(a) There is hereby established a citizens advisory commission entitled the Brooklyn Heights Cable Television Advisory Commission. The Advisory Commission shall consist of five members, appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of Council, who shall serve without remuneration. Appointments to the Advisory Commission shall be made without regard to race, creed, color, sex, national origin, or religion, and appointees may not be employed by, nor have any interest in, the broadcasting, cable television, or telephone business. Such appointments shall, as far as is practicable, include one individual having expertise or experience in each of the following areas:
(1) Law.
(2) Science and technology relating to cable television.
(3) The arts.
(4) Education.
(5) Consumer affairs relating to cable television.
(b) Members shall serve for three-year terms, except that the terms of three of the first members of the Advisory Commission shall be for one-year terms. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment of the Mayor with the advice and consent of Council.
(c) The Advisory Commission shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(q) Advising the Council regarding general policy relating to the operation and uses of access channels with a view toward maximizing the diversity of programs and services to subscribers and users;
(2) Recommending to Council when activation of additional access channels is necessary if the grantee elects under the terms of Section 810.12(a)(3) to initially combine access programming on one access channel.
(3) Encouraging the use of access channels among the widest range of institutions, groups and individuals within the Village.
(4) Encouraging cooperation with universities, museums and other institutions located in the Village or in neighboring communities with a view toward utilizing the facilities located therein to enrich the quality and diversity of access channel programming for the system;
(5) Advising the Council of changes in the state-of-the-art of cable technology and the applicability of the same to access channel programming for the system; and
(6) Submitting an annual report to the Council, including, but not limited to, a summary of the utilization of access channels, a review of any plans submitted during the year by the grantee for the development of new services, and a summary report of the Commission deliberations throughout the year in connection with its assigned functions.
(d) The Advisory Commission shall have the authority to submit proposed rules and regulations for the conduct of its business to the Council for approval and, upon approval, shall have the right to hold hearings and make recommendations to the grantee and to the educational and governmental communities on the coordination of the educational and governmental access channels. All such actions shall be advisory only.
(e) The Commission shall meet no less than four times every year. All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public.
(Ord. 16-80. Passed 5-20-80.)