and at the request of the Grantee or on its own initiative, commence an administrative proceeding, after providing prompt, public notice of such proceeding.
In any proceeding under Subsection A(4), the Grantee shall be afforded adequate notice, and the Grantee and the City, or its designee, shall be afforded fair opportunity for full participation, including the right to introduce evidence [including evidence related to issues raised in the proceedings under Subsection A(1) above], to require the production of evidence and to question witnesses. A transcript shall be made of any such proceeding.
Any denial of a proposal for renewal that has been submitted in compliance with the procedures set forth above shall be based on one or more adverse findings made with respect to the factors described in Subsection A(4)(a) through (d) above, pursuant to the record of the proceeding under said subsection. The City may not base a denial of renewal on a failure to substantially comply with the material terms of the franchise agreement or on events considered under Subsection A(4)(b) above, unless the City has provided the Grantee with notice and the opportunity to cure or in any case in which it is documented that the City has waived its right to object.
The Grantee may appeal any final decision or failure of the City to act in accordance with the procedural requirements of this section. The court shall grant appropriate relief if the court finds that: any action of the City is not in compliance with the procedural requirements of this section; or in the event of a final decision of the City denying the renewal proposal, the Grantee has demonstrated that the adverse finding of the City with respect to each of the factors described in Subsection A(4)(a) through (d) above on which the denial is based is not supported by a preponderance of the evidence, based on the record of the administrative proceeding.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections A(1) through (8) of this section, any lawful action to revoke a Grantee's franchise for cause shall not be negated by the subsequent initiation of renewal proceedings by the Grantee under this chapter.
Franchise renewal in the event of change in federal law. In the event of an amendment or repeal of 47 U.S.C. 546 et seq., a franchise agreement may be renewed by the City upon application of the Grantee pursuant to and in accordance with any then applicable law which mandates different procedures. In the absence of such mandatory applicable law, a franchise agreement may be renewed as follows:
At least 24 months prior to the expiration of the franchise agreement, the Grantee shall inform the City, in writing, of its intent to seek renewal of the franchise agreement.
Concurrent with the Grantee's notification of intent to renew, the Grantee shall submit to the City a proposal for renewal which demonstrates:
That it has been and continues to be in substantial compliance with the terms, conditions and limitations of this chapter and its franchise agreement;
That its system has been installed, constructed, maintained and operated in accordance with the accepted standards of the industry, and this chapter and its franchise agreement;
That it has the legal, technical, financial and other qualifications to continue to maintain and operate its system, and to extend the same as the state of the art progresses so as to assure its subscribers high quality service; and
That it has made a good faith effort to provide services and facilities which accommodate the demonstrated needs of the community as may be reasonably ascertained by the City.
After giving public notice, the City shall proceed to determine whether the Grantee has satisfactorily performed its obligations under the franchise agreement. To determine satisfactory performance, the City shall consider technical developments and performance of the system, programming other services offered, cost of services and any other particular requirements set in this chapter and the franchise agreement; also, the City shall consider the Grantee's reports made to the City and the Federal Communication Commission; may require the Grantee to make available specified records, documents and information for this purpose and may inquire specifically whether the Grantee will supply services sufficient to meet community needs and interests; and shall consider the Grantee's performance compared to the industry performance on a national basis. Provision shall be made for public comment.
The City shall then prepare any amendments to this section that it considers reasonable.
If the City finds the Grantee's performance satisfactory, and finds the Grantee's technical, legal and financial abilities acceptable, and finds the Grantee's renewal proposal meets the future cable-related needs of the City, a new franchise agreement shall be granted pursuant to this section, as amended, for a period to be determined.
If the Grantee is determined by the City to have performed unsatisfactorily, as governed by applicable state and federal law, new applicants may be sought and evaluated, and a franchise award shall be made by the City according to franchising procedures adopted by the City.
In accepting a franchise agreement, the Grantee shall acknowledge that its rights thereunder are subject to the police power of the City to adopt and enforce general ordinances necessary for the safety and welfare of the public; and the Grantee shall agree to comply with all applicable general laws and ordinances enacted by the City pursuant to such power.
Any conflict between the provisions of this section and any other present or future lawful exercise of the City's police powers shall be resolved in favor of the latter, except that any such exercise that is not of general application in the City, or applies exclusively to the Grantee, which contains provisions inconsistent with the franchise agreement, shall prevail only if upon such exercise the City finds an emergency exists constituting a danger to health, safety, property or general welfare or such exercise is mandated by law.
No cable television system shall be allowed to occupy or use the City streets for system installation and maintenance purposes or be allowed to operate in the City without a franchise agreement.
The City shall have the right, during the term of the franchise agreement, to install and maintain free of charge upon the poles of the Grantee any wire or pole fixtures that do not unreasonably interfere with the cable television system operations of the Grantee. The City shall indemnify and hold harmless the Grantee from any claim that might arise due to or as a result of the City's aforesaid wire installation or pole fixture use.
Costs to be borne by an initial Grantee shall include any requirements or charges incidental to the awarding or enforcing of an initial franchise, but shall not be limited to all costs of publications of notices prior to any public meeting provided for pursuant to this franchise, and any costs not covered by application fees incurred by the City in its study, preparation of proposal documents, evaluation of all applications and examinations of the applicants' qualifications.
All notices from the Grantee to the City pertaining to the franchise agreement or cable system shall be to the City Administrator's office. The Grantee shall maintain with the City, throughout the term of the franchise agreement, an address for service of notices by mail. The Grantee shall maintain a central office to address any issues relating to the Grantee's construction, maintenance, operation and administration of the system and its products and services, which office address shall be the designated address of the Grantee for the receipt of all notices and process by the Grantee.
Within 15 days after the award of the initial franchise, the Grantee shall deposit with the City either an irrevocable letter of credit from a financial institution or a security deposit in the amount of $50,000. The form and content of such letter of credit or security deposit shall be approved by the City Attorney. The letter of credit or security deposit shall be used by the City to ensure the faithful performance of an initial Grantee of all provisions of this chapter and initial franchise agreements and the compliance by the Grantee with all orders, permits and rules of any agency, commission, board, department, division or office of the City having jurisdiction over its acts or defaults under this chapter and the initial franchise agreement, and the payment by the Grantee of any claims, liens and taxes due the City which arise by reason of the construction, operation or maintenance of the system.
The letter of credit or security deposit, as required of an initial Grantee, shall be "evergreen" and maintained at the $50,000 amount for the entire term of the initial franchise agreement. If amounts are withdrawn by the City pursuant to § 96-11 or Subsection A of this section, the initial Grantee shall replenish the letter of credit or security deposit with an amount equal to the amount of the withdrawal within 15 days of such withdrawal.
If the Grantee fails to pay to the City any franchise fees or costs within the time fixed herein; or fails after 15 days' notice to pay to the City any taxes due and unpaid; or fails to repay the City within 15 days any damages, costs or expenses which the City is compelled to pay by reason of any act or default of the Grantee in connection with this chapter or the franchise agreement; or fails, after three days' notice by the City of such failure to comply with any provision of this section or the franchise agreement which the City reasonably determines can be remedied by demand on the letter of credit or security deposit, the City may immediately request payment of the amount thereof, with interest and any penalties, from the letter of credit or security deposit. Upon such request for payment, the City shall notify the Grantee of the amount and date thereof. The letter of credit or security deposit instrument tendered by an initial Grantee shall specify that the City may draw upon the written statement of the City Administrator specifying the amount to be withdrawn and the purpose for such draw.
The rights reserved to the City with respect to the letter of credit are in addition to all other rights of the City, whether reserved by this section or authorized by law, and no action, proceeding or exercise of a right with respect to such letter of credit shall affect any other right the City may have.
Concurrent with its required delivery to the City of an executed franchise agreement, the initial Grantee shall file with the City a performance bond for the benefit of the City in the amount of not less than 50% of the reasonably estimated cost to install the system components contemplated to be installed in the new application or franchise agreement. This bond shall be maintained in full force and effect until all such contemplated installation is complete. The form and content of such bond shall be approved by the City Attorney and shall be incorporated into any franchise agreement.
If the initial Grantee fails to comply with any law, ordinance or resolution governing the franchise, or fails to well and truly observe, fulfill and perform each term and condition of this chapter or the franchise agreement, as it relates to the conditions relative to the construction of the system, there shall be recoverable, jointly and severally, from the principal and surety of the bond, any damages or loss suffered by the City as a result thereof, including the full amount of any compensation, indemnification or cost of removal or abandonment of any property of the Grantee, plus a reasonable allowance for attorney's fees, including the City's legal staff, and costs, up to the full amount of the bond. To the extent allowed by law, the performance bond shall also provide additional security to the City for the faithful performance by the initial Grantee of all initial Grantee's obligations specified to be secured by a letter of credit or security deposit under § 96-13 of this chapter.
The City may, upon completion of construction of the system, agree to reduce the required amount of the bond. However, the City may require an increased performance bond to be posted by an initial Grantee for any construction subsequent to the completion of the initial contemplated system installation, in a reasonable amount and upon such terms as determined by the City.
The bond shall contain the following endorsement: "It is hereby understood and agreed that this bond may not be canceled by the surety nor the intention not to renew be stated by the surety until 30 days after receipt by the City, by registered mail, of a written notice of such intent to cancel or to not renew." Upon any unlawful cancellation or removal of the performance bond without City consent, the City shall be entitled to avail itself of all remedies and shall be entitled to the maximum relief available under this section and pursuant to law against an initial Grantee, including revocation of the franchise.
The City at any time during the term of this chapter may waive the Grantee's requirement to maintain a performance bond. The invitation to waive the requirement can be initiated by the City or Grantee.
The Grantee shall maintain, and by its acceptance of the franchise agreement specifically agrees that it will maintain throughout the term of the franchise agreement liability insurance, insuring the City and the Grantee in the minimum amount of:
For property damage per claimant: $1,000,000.
For property damage per occurrence: $10,000,000.
For personal injury damages per person: $3,000,000.
For personal injury damages per occurrence: $10,000,000.
The certificate of insurance obtained by the Grantee in compliance with this chapter must be approved by the City Attorney, and such certificate of insurance, along with written evidence of payment of required premiums, shall be filed and maintained with the City at all times during the term of the franchise agreement. The Grantee shall immediately advise the City Attorney of any litigation that may develop that would affect this insurance. The per claim and per occurrence coverage amounts specified in this section shall not be reduced by amounts paid for other claims or other occurrences.
Neither the provisions of this section nor any damages recovered by the City against the Grantee for any reason shall be construed to or limit the liability of the Grantee for any purpose or claim, other than to the extent Grantee has satisfied such purpose or claim.
All insurance policies maintained pursuant to this franchise shall contain the following endorsement: "It is hereby understood and agreed that this insurance policy may not be canceled by the surety nor the intention not to renew be stated by the surety until 30 days after receipt by the City, by registered mail, of a written notice of such intention to cancel or to not renew." Upon cancellation or nonrenewal of the insurance coverage without City consent, the City shall be entitled to avail itself of all remedies and shall be entitled to the maximum relief available under this section and pursuant to law against the Grantee, including revocation of the franchise.
Disclaimer of liability. The City shall not at any time be liable for injury or damage occurring to any person or property from any cause whatsoever arising out of the construction, maintenance, repair, use, operation, condition or dismantling of the Grantee's system and due to the act or omission of any person or entity other than the City or those persons or entities for which the City is legally liable as a matter of law.
Indemnification. The Grantee shall, at its sole cost and expense, defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City, and its respective officers, boards, commissions, employees, agents, attorneys and contractors (hereinafter referred to as "Indemnities"), from and against:
Any and all liability, obligation, damages, penalties, claims, liens, costs, charges, losses and expense (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, expert witnesses and consultants), which may be imposed upon, incurred by or be asserted against the Indemnities by reason of any act or omission of the Grantee, its personnel, employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors, resulting in personal injury, bodily injury, sickness, disease or death to any person or damage to, loss of, loss of use of or destruction of tangible or intangible property, libel, slander, invasion of privacy and unauthorized use of any trademark, trade name, copyright, patent, service mark or any other right of any person, firm or corporation, which may arise out of or be in any way connected with the construction, installation, operation, maintenance or condition of the Grantee's system or products or services or agents or the Grantee's failure to comply with any federal, state or local statute, ordinance, rule, order or regulation.
Any and all liabilities, obligations, damages penalties, claims, liens, costs, charges, losses and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, expert witnesses and other consultants), which are imposed upon, incurred by or asserted against the Indemnities by reason of any claim or lien arising out of work, labor, materials or supplies provided or supplied to the Grantee, its contractors or subcontractors, for the installation, construction, operation or maintenance of the system.
Any and all liability, obligation, damages, penalties, claims, liens, costs, charges, losses and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, expert witnesses and consultants), which may be imposed upon, incurred by or be asserted against the Indemnities by reason of any financing or securities offering by the Grantee for violations of the common law or any laws, statutes or regulations of the State of Wisconsin or United States, including those of the Federal Securities and Exchange Commission, whether by the Grantee or otherwise.
Assumption of risk. The Grantee undertakes and assumes for its officers, agents, contractors and subcontractors and employees, all risk of dangerous conditions, if any, on or about any City owned or controlled property, including public rights-of-way, and the Grantee hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Indemnities against and from any claim asserted or liability imposed upon the Indemnities for personal injury or property damage to any person arising out of the installation, operation, maintenance or condition of the system or the Grantee's failure to comply with any federal, state or local statute, ordinance or regulation.
Defense of indemnities. In the event that any action or proceeding shall be brought against the Indemnities by reason of any matter for which the indemnities are indemnified hereunder, the Grantee shall, upon notice from any of the Indemnities, at the Grantee's sole cost and expense, resist and defend the same with legal counsel mutually acceptable to the City and Grantee, provided that the Grantee shall not admit liability in any such matter on behalf of the Indemnities without the written consent of the City.
Notice cooperation and expenses. The City shall give the Grantee prompt notice of the making of any claim or the commencement of any action, suit or other proceeding covered by the provisions of Subsection D above. Nothing herein shall be deemed to prevent the City from cooperating with the Grantee and participating in the defense of any litigation by the City's own counsel. The Grantee shall pay all reasonable expenses incurred by the City in defending itself with regard to any such actions, suits or proceedings. These expenses shall include all attorney fees and shall also include the actual expenses of the City's agents, employees or expert witnesses, and disbursements and liabilities assumed by the City in connection with such suits, actions or proceedings. No withdrawal by the City of any sum under the letter of credit or security deposit shall limit the liability of the Grantee to the City under the terms of this section, except that any sum so withdrawn by the City shall be deducted from any recovery which the City might have against the Grantee under the terms of this section.
Nonwaiver of statutory limits. Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to in any way limit or waive the provisions of § 893.80, Wis. Stats., as amended from time to time.
The Grantee shall not deny service, deny access or otherwise discriminate against subscribers, channel users or any person or entity on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, income, gender or sexual orientation. The Grantee shall comply at all times with all applicable federal, state and local laws, statutes, rules and regulations and all executive and administrative orders relating to discrimination which are hereby incorporated and made part of this chapter by reference.
The Grantee shall strictly adhere to the equal employment opportunity requirements of the Federal Communications Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and other applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, as amended from time to time.
Grantee is required to make all services available to all residential dwellings throughout the initial service area.
Public notice of any public meeting relating to this chapter or a franchise agreement shall be by publication of a Class I notice prior to the meeting and by announcement on at least one channel of the Grantee's system between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.., for five consecutive days prior to the meeting; provided, however, the operator's failure to telecast such notice shall not invalidate any proceedings.
The Grantee shall provide cable communications service throughout the entire City pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and the franchise agreement and shall maintain a record of all requests for service received by the Grantee for at least three years from the date of any such request. This record shall be available for public inspection at the local office of the Grantee during normal business hours.
Within two years from the date of the award of the initial franchise agreement, the Grantee must make cable television service available to every dwelling unit within the initial service area.
The Grantee must make cable television service available to at least 20% of the dwelling units within the initial service area within six months from the date of the award of the initial franchise agreement.
The Grantee must make cable television service available to at least 50% of the dwelling units within the initial service area within one year from the date of the award of the initial franchise agreement.
Any delay beyond the terms of this timetable, unless specifically approved by the City, will be considered a violation of this section, for which the provisions of either §§ 96-37 or 96-46 shall apply, as determined by the City.
In areas of the City not included in the initial service areas, the Grantee shall be required to extend its system pursuant to the following requirements:
No customer shall be refused service arbitrarily. The Grantee is hereby authorized to extend the cable system as necessary within the City. To expedite the process of extending the cable system into a new subdivision, the City (or developer if requested by the City) shall forward to the Grantee an approved engineering plan of each project. Subject to the service extension requirements of this chapter, the Grantee shall commence the design and construction process upon receipt of the final engineering plan. Upon notification from the City or developer that the first home in the project has been approved for building permit, the Grantee shall have a maximum of three months to complete the system construction/activation process within the project phase.
Early extension. In areas not meeting the requirements for mandatory extension of service, the Grantee shall provide, within 30 days of the request of a potential subscriber desiring service, an estimate of the costs required to extend service to the subscriber and a proposed agreement, in writing, specifying the payment terms and the time within which service will be made available. The Grantee shall then extend service upon acceptance of such agreement by the potential subscriber. The Grantee may require advance payment or assurance of payment satisfactory to the Grantee. The amount paid by subscribers for early extensions shall be nonrefundable, and, in the event that the area subsequently reaches the density required for mandatory extension, such payments shall be treated as consideration for early extension. The Grantee shall specify in the aforesaid proposed agreement whether the Grantee has any specific notice or knowledge that the area may attain the density required for mandatory extension.
New development undergrounding. In cases of new construction or property development where utilities are to be placed underground, the developer or property owner shall give the Grantee reasonable notice of such construction or development, and at least 48 hours' prior notice of the particular date on which open trenching will be available for the Grantee's installation of conduit, pedestals and/or vaults, and laterals to be provided at the Grantee's expense. The Grantee shall also provide specifications as needed for trenching. Costs of trenching and easements required to bring service to the development shall be borne by the developer or property owner; except that if the Grantee fails to install its conduit, pedestals and/or vaults and laterals within five working days of the date the trenches are available, as designated in the notice given by the developer or property owner, then should the trenches be closed after the five-day period, the cost of new trenching is to be borne by the Grantee. Except for the notice of the particular date on which trenching will be available to the Grantee, any notice provided to the Grantee by the City or the developer of a preliminary plat request shall satisfy the requirement of reasonable notice if sent to the local general manager or system engineer of the Grantee prior to approval of the preliminary plat request.
Special agreements. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the Grantee from serving areas not covered under this chapter upon agreement with developers, property owners or residents after obtaining any necessary property owner permission, provided that 5% of those gross revenues are paid to the City as franchise fees under § 96-27.
The Grantee, in its application, may propose a line extension policy which will result in serving more residents of the City than as required above, in which case the Grantee's policy will be incorporated into the franchise agreement and will be binding upon the Grantee.
Any violation of this section shall be considered a breach of the terms of this section for which the provisions of either §§ 96-37 or 96-45 shall apply, as determined by the City.
Compliance with construction and technical standards. The Grantee shall construct, install, operate, administer and maintain its system in compliance with all laws, statutes, rules, orders, ordinances, construction standards, governmental requirements and FCC technical standards. In addition, the Grantee shall provide the City, upon request, with a written report of the results of the Grantee's annual proof of performance tests conducted pursuant to Federal Communications Commission standards and requirements.
Construction, installation and maintenance of the system shall be performed in an orderly and workmanlike manner. All cables and wires shall be installed, where possible, parallel with electric and telephone lines. Multiple cable configurations shall be arranged in parallel and bundled with due respect for engineering considerations. Prior to any new construction by the Grantee, the Grantee shall submit a map in digital format showing all proposed system installations within the public right-of-way or upon public property to the City Engineer for approval. No new construction or system installation shall be made unless it is in compliance with such map as approved in writing by the City Engineer or as amended in writing by the City Engineer form time to time.
[Amended 4-2-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-1642]
In any event, the system shall not endanger or interfere with the safety of persons or property.
Any antenna structure used in the system shall comply with the construction, marking and lighting requirements of the United States Department of Transportation.
All aspects of the facilities utilized and conditions provided during construction, installation and maintenance of the system by the Grantee shall comply with the standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
RF leakage shall be checked forthwith by the Grantee upon demand by the City or its representative at reception locations for emergency radio services, to prove no interference signal combinations are possible. Stray radiation shall be measured adjacent to any proposed aeronautical navigation radio sites to prove no interference to airborne navigational reception in the normal flight patterns. FCC rules and regulations shall govern the requirements of this subsection.
The Grantee shall maintain equipment capable of providing standby power for headend, transportation and trunk amplifiers and transport system for a minimum of two hours.
In all areas of the City where the cables, wires and other like facilities of public utilities are placed underground, the Grantee shall place its cables, wires or other like facilities underground. When public utilities relocate their facilities from pole to underground, the Grantee shall concurrently relocate its facilities to underground at its sole cost; provided, however, that if the public utilities are compensated, in part or in whole, for such relocation of their facilities, then the Grantee shall be similarly compensated.
Interference with persons and improvements. The Grantee's system, poles, wires and appurtenances shall be located, erected and maintained so that none of its facilities shall endanger or interfere with the lives or safety of persons or interfere with the rights or reasonable convenience of property owners who adjoin any of the streets or interfere with any improvements the City may deem proper to make, or hinder or obstruct the free use of the streets, bridges, easements or public property.
Restoration to prior condition. In case of any disturbance of pavement, sidewalk, landscaping, driveway or other surfacing, the Grantee shall, at its own cost and expense and in a manner approved by the City, replace and restore all paving, sidewalk, driveway, landscaping or surface of any street or property disturbed in as good condition as before the work was commenced and in accordance with standards for such work set by the City.
No poles or other wire-holding structures shall be erected by the Grantee without prior approval of the City with regard to location, height, types and any other pertinent aspect. However, no location of any pole or wire-holding structure of the Grantee shall create any vested right or interest accruing to the Grantee, and such poles or structures shall be removed or modified by the Grantee at its own expense whenever the City determines that the public convenience would be enhanced or served thereby.
Where poles or other wire-holding structures already existing and installed by a public utility for use in serving the City are available for use by the Grantee, but the Grantee does not make arrangements or obtain permission from the public utility for such use, the City may require the Grantee to use such poles and structures if it determines that the public convenience would be enhanced or served thereby and the terms of the use available to the Grantee are reasonable.
In the absence of any governing federal or state statute, where the City or a public utility serving the City desires to make use of the poles or other wire-holding structures of the Grantee, but agreement thereof with the Grantee cannot be reached, the City may require the Grantee to permit such use for such consideration and upon such terms as the City shall determine to be just and reasonable, if the City determines that such use would enhance or serve the public convenience and would not unduly interfere with the Grantee's operations.
Relocation of system facilities. If at any time during the period of this franchise agreement the City shall lawfully elect to in any way alter any street or change the grade of any street, the Grantee, upon reasonable notice by the City, shall remove or relocate as necessary its poles, wires, cables, underground conduits, manholes and other fixtures at its own expense, unless public utilities are compensated by the City for removing or relocating facilities by such street alteration project, in which case the Grantee shall be similarly compensated.
Cooperation with building movers. The Grantee shall, on the request of any person holding a building moving permit issued by the City, temporarily raise or lower its wires to permit the moving of buildings. The expense of such temporary removal, raising or lowering of wires shall be paid by the person requesting the same, and the Grantee shall have the authority to require such payment in advance. The Grantee shall be given not less than 48 hours' advance notice to arrange for such temporary wire changes and shall perform such service no later than 5 days after such notice, unless extended with the consent of the requester.
Tree trimming. The Grantee shall not remove any tree or trim any portion, either above, at or below ground level, of any tree within any public place without the prior consent of the City. The City shall have the right to do the trimming requested by the Grantee at the cost of the Grantee. Regardless of who performs the work requested by the Grantee, the Grantee shall be responsible for, indemnify, defend and hold the City harmless for any and all damages to any tree as a result of trimming, or to the land surrounding any tree, whether such tree is trimmed or removed.
The Grantee shall install, keep and maintain all parts of the system in good and proper operating condition throughout the term of the franchise agreement.
Upon a reasonable request for service by any person located within the City, the Grantee shall, within 30 days, furnish the requested service to such person within terms of the line extension policy. A request for service shall be unreasonable for the purpose of this subsection if no trunk line installation capable of servicing that person's block has as yet been installed.
The Grantee shall not allow its cable or other operations to interfere with television reception of subscribers or persons not served by the Grantee, nor shall the system interfere with, obstruct or hinder in any manner the operation of the various utilities serving the residents within the City nor shall other utilities interfere with the Grantee's system.
The Grantee shall have representatives who have been trained and instructed in the customer service operations and practices of the Grantee, available to respond to customer telephone inquiries 24 hours per day and 7 days per week.
Under normal operating conditions, the time within which a Grantee representative shall answer any telephone, including wait time and the time required to transfer the call, shall not exceed 30 seconds. This standard shall be met no less than 90% of the time as measured on a calendar year quarter basis. Such telephone answer time requirements shall be construed to mean that a telephone shall be answered by a human being as opposed to any recorded or electronic answering.
Under normal operating conditions, the customer will receive a busy signal less than 3% of the time as measured on a calendar year quarter basis.
Excluding those circumstances which are beyond its control, the Grantee shall respond to any service interruption promptly and in no event later than 24 hours from the time of initial notification. All other regular service requests will be responded to within 36 hours. The appointment window period alternatives for installations, service calls and other installation activities shall be either: morning or afternoon or evening, and no window period established shall exceed four hours during normal business hours for the system, or at a time that is mutually agreeable to the customer and Grantee. The Grantee will make available additional hours during which appointments can be scheduled based upon the needs of the community or as set forth in the franchise agreement. If at any time a Grantee installer or technician is behind schedule, a Grantee representative shall contact the customer and reschedule the appointment for a time that is convenient to the customer.
Customer service centers and bill payment locations will be open for walk-in customer transactions a minimum of eight hours a day, Monday through Friday, unless there is a need to modify those hours because of the location or customers served. The Grantee and City, by mutual consent, will establish supplemental hours on weekdays and weekends if such additional hours would better fulfill the needs of the community.
For service interruptions and/or outages of over four hours and up to seven days, the Grantee shall provide, at the subscriber's request, a credit of 1/30th of one month's fees for affected services for each twenty-four-hour period service is interrupted for four or more hours for any single subscriber, with the exception of subscribers disconnected because of nonpayment or excessive signal leakage.
The Grantee shall provide written notice to all customers, at least once in every twelve-month period, of the Grantee's policies and procedures.
The Grantee shall provide to each customer written information at the time of installation and at any future time upon the request of the customer, describing each of the following:
Prices and service options;
Installation and service policies; and
Instructions for the customer on use of the telecommunications services.
Bills shall be clear, concise and understandable to the subscriber, and all cable services charges shall be itemized.
Credits shall be issued promptly, but no later than the customer's next billing following the occurrence causing the credit, and, if service has been terminated, the return of the equipment to the Grantee.
Customers shall be notified a minimum of 30 days in advance of any customer billing period applicable to any rate increase or channel change, provided that the change is within the control of the Grantee.
The Grantee shall maintain and operate the system in full compliance with the laws, statutes, orders, rules and regulations of the Federal Communication Commission, the United States Congress or the State of Wisconsin.
The Grantee shall continue, throughout the term of the franchise agreement, to maintain the technical standards and quality of service as set forth in this section.
The Grantee shall keep a monthly service log which shall indicate the nature of each service complaint received in the last 24 months, the date and time it was received, the disposition of said complaint and the time and date thereof. This log shall be made available to the City upon request.
It shall be the right of all subscribers to continue receiving service insofar as their financial and other obligations to the Grantee are honored. If the Grantee elects to overbuild, rebuild, modify or sell the system, or the City gives notice of intent to terminate or fails to renew a franchise agreement, the Grantee shall act at all times so as to ensure that all subscribers receive continuous, uninterrupted service regardless of the circumstances.
If the Grantee fails to operate the system for seven consecutive days without prior approval of the City or without just cause, the City may, at its option, operate the system or designate an operator until such time as the Grantee restores service under conditions acceptable to the City or a permanent operator is selected. If the City so opts, the Grantee shall reimburse the City for all reasonable costs or damages in excess of revenues from the system received by the City that are the result of the Grantee's failure to perform, within 30 days of invoice for the same.
The City Director of Administration is designated as the City liaison with the Grantee for the purpose of forwarding to the Grantee any complaints received by the City and monitoring the Grantee's complaint resolution process, with the assistance of the City Technology Commission.
During the term of a franchise agreement, and any renewal thereof, the Grantee shall maintain a central office for the purpose of receiving and resolving all complaints regarding the quality of service, equipment malfunctions and similar matters. The office must be reachable by a local, tollfree telephone call to receive complaints regarding quality of service, equipment functions and similar matters. The Grantee shall arrange for one or more payment locations in or within a reasonable distance of the City where customers can pay bills or conduct other system business activities.
Upon subscribers receiving connection or reconnection to the system, the Grantee shall provide written information describing the procedures for making inquiries or complaints, including the name, address and local telephone number of the Grantee representative to whom such inquiries or complaints are to be addressed.
Upon any similar complaints made which, in the judgment of the City, casts doubt on the reliability or quality of cable service, the City shall have the right and authority to require the Grantee to test, analyze and report on the performance of the system. The Grantee shall fully cooperate with the City in performing such testing and shall prepare and deliver results and a report, if requested, within 30 days after notice. Such report shall include the following information:
The method by which such complaint or problem was resolved.
Any other information pertaining to the tests and analysis which may be required by the City.
The City may require that tests be supervised by an independent professional engineer or equivalent of the City's choice. The engineer shall have access to all records of the Grantee's special tests and other pertinent information and forward to the City such records with a report interpreting the results of the tests and recommending actions to be taken. Should such a test prove that the Grantee failed to meet the technical standards required under this chapter or the franchise agreement, the Grantee shall bear the cost of the test and the independent engineer/equivalent. If the test should prove that the Grantee met the technical standards, the City shall bear the cost of the test and independent engineer/equivalent.
The City's rights under this section shall be limited to requiring tests, analysis and reports covering specific subjects and characteristics based upon complaints or other evidence when and under such circumstances as the City has reasonable grounds to believe that the complaints or other evidence require that tests be performed to protect the public against substandard cable service.
The Grantee shall have the authority to promulgate such rules, regulations, terms and conditions governing the conduct of its business as shall be reasonably necessary to enable the Grantee to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under this franchise, and to assure an uninterrupted service to each and all of its customers; provided, however, that such rules, regulations, terms and conditions shall not be in conflict with the franchise agreement, the provisions hereof or applicable state and federal laws, rules, orders and regulations.
For the reason that the streets of the City to be used by the Grantee in the operation of its system within the boundaries of the City are valuable public properties acquired and maintained by the City at great expense to its taxpayers, and that the grant to the Grantee to the streets is a valuable property right without which the Grantee would be required to invest substantial capital in right-of-way costs and acquisitions, the Grantee shall pay to the City an amount equal to 5% of the Grantee's gross revenues from the operations of the Grantee within the City, (the "franchise fee") subject to the terms of this section. If the statutory five-percent limitation of franchise fees is raised or the federal statute deletes the franchise fee limitation entirely, then the franchise fee shall be the maximum allowed by law if the limitation is raised and the franchise fee may be subject to renegotiation if the limitation is deleted, but such renegotiation shall not result in a fee less than 5%.
The franchise fee imposed shall be in addition to any other tax or payment owed to the City by the Grantee.
The franchise fee and any other costs or penalties assessed shall be payable quarterly on a calendar year basis to the City, and the Grantee shall file a complete and accurate verified statement of all gross receipts as previously defined herein within 45 days after the expiration of the calendar quarter.
The City shall have the right to inspect the Grantee's income records and the right to audit and to recompute any amounts determined to be payable under this section; provided, however, that such audit shall take place within 24 months following the close of each of the Grantee's fiscal years. Any additional amount due to the City as a result of the audit shall be paid within 30 days following written notice to the Grantee by the City, which notice shall include a copy of the audit report.
If any franchise payment or recomputed amount, cost or penalty is not made on or before the applicable dates heretofore specified, interest shall accrue on such unpaid amounts, and such unpaid amounts shall be paid to the City by the Grantee at the rate of 11/2% per month, or any portion thereof, until paid, and the Grantee shall reimburse the City for any additional expenses and costs incurred by the City by reason of the delinquent payment(s).
Except as may be otherwise provided in a franchise agreement, this franchise shall not be assigned or transferred, either in whole or in part, or leased, sublet or mortgaged in any manner, nor shall title thereto, either legal or equitable or any right, interest or property therein, pass to or vest in any person without the prior written consent of the City. The Grantee may, however, transfer or assign the franchise to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Grantee, and such subsidiary may transfer or assign the franchise back to the Grantee without such consent, provided that such assignment is without any release of liability of the Grantee. The proposed assignee must show financial responsibility as determined by the City and must agree to comply with all provisions of the franchise agreement. The City shall have 120 days to act upon receipt of any written request for approval of such a sale or transfer which contains or is accompanied by such information as is required in accordance with FCC regulations and by the City of Franklin. The City shall be deemed to have consented to a proposed transfer or assignment if its written refusal to consent is not mailed to the Grantee within 120 days following receipt of a proper request, unless the requesting party and the City agree to an extension of time. The City shall not unreasonably withhold consent to the proposed transfer.
Except as may be otherwise provided in a franchise agreement, the Grantee shall promptly notify the City of any actual or proposed change in or transfer of or acquisition by any other party of control of the Grantee. The word "control" as used herein is not limited to major stockholders, but includes actual working control in whatever manner exercised. A rebuttable presumption that a transfer of control has occurred shall arise upon the acquisition or accumulation by any person or group of persons of 10% of the voting shares of the Grantee. Every change, transfer or acquisition of control of the Grantee shall make the franchise subject to cancellation unless and until the City shall have consented thereto, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. For the purpose of determining whether it shall consent to such change, transfer or acquisition of control, the City may inquire into the qualification of the prospective controlling party, and the Grantee shall assist the City in such inquiry.
The consent or approval of the City to any transfer of the Grantee shall not constitute a waiver or release of the rights of the City in and to the streets, and any transfer shall, by its terms, be expressly subordinate to the terms and conditions of this chapter and the franchise agreement.
The Grantee shall fully cooperate in making available at reasonable times and the City shall have the right to inspect and copy, where reasonably necessary to the enforcement of the franchise, books, records, maps, plans and other like materials of the Grantee applicable to the cable television system, at any time during normal business hours; provided that, where volume and convenience necessitate, the Grantee may require inspection and copying to take place on the Grantee premises at the City's expense. The Grantee's per-copy charge to the City shall not be greater than the City's per-copy charge imposed on the general public at its offices.
The following records and/or reports are to be made available to the City upon request, but no more frequently than on an annual basis, unless mutually agreed upon by the Grantee and the City:
Quarterly reviews and resolutions or progress reports;
Periodic construction update reports, including as-built maps.
Copies of all petitions, applications, communications and reports either submitted by the Grantee to the Federal Communications Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal or state regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction in respect to any matters affecting cable television operations authorized pursuant to the franchise or received from such agencies shall be provided to the City upon request.
Upon termination of a franchise agreement as provided by this chapter and applicable federal law, or the expiration and denial of the renewal application as provided by this chapter and applicable federal law, the Grantee shall forthwith, at the option of and upon notice by the City, remove at its own expense all designated portions of the cable television system from all streets and public property within the City. If the Grantee fails to do so, the City may perform the work at the Grantee's expense. Upon the receipt of a notice for removal, a bond shall be furnished by the Grantee to the City, in an amount sufficient to cover this expense or a letter of credit or security deposit, and any existing performance bond proceeds shall be available to and may be withdrawn by the City to the full extent of their value.
The Grantee shall maintain and the system shall include a plant having the technical capacity for two-way communications.
At least one specially designated channel for use by local educational authorities;
At least one specially designated channel for local governmental uses;
At least one specially-designated channel for leased access uses; and
Provided, however, the above uses may be combined on one or more channels until such time as additional channels become necessary in the opinion of the City. Financial and technical support, replacement and maintenance of studios and associated equipment of this facility shall be separately incorporated into the franchise agreement.
The Grantee shall incorporate into its cable television system the capacity to permit the City, in times of emergency, to override, by remote control, the audio of all channels simultaneously which the Grantee may lawfully override. The Grantee shall provide emergency broadcast capacity pursuant to FCC rules. The Grantee shall cooperate with the City in the use and operation of the emergency alert override system.
Interconnection procedure. Upon receiving the order of the City to interconnect, the Grantee shall immediately initiate negotiations with the other affected system or systems in order that all costs may be shared equally among cable companies for both construction and operation of the interconnection link.
Relief. The Grantee may be granted reasonable extensions of time to interconnect or the City may rescind its order to interconnect upon petition by the Grantee to the City. The City shall grant the request if it finds that the Grantee has negotiated in good faith and has failed to obtain an approval from the operator or franchising authority of the system to be interconnected, or the cost of the interconnection would cause an unreasonable increase in subscriber rates.
Cooperation required. The Grantee shall cooperate with any interconnection corporation, regional interconnection authority or City, local, county, state and federal regulatory agency which may be hereafter established for the purpose of regulating, financing or otherwise providing for the interconnection of cable systems beyond the boundaries of the City.
All cable systems receiving franchises to operate within the City shall use the standard frequency allocations for television signals.
The Grantee shall provide local origination equipment that is compatible throughout the area so that video cassettes or videotapes can be shared by various systems.
The right and power is hereby reserved by the City to promulgate such additional regulations as it shall find necessary in the exercise of its lawful powers and furtherance of the terms and conditions of this franchise; provided, however, that such rules, regulations, terms and conditions shall not be in conflict with the provisions hereof or applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations.
Special evaluation sessions may be held at any time during the term of the franchise agreement at the request of the City or the Grantee.
All evaluation sessions shall be open to the public and noticed in the City's Official Newspaper. The Grantee shall notify its subscribers of all evaluation sessions by announcements on at least one channel of its system between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., for five consecutive days preceding each session. The Grantee's failure to televise such notice shall not invalidate any proceedings.
Topics which may be discussed at any scheduled or special evaluation session shall include, but not be limited to, service rate structures; franchise fee, penalties, free or discounted services; application of new technologies; system performance; services provided; programming offered; customer complaints, privacy; amendments to this chapter; judicial and FCC rulings; line extension policies; Grantee or City rules; and topics raised by members of the public at the session.
Pursuant to the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, the City of Franklin is currently certified to regulate the basic service rates charged by the Grantee. Under these rules, the Grantee is required to obtain approval from the City for a rate increase for any change to the rates for basic service. Should any federal or state law permit further rate regulation beyond the basic service, the City of Franklin may assume such rate regulation and adopt appropriate procedures for such regulation.
In addition to all other rights and powers retained by the City under this chapter or otherwise, the City reserves the right for forfeit and terminate the franchise agreement and all rights and privileges of the Grantee thereunder in the event of a substantial breach of its terms and conditions. A substantial breach by the Grantee shall include, but shall not be limited to the following:
Violation of any material provision of this chapter or the franchise agreement or any material rule, order, regulation or determination of the City made pursuant thereto;
Any act or omission to evade or circumvent any material provision of the franchise or practice any fraud or deceit upon the City or its subscribers or customers;
The Grantee's failure to begin or complete system construction or system extension as provided under § 96-20;
The Grantee's failure to provide the services promised in the Grantee's application, if any, as incorporated herein by § 96-4;
The Grantee's failure to restore service after 96 consecutive hours of service interruption, except when prior approval of such interruption is obtained from the City; or
The Grantee's material misrepresentation of fact in the application for or negotiation of the franchise.
The City may make a written demand that the Grantee comply with any such provision, rule, order or determination under or pursuant to this chapter or the franchise agreement. If the violation by the Grantee continues for a period of 30 days following such written demand without written proof that the corrective action has been taken or is being actively and expeditiously pursued, the City may place the issue of termination of the franchise agreement before the City Council. Upon the consideration of termination, the City shall cause to be served upon the Grantee, at least 20 days prior to the date of such meeting, a written notice of intent to seek such termination and the time and place of the meeting. Class I public notice shall be given of the meeting and the issue(s) which the Council is to consider.
The City Council shall hear and consider the issue(s) and shall hear any person interested therein and shall determine in its discretion whether or not any violation by the Grantee has occurred.
If the City Council shall determine the violation by the Grantee was the fault of the Grantee and within its control, the Council may, by resolution, declare that the franchise of the Grantee shall be forfeited and terminated unless there is compliance within such period as the Council may fix, and such period shall not be less than 60 days; provided, however, no opportunity for compliance need be granted for fraud or misrepresentation.
The issue of forfeiture and termination shall automatically be placed upon the Council agenda at the expiration of the time set by it for compliance. The Council then may terminate the franchise forthwith upon finding that the Grantee has failed to achieve compliance or may further extend the period, in its discretion.
47 U.S.C. 537 shall apply to the right of acquisition by the City. In the event that the applicable federal regulations are repealed, the guidelines specified in Subsection B below shall apply.
Upon the expiration of the term of the franchise agreement and denial of any renewal, or upon any other termination thereof as provided herein, the City, at its election and upon the payment to the Grantee of a price equal to the then fair market value of the system, shall have the right to purchase and take over the system upon resolution by the City Council. If the City has denied the Grantee's petition for renewal of its franchise as provided by § 96-7, the City must exercise its option to purchase the system within 60 days of the denial of renewal and at least six months prior to the end of the franchise. Nothing shall prohibit the Grantee in the event of the election of the City to purchase the system from requesting the court to set a reasonable bond of the City to secure the purchase price. The Grantee shall execute such warranty deeds and other instruments as may be necessary to convey the system.
The City shall have the right to terminate a franchise agreement 120 days after the appointment of a receiver or trustee, appointed to take over and conduct the business of the Grantee, whether in receivership, reorganization, bankruptcy or other action or proceeding, unless such receivership or trusteeship shall have been dismissed prior to the expiration of 120 days, or unless:
Within 120 days after appointment, such receiver or trustee shall have fully complied with all the provisions of this chapter and the franchise agreement and remedied all defaults thereunder; and
Such receiver or trustee, within the 120 days after appointment, shall have executed an agreement, duly approved by the court having jurisdiction in the premises, whereby such receiver or trustee assumes and agrees to be bound by each and every provision of this chapter and the franchise agreement granted to the Grantee.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, the Grantee shall at all times comply with all laws and regulations of the state and federal government or any administrative agencies thereof; provided, however, if any such state or federal law or regulation shall require the Grantee to perform any service or shall permit the Grantee to perform any service or shall prohibit the Grantee from performing any service in conflict with the terms of this franchise or of any law or regulation of the City, then as soon as possible following knowledge thereof, the Grantee shall notify the City of the point of conflict believed to exist between such regulation or law and the laws or regulations of the City or this chapter.
Interference with cable service prohibited. Neither the owner of any multiple unit residential dwelling nor the owner's agent or representative shall interfere with the right of any tenant or lawful resident thereof to receive cable communication service, cable installation or maintenance from a cable communication Grantee regulated by and lawfully operating under a valid and existing franchise issued by the City.
Gratuities and payments to permit service prohibited. Neither the owner of any multiple unit residential dwelling nor the owner's agent or representative shall ask, demand or receive any payment, service or gratuity in any form as a condition for permitting or cooperating with the installation of a cable communication service to the dwelling unit occupied by a tenant or resident requesting service.
Penalties and charges to tenants for service prohibited. Neither the owner of any multiple unit residential dwelling nor the owner's agent or representative shall penalize, charge or surcharge a tenant or resident or forfeit or threaten to forfeit any right of such tenant or resident or discriminate in any way against such tenant or resident who requests or receives cable communication service from a Grantee operating under a valid and existing cable communication franchise issued by the City.
Reselling service prohibited. No person shall resell, without the expressed, written consent of both the Grantee and the City, any cable service, program or signal transmitted by a cable communication Grantee under a franchise issued by the City.
Protection of property permitted. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a person from requiring that cable communication system facilities conform to laws and regulations and reasonable conditions necessary to protect the safety, use, appearance and value of premises or the convenience and safety of persons or property.
Risks assumed by Grantee. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a person from requiring a Grantee to indemnify the owner or the owner's agents or representatives for damages or from liability for damages caused by the installation, operation, maintenance or removal of cable communication facilities.
All bids received by the City from the applicants for an initial franchise shall become the sole property of the City.
The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids and waive informalities and/or technicalities where the best interests of the City may be served.
All questions regarding the meaning or intent of this chapter or application documents shall be submitted to the City, in writing. Replies will be issued by addenda mailed or delivered to all parties recorded by the City as having received the application documents. The City reserves the right to make extensions of time for receiving bids as it deems necessary. Questions received less than 14 days prior to the date for the opening of bids will not be answered. Only replies to questions by written addenda will be binding. All bids must contain an acknowledgment of receipt of all addenda.
Inspect and determine any local conditions that may in any manner affect performance under the franchise;
Examine federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations affecting performance under the franchise agreement; and
The City may make such investigations as it deems necessary to determine the ability of the applicant to perform under the franchise agreement, and the applicant shall furnish to the City all such information and data for this purpose as the City may request. The City reserves the right to reject any bid if the evidence submitted by or investigation of such applicant fails to satisfy the City that such applicant is properly qualified to carry out the obligations of the franchise and to complete the work contemplated therein. Conditional bids will not be accepted.
All bids received shall be placed in a secure depository approved by the City and not opened or inspected prior to the public opening.
Applicants, including all shareholders and parties with any interest in the applicant, shall fully disclose all agreements and undertakings, whether written, oral or implied, with any person, firm, group, association or corporation with respect to the franchise and the proposed cable television system. The Grantee of the franchise shall disclose all other contracts to the City as the contracts are made. This section shall include, but not be limited to, any agreements between local applicants and national companies.
Obtain or attempt to obtain cable television service from a Grantee by trick, artifice, deception, use of an illegal device or illegal decoder or other fraudulent means with the intent to deprive that Grantee of any or all lawful compensation for rendering each type of service obtained. The intent required for a violation of this subsection may be inferred from the presence on the property and in the actual possession of the person or entity of a device not authorized by the Grantee, the major purpose of which is to permit reception of cable television services without payment. This inference is rebutted if the alleged violator demonstrates that such person or entity purchased that device for a legitimate use.
Give technical assistance or instruction to any person in obtaining or attempting to obtain any cable television service without payment of all lawful compensation to the Grantee providing that service. This subsection does not apply if the alleged violator demonstrates that the technical assistance or instruction was given or the installation of the connection, descrambler or receiving device was for a legitimate use.
Make or maintain a connection, whether physical, electrical, mechanical, acoustical or by other means, with any cables, wires, components or other devices used for the distribution of cable television services for the purpose of obtaining cable television service without payment of all lawful compensation to the Grantee providing the service. The intent required for a violation of this subsection may be inferred from proof that the cable service to the alleged violator's residence or business was connected under a service agreement with the alleged violator and has been disconnected by the cable television company and that thereafter there exists in fact a connection to the cable system at the alleged violator's residence or business.
Make or maintain any modification or alteration to any device installed with the authorization of a Grantee for the purpose of intercepting or receiving any program or other service carried by that Grantee which that person is not authorized by that Grantee to receive. The intent required for a violation of this subsection may be inferred from proof that, as a matter of standard procedure, the Grantee places written warning labels on its converters or decoders explaining that tampering with the device is a violation of law, and the converter or decoder is found to have been tampered with, altered or modified so as to allow the reception or interception of programming carried by the Grantee without authority to do so. The trier of fact may also infer that a converter or decoder has been altered or modified from proof that the Grantee, as a matter of standard procedure, seals the converters or decoders with a label or mechanical device, that the seal was shown to the customer upon delivery of the decoder and that the seal has been removed or broken. The inferences under this subsection are rebutted if the Grantee cannot demonstrate that the intact seal was shown to the customer.
Possess without authority any device or printed circuit board designed to receive from a cable television system any cable television programming or services offered for sale over that cable television system, whether or not the programming or services are encoded, filtered, scrambled or otherwise made unintelligible, or perform or facilitate the performance of any of the acts under this subsection with the intent that the device or printed circuit be used to receive the Grantee's services without payment. Intent to violate this subsection for direct or indirect commercial advantage or private financial gain may be inferred from proof of the existence on the property and in the actual possession of the alleged violator of such a device, if the totality of circumstances, including quantities or volumes, indicates possession for resale.
Manufacture, import into this state, distribute, publish, advertise, sell, lease or offer for sale or lease any device, printed circuit board or any plan or kit for a device or for a printed circuit designed to receive the cable television programming or services offered for sale over a cable television system from a cable television system, whether or not the programming or services are encoded, filtered, scrambled or otherwise made unintelligible, with the intent that the device, printed circuit, plan or kit be used for the reception of that Grantee's service without payment. The intent required for a violation of this subsection may be inferred from proof that the defendant has sold, leased or offered for sale or lease any device, printed circuit board, plan or kit for a device or for a printed circuit board in violation of this subsection, and during the course of the transaction for sale or lease, the alleged violator expressly states or implies to the buyer that the product will enable the buyer to obtain cable television service without charge.
Any Grantee who sustains a loss as a result of a violation of this section may bring a civil action against the person who committed the violation as allowed by law.
Except as provided in this subsection, if the Grantee who incurs the loss prevails, the court shall grant the prevailing party actual damages, costs and disbursements.
If a Grantee who incurs a loss prevails against a person or entity who willfully violated any provision of this section and for the purposes of commercial advantage or against a person or entity prevails who violated more than one provision of this section, the court shall grant the Grantee all of the following:
Except as provided in this subsection, not more than $10,000;
Any profits of the violators that are attributable to the violation and that are not taken into account in determining the amount of actual damages under this subsection;
If the court finds that the violation was committed willfully and for the purpose of commercial advantage, the court may increase the amount granted under this subsection not to exceed $50,000; and
If the court finds that the violator had no reason to believe that the violator's action constituted a violation of this section, the court may reduce the amount granted under this subsection.
If damages under this subsection are requested, the Grantee who incurred the injury and loss shall have the burden of proving the violator's gross revenue and the violator's deductible expenses and the elements of profit attributable to factors other than the violation.
In addition to other remedies available under this section, the court may grant the injured Grantee a temporary or permanent injunction.
Any person or entity violating any term or provision of this chapter shall be subject to the penalties set forth under Chapter 1, General Provisions, § 1-19. Penalties upon conviction of the Grantee shall be chargeable to the letter of credit, security deposit or performance bond. The rights reserved to the City under this chapter are in addition to all other rights of the City, whether reserved by this franchise or authorized by law or equity, and no action, proceeding or exercise of a right with respect to penalties shall affect any other right the City may have. Notwithstanding § 1-19 of this Code as it pertains to minimum forfeitures, the following offenses shall, upon conviction, carry the following minimum forfeitures:
Failure to furnish, maintain or offer all cable services to any potential subscriber within the City upon order of the City: $200 per day.
Failure to obtain or file evidence of required insurance, construction bond, performance bond or other required financial security: $200 per day.
Failure to provide access to data, documents, records or reports to the City as required by §§ 96-19, 96-29, 96-30, 96-31 and 96-37: $200 per day.
Failure to comply with applicable construction, operation or maintenance standards: $300 per day.
Failure to comply with a rate decision or refund order: $500 per day.
Any violations for noncompliance with the customer service standards of §§ 96-23 through 96-25: $200 per day.
Whenever the City believes that the Grantee has violated one or more terms, conditions or provisions of this Franchise, and wishes to impose penalties, a written notice shall be given to the Grantee informing it of such alleged violation or liability. The written notice shall describe in reasonable detail the specific violation so as to afford the Grantee an opportunity to remedy the violation. The Grantee shall have 30 days subsequent to receipt of the notice in which to correct the violation before the City may impose penalties, unless the violation is of such a nature so as to require more than 30 days and the Grantee proceeds diligently within the 30 days to correct the violation, or as promptly as possible thereafter to correct the violation. In any case where the violation is not cured within 60 days of notice from the City, or such other time as the Grantee and the City may mutually agree to, the City may proceed to impose liquidated damages.
The Grantee may, within 10 days of receipt of notice, notify the City that there is a dispute as to whether a violation or failure has, in fact, occurred. Such notice by the Grantee to the City shall specify with particularity the matters disputed by the Grantee and shall stay the running of the thirty-day cure period pending Council decision as required below. The Council shall hear the Grantee's dispute. The Grantee must be given at least five days' notice of the hearing. At the hearing, the Grantee shall be entitled to the right to present evidence and the right to be represented by counsel. After the hearing, the City shall provide the Grantee a copy of its action, along with supporting documents. In the event that the City upholds the finding of a violation, the Grantee shall have 30 days subsequent, or such other time period as the Grantee and the City mutually agree, to correct the alleged violation before penalties may be imposed.
The rights reserved to the City under this section are in addition to all other rights of the City, whether reserved by this franchise or authorized by law or equity, and no action proceeding or exercise of a right with respect to penalties shall affect any other right the City may have.
The City shall stay or waive the imposition of any penalty set forth above upon a finding that any failure or delay is a result of an act of nature or due to circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Grantee.