Source: https://ecode360.com/31910686
Timestamp: 2018-07-17 13:53:49
Document Index: 268030603

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 149', '§ 149', '§ 149', '§ 149', '§ 149', 'art 5', '§ 149', '§ 67']

Borough of Fox Chapel, PA Cable Television
§ 149-2 Obtaining certification.
§ 149-3 Regulatory authority.
§ 149-4 Rate applications.
§ 149-6 Rate-making appeals.
§ 149-7 Other matters.
Chapter 149: Cable Television
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Fox Chapel 10-15-1993 by Ord. No. 543 (Ch. 13, Part 5, of the 1978 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
Chapter 149 : Cable Television
The basic service tier shall, at a minimum, include all signals of domestic television broadcast stations provided to any subscriber [except a signal secondarily transmitted by satellite carrier beyond the local service area of such station, regardless of how such signal is ultimately received by the cable operator(s)]; any public, educational and governmental programming required by the franchise agreement to be carried on the basic tier; and any additional video programming signals or service added to the basic tier by the cable operator(s).
Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act, Public Law 102-385, 106 Stat. 1460 (1992).
CABLE OPERATOR(S)
All cable television operators who are party to a franchise agreement with the franchising authority.
A combination of multiple channels or pay-per-channel or pay-per-program video programming offered on a multiplexed or time-shifted basis, so long as the combined service:
Those rates in effect for the basic service tier, and for the equipment and installation necessary to receive the basic service tier, existing on the date when the franchising authority notifies the cable operator(s) that it has received certification.
The agreement between one or more cable operator(s) and the franchising authority, pursuant to which the cable operator(s) was granted a franchise to offer cable television services to subscribers.
An order issued by the franchising authority advising the cable operator(s) and other interested parties of the franchising authority's intent to take additional time to review and approve or disapprove any rate application.
Any refund ordered by the franchising authority of rates charged for the basic service tier and/or the rates for the equipment and installation necessary to receive the basic service tier pursuant to the terms contained in § 149-4D(1).
The franchising authority is hereby empowered to make application for certification with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate cable television rates for the basic service tier, the equipment and installation necessary to receive the basic service tier and to provide notice to the cable operator(s) of its application for certification. Application shall be made in the manner and on the forms adopted by the FCC, and notice shall be provided to the cable operator(s) before or on the same day of filing of the application.
Pursuant to the power and authority granted to the franchising authority under the Cable Act of 1992, its certification by the FCC for regulating rates for the basic service tier, the rates for the equipment and installation necessary to receive the basic service tier, and other charges which may be regulated by the franchising authority pursuant to the regulations adopted by the FCC under the Cable Act of 1992, the franchising authority shall exercise regulatory power over the rates charged or to be charged to a subscriber for the basic service tier and for the equipment and installation necessary to receive the basic service tier applicable to those subscribers of the cable operator(s).
[Amended 7-18-1994 by Ord. No. 555]
The cable operator(s) shall submit any relevant information as is permitted by FCC rules, as contained on the application and worksheets adopted by the FCC for rate applications, and which the cable operator(s) would like the franchising authority to consider in evaluating the current rates for the basic service tier and/or for the equipment and installation necessary to receive the basic service tier, and/or in evaluating any proposed rate increase of those same items.
The cable operator(s) shall give written notice to its subscribers that a rate application has been filed at least 30 days prior to the effective date of any proposed rate increase. Said notice shall provide the name and address of the franchising authority before whom the rate application is pending.
Within 14 days of receipt of a rate application, the franchising authority shall provide notice in a newspaper of general circulation within the jurisdiction of the franchising authority, which notice shall contain at a minimum:
Notice that the rate application has been received from the cable operator(s);
The franchising authority shall issue an order and serve the same upon the cable operator(s) indicating that additional time is required to consider the rate application. The order shall be issued prior to the expiration of the 30 days during which the franchising authority may consider the rate application. Within 10 days of issuance of such order, the franchising authority shall publish notice in a newspaper of general circulation within the jurisdiction of the franchising authority, which notice shall contain a summary of the order, including the additional time requested and the reason for requesting such additional time.
The franchising authority may require the cable operator(s) to furnish additional specified information, including proprietary information, when the current rate or proposed rate increase is in excess of the maximum permitted rate. When the current rate is equal to or below the maximum permitted rate, the franchising authority may only require furnishing of documentation that the rate is within the maximum permitted rate. Any proprietary information furnished to the franchising authority shall be retained as confidential and not disclosed to the public except to the extent required under the Right to Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq., or any successor or similar statutes. The cable operators will designate any information it considers proprietary at the time of submission to the franchising authority.
The franchising authority shall issue an order and serve the same upon the cable operator(s) indicating that additional time is required to consider the rate application because it is a cost-of-service rate application. The order shall be issued prior to the expiration of the 30 days during which the franchising authority may consider the rate application. Within 10 days of issuance of such order, the franchising authority shall publish notice in a newspaper of general circulation within the jurisdiction of the franchising authority, which notice shall contain a summary of the order, including the additional time requested, and the reason for requesting such additional time.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this chapter, the franchising authority may, pursuant to a petition for special relief filed with the FCC, request the FCC to examine a cable operator's cost-of-service rate application, and such procedures and deadlines as specified by rule or order of the FCC shall control.
Within 10 days of issuance of an opinion, the franchising authority shall provide notice in a newspaper of general circulation within the jurisdiction of the franchising authority, which notice shall contain at a minimum that:
The franchising authority has reached a decision on the rate application, and announcing that decision;
A level consistent with the FCC adopted maximum permitted rates;
The franchising authority: 1) has issued an order permitting it to take an additional 90 or 150 days to consider a rate application; and 2) has directed the cable operator(s) to keep an accurate account of all amounts received by reason of the rate in issue and on whose behalf such amounts were paid; but 3) failed to issue an opinion during that time period, causing the rates to become provisionally effective, and the franchising authority later finds all or a portion of the rates to be unreasonable. In such instance, the refund period may be retroactive to the date of the order and ending on the date of which the cable operator(s) implements the prospective rate reduction, or one year, whichever is shorter.
Before any refund order shall become effective, the franchising authority must send notice to the cable operator(s) and provide said cable operator(s) a maximum of 30 days to submit additional information to the franchising authority as to why the refund should not be ordered. At the end of said period, the franchising authority shall either confirm, amend or rescind said refund order.
Cumulative remedies. Where this chapter provides alternative penalties or remedies, they shall be cumulative, and the imposition of one penalty or remedy shall not prevent the franchising authority from invoking any other penalty or remedy provided herein or at law or equity.
Unless otherwise provided, any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter, including any order issued or any rule or regulation promulgated hereunder, shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Borough in the enforcement proceedings. Upon judgment against any person by summary conviction, or by proceedings by summons on default of the payment of the fine or penalty imposed and the costs, the defendant may be sentenced and committed to the Allegheny County correctional facility for a period not exceeding 30 days. Each day that such violation exists shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense. In addition to or in lieu of enforcement under this section, the Borough may enforce this chapter in equity in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County.[1]
Appeals of all rate-making decisions by the franchising authority may be taken to the FCC by the cable operator(s), subscribers or other interested parties: