A. After receiving applications for an initial cable system franchise, the council, after considering the legal, financial, technical and character qualifications of the applicants and the public interest, may grant one or more nonexclusive franchises creating a right to construct and operate a cable system within the public ways of the city; provided, however, no provision of this chapter shall be deemed or construed as to require the city to grant a franchise.
B. The application for an initial cable system franchise shall be submitted to the council or its designee on a written form included in the request for proposals furnished by the city and in accordance with procedures and schedules to be established by the city. The application form may request facts and information the city deems appropriate. Applications shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee in an amount determined by the city, which amount shall be used by the city to offset direct expenses incurred in the franchising and evaluation procedures, including, but not limited to, staff time and consulting assistance.
C. An applicant (grantee) to whom the council grants an initial nonexclusive cable system franchise shall, in addition to the nonrefundable fee specified hereinabove, pay to the city at the time the grantee files the written instrument specified hereinafter, an amount to be determined by the cable administrator to be used to offset all direct, reasonable costs incurred by the city in granting the franchise not defrayed by fees forthcoming from the provisions of subsection B of this section.
(Prior code § 113.1-5; Amend Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 23998, § 1)