(a) Findings. Anne Arundel County finds that the further development of cable communications results in great benefits for the people of the County. Cable systems permanently occupy and extensively make use of scarce and valuable public rights-of-way in a manner different from the way in which the general public uses them. The County finds that public convenience, safety, and general welfare can best be served by establishing regulatory powers vested in the County or such persons as the County designates to protect the public and to ensure that any franchise granted is operated in the public interest.
(b) Additional findings. Cable systems have the capacity to provide not only entertainment and information services to the County's residents but also a variety of broadband, interactive communications services to institutions and individuals. Certain of these services involve County agencies and other public institutions.
(c) Goals. In light of the foregoing, the following goals, among others, underlie the provisions set forth in this article:
(1) cable should be available to as many County residents as possible;
(2) a cable system should be capable of accommodating both present and reasonably foreseeable future cable-related needs of the County;
(3) a cable system should be constructed and maintained during a franchise term so that changes in technology may be integrated into existing system facilities;
(4) a cable system should be responsive to the needs and interests of the local community and provide the widest possible diversity of information sources and cable service to the public; and
(5) a cable operator should pay fair compensation to the County for the occupation and use of local public rights-of-way for cable service purposes.
(d) Provisions to serve public interest. The County intends that all provisions set forth in this article be construed to serve the public interest and the enumerated public purposes and that any franchise issued pursuant to this article be construed to include these findings and public purposes as integral parts of them.
(Bill No. 54-06)