Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 815 - Division of Public Utilities and Carriers › Chapter 10 - Telecommunications › Subchapter 05 - Cable Television › Part 1 - Rules Governing Community Antenna Television Systems (815-RICR-10-05-1) › Section 815-RICR-10-05-1.15 - Advisory Bodies

Current through June 14, 2024
1.15.1
Service Area Citizens' Advisory Committees
A. The Administrator shall appoint Service
				  Area Citizens' Advisory Committees in accordance with this chapter.
B. Effective January 15, 2010, any active
				  Service Area Citizens' Advisory Committees, which are duly constituted in
				  accordance with §
											1.15   of this Part may elect to remain in existence at
				  their option. Provided however, any Service Area Citizens' Advisory Committees,
				  which are deemed inactive by the Administrator may be disbanded at the
				  discretion of the Administrator. All appointments to Service Area Citizens'
				  Advisory Committees after the effective date set-forth in this subsection shall
				  be made at the discretion of the Administrator. A municipality may request the
				  Administrator review the need for additional Service Area Citizens' Advisory
				  Committees on an ad hoc basis provided such request is supported by a city or
				  town council resolution setting-forth the reasons for such request.
C. Service Area Citizens' Advisory Committees
				  shall consist of the following:
1. from each
				  municipal government in the service area, one (1) representative. Municipal
				  representatives shall be nominated by the highest elected municipal official in
				  each Municipality, with the advice and consent of the municipal council. If no
				  nomination is received within forty-five (45) days of notification, the
				  chairman of the advisory committee shall make the nomination. If a nomination
				  is not received from the chairman of the advisory committee within another
				  forty-five (45) days, the Administrator may move forward with appointments as
				  he deems appropriate;
2. at least
				  one (1) representative of municipal school systems in the Service Area, after
				  consultation with the Superintendents of the school systems in the Service
				  Area;
3. one (1) representative of
				  post-secondary higher education, if interested;
4. not less than three (3) and not more than
				  five (5) representatives of the general public; and
5. the managers of each CATV Certificate
				  holder for that Service Area (or his/her designee), and one (1) representative
				  from RIPTA, as non-voting members.
6. Membership of such committee (and of any
				  such sub-committees as they may appoint) shall be as broadly representative of
				  the interests of the community as possible. Except for the CATV Certificate
				  holders' representatives and that of RIPTA, appointees shall be residents of
				  that Service Area, and shall not be commercially involved in the CATV
				  industry.
D. Members of
				  Service Area Citizens' Advisory Committees shall serve without remuneration for
				  a period of three (3) years. Original appointments shall be for terms of one,
				  two or three (1, 2, or 3) years with subsequent appointments for a term of
				  three (3) years, so that the terms of one-third of the committee's member
				  expire in any year. Members shall be eligible to succeed themselves. Vacancies
				  shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments; however, vacancies
				  for reasons other than expiration shall be filled only for the unexpired
				  portion of the term.
E. The members
				  of each Service Area Citizens' Advisory Committee shall choose a chairman from
				  among themselves, and may appoint such subcommittees as it sees fit to deal
				  with specific issues or segments of community interests. Meetings shall be held
				  no less than four times annually, or at the call of the chairman. All meetings
				  shall be open to the public.
F.
				  Each Service Area Citizens' Advisory Committee shall have the following duties
				  and responsibilities:
1. to inform itself and
				  the public about cable television;
2. to advise the CATV Certificate holder and
				  RIPTA of community needs and concerns;
3. to assess on an ongoing basis, the
				  communications needs and desires of the residents of the proposed or existing
				  Service Area; to analyze how the services which can be provided by CATV Systems
				  can satisfy those needs; and to make periodic written reports to both the
				  Administrator, the CATV Certificate holders (if any), and RIPTA stating the
				  communications needs and desires of the residents of the proposed or existing
				  Service Area, and making recommendations on the means of satisfying those needs
				  (which, in the case of a proposed service area, or an existing Service Area for
				  which no Compliance Order Certificates have been issued, may include a
				  description of the CATV System it deems best suited to meet those
				  needs);
4. to advise and make
				  recommendations to an Electing CATV Operator and RIPTA on the development of
				  operating rules for PEG access channels governing continuing administration of
				  those channels;
5. to advise and
				  make recommendations to an Electing CATV Operator and RIPTA and community
				  agencies on programming policies and development and acquisition of programs
				  for PEG access channels and Institutional Networks preserved by §1.7.3(B)
				  of this Part;
6. to assist an
				  Electing CATV Operator and RIPTA in the promotion of PEG access
				  channels;
7. to recommend to the
				  Administrator, in consultation with the Certificate holder and affected
				  agencies, which public buildings and non-profit organization buildings within
				  the Service Area should receive free residential service;
8. to advise and make recommendations to
				  Certificate holders and RIPTA on the utilization of the statewide
				  interconnection facilities and channels;
9. effective March 31, 2011, to file annually
				  with the Division, on or before March 31, a written report containing a summary
				  of the committee's activity for the previous calendar year; and minutes for
				  meetings held during the previous calendar year; and
10. to perform such other duties as the
				  municipal governments of that Service Area, in consultation with the
				  Administrator, may specify in writing.
G. Service Area Citizens' Advisory Committees
				  shall promptly furnish copies of all reports to the Administrator, to RIPTA,
				  and to municipal officials and the CATV Certificate holder for that Service
				  Area.