(a) Applications for a new franchise or franchise renewal shall include proposals for the provision of public educational and governmental access channels sufficient to meet community needs during term of franchise as determined by the City. A franchisee or applicant shall specify what grants, if any, it is willing to make for studio equipment and facilities to be used for local program production by all cable access users.
(b) All access channel operators must conform to the following minimum requirements:
(1) The City may require that a franchisee provide studio space for access use. Access channels shall be carried on the franchisee's lowest priced service offering.
(2) The franchisee shall have no control over the content of the programming carried on access channels. The City may require a franchisee, or select a nonprofit corporation or other entity, to manage the access channels consistent with the requirements of this chapter, the franchise agreement and the intended purpose of such channels.
(3) The use of any public access channel shall be made available to any City resident on a nondiscriminatory basis at no charge for channel use. Where access studio facilities are located on a franchisee's premises, the franchisee shall make its personnel available for consultation and assistance to access users for a reasonable fee provided that such personnel can be spared from their normal duties.
(c) During the hours the access channel(s) are not being programmed by the City or other qualified users pursuant to the terms and conditions in Section 707.12 (a)(2) or the terms and conditions of a franchise agreement, franchisee may substitute other programming on such channel(s).
(Ord. 75-89. Passed 6-26-89.)
(Ord. 75-89. Passed 6-26-89.)