(a) Termination of cable service. A subscriber may terminate cable service at any time.
(b) Franchisee duties. A franchisee shall promptly disconnect or downgrade cable service to any subscriber upon the subscriber's request and may not require a notice period before the disconnect or downgrade of service to a subscriber. If the subscriber returns or permits the franchisee to retrieve any equipment necessary to receive a service within five business days of the disconnection, the franchisee may not impose a charge for any cable service delivered after the date of the disconnect request.
(c) Return of equipment. A subscriber may be asked, but not required, to disconnect a franchisee's equipment and return it to the business office. If a franchisee fails to remove its property from a subscriber's premises within 60 days of the termination of cable service, the property shall be deemed abandoned unless the subscriber is responsible for the franchisee's failure to remove the property.
(d) Return of security deposit or other funds. Any security deposit or other funds due the subscriber shall be refunded on disconnected accounts after any customer premises equipment provided by the franchisee has been recovered by the franchisee. The refund shall be made within the earlier of 30 days or by the end of the next available billing cycle measured from the date disconnection was requested. If later than these two dates, the refund shall be made on the date on which any customer premises equipment provided by the franchisee is returned.
(e) Disconnection of cable service. If a subscriber fails to pay a monthly subscriber fee or other fee or charge, a franchisee may disconnect the subscriber's cable service after 35 days from the beginning of the period for which the cable service being billed is rendered as set forth in this subsection. After 35 days from the beginning of the period for which the cable service being billed is rendered, at least ten days' advance written notice of the intent to disconnect must be given to the subscriber. If the subscriber pays all amounts due, including any late charges, before the date scheduled for disconnection, the franchisee may not disconnect cable service. After disconnection, upon payment by the subscriber in full of all proper fees or charges, including the payment of any reconnection charge, the franchisee shall promptly reinstate cable service.
(f) Immediate disconnection permitted. A franchisee may immediately disconnect a subscriber if the subscriber is damaging or destroying the franchisee's cable system or equipment. After disconnection, the franchisee shall restore cable service if the subscriber provides adequate assurance that the subscriber has ceased the practices that led to disconnection and paid all proper fees and charges, including any reconnect fees and amounts owed the franchisee for damage to its cable system or equipment.
(g) Disconnection for signal leakage. A franchisee may disconnect a subscriber who causes signal leakage in excess of federal limits. Disconnection may occur either:
(1) after five days' written notice to the subscriber, if the subscriber fails to take steps to correct the problem; or
(2) without notice if signal leakage is detected originating from the subscriber's premises in excess of federal limits, provided that the franchisee shall immediately notify the subscriber of the problem and, once the problem is corrected, reconnect the subscriber.
(h) Reconnection. A franchisee shall reconnect cable service to a subscriber who wishes to have the subscriber's cable service restored if the subscriber first satisfies any previously owed obligations.
(Bill No. 54-06)