It shall be unlawful for any person to own, operate, or construct a cable television system in unincorporated areas of the county or to provide cable television service to any subscriber within the county, except pursuant to a franchise agreement granting the right to do so between the county and the franchisee, which agreement shall incorporate by reference and be subject to this chapter to the same extent as though this chapter in its entirety is a part of said agreement. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the franchisee may designate others under contractual arrangement, to construct, own, and lease to the franchisee the physical assets of the cable television system, provided, however, that the franchisee shall be fully and solely responsible under the terms of this chapter and the franchise agreement. Neither the franchise, nor any rights of the franchisee arising thereunder shall be assigned, without the prior written consent of the Board of Commissioners. Nothing in this section is intended to prevent the Board from granting a pre-existing permitted use franchise to any CATV system in operation in the unincorporated areas of the county at the time of passage of this chapter under such terms and conditions as will enable that CATV to maintain its then current customers for a sufficient length of time to recoup its investment.
(Ord. passed 10-18-1982) Penalty, see § 114.999