(a) Members. There is hereby created a Cable Television Commission of the city which shall consist of five members appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of a majority of City Council, for terms of four years. The initial terms shall be as follows: one member for a term of one year; one member for a term of two years; one member for a term of three years; and two members for terms of four years. All subsequent appointments shall be for terms of four years. All members of the Commission shall be residents of the city. The Cable Television Commission shall have a Secretary designated by the Mayor. A member of the city’s Law Department shall be in attendance at Cable Television Commission meetings when determined to be necessary by the Mayor.
(b) Duties and responsibilities. The Cable Television Commission shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(1) To hear complaints of subscribers regarding alleged violation of the customer service standards set forth in this chapter and to undertake its own investigation of a provider’s compliance with the customer service standards. The Cable Television Commission shall endeavor to informally resolve all such complaints and any violation of the customer service standards discovered by its own investigation. In the event any complaint or Commission-discovered violation is unable to be informally resolved, a hearing shall be held by the Commission on the complaint or violation with at least ten days’ written notice to the provider and, in the case of a complaint, the complainant. After hearing, the Commission shall make findings and conclusions and issue an order and/or assess a penalty if appropriate as provided in § 701.04(h). All formal decisions of the Cable Television shall be deemed final; and
(2) The Cable Television Commission shall have responsibility for general oversight of the public access channel. In performing its responsibilities with respect to general oversight, it shall hear complaints from the general public and uses of the public access channel and shall attempt to informally resolve complaints with the provider. In the event it is unable to informally resolve complaints or in the event it discovers violations of the rules governing the public access channel through its own investigation, it shall make findings and recommendations to the Mayor with copies to the Law Director, Clerk of Council and the provider. The Cable Television Commission shall make an annual written report to City Council on the public access channel within the city, which report shall include information regarding usage, equipment, general compliance with the rules and regulations governing the public access channel and suggestions for improvements.
(c) Meetings. The Cable Television Commission shall establish a schedule of regular meetings and shall meet at such regularly scheduled meetings at least four times per year. The Commission may hold special meetings to review particular complaints or other matters. Notice of special meeting shall comply with the city’s general notice requirements for special meetings of its boards and commissions and shall include written notice to all providers. The Commission, with the assistance of the Law Department, may establish its own rules to govern the conduct of its meetings.
(d) Jurisdiction. The Cable Television Commission shall not have jurisdiction over any aspect of the municipal channel or the education channel.
(Ord. 70-06, passed 3-6-2007)