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The charges made to subscribers for services by the franchisee under this chapter shall be fair and reasonable and no higher than necessary to meet all costs of the service, assuming efficient and economical management and provide a fair return on the original cost, less depreciation, of the properties devoted to the service, without regard to any subsequent sale or transfer of cost of the properties. The franchisee shall receive no consideration whatsoever from its subscribers for or in connection with its service to its subscribers other than in accordance with this section, without approval of the Board of Alderpersons. The franchisee shall not charge rates in excess of the rate schedule appearing in the franchise agreement.
(Prior Code, § 4.1-32) (Ord. passed 9-19-1979)
Initial rates and charges shall be those rates in force in the unincorporated areas of the county at the time of adoption of this chapter, as those rates and charges shall have been fixed by the County Board of Commissioners. Thereafter, the franchisee may request rate adjustments at any time by petition to the County Board of Commissioners; provided, that the subscriber rates and charges in the town shall be the same as those rates and charges in the unincorporated areas of the county. In no event shall rates be changed without approval of the County Board of Commissioners; except, that nothing in this provision shall prohibit the reduction or waiving of charges in conjunction with promotional campaigns for the purpose of attracting subscribers.
(Prior Code, § 4.1-33) (Ord. passed 9-19-1979)
(A) If any subscriber terminates any monthly service during the first six months of the service, because of failure of a franchisee to render the service offered, the franchisee shall refund to the subscriber an amount equal to all charges paid by the subscriber during the period in which no service was received. If any subscriber terminates for any reason any monthly service prior to the end of a prepaid period, a pro rata portion of any prepaid subscriber service fee shall be refunded to the subscriber by the franchisee, using the number of months as the basis.
(B) A full refund for less than 15 days in a single month shall be the basis for periods less than one month.
(Prior Code, § 4.1-34) (Ord. passed 9-19-1979)
(A) A franchisee may require subscribers to pay the installation charge in advance and to pay for each month of basic service in advance at the beginning of each month. No other advance payment or deposit of any kind shall be required by a franchisee for basic subscriber service. Other than for a converter, nothing in this division shall be construed to prohibit charges for or waiver for charges for initial installation or reconnection.
(Prior Code, § 4.1-35)
(B) Except as otherwise provided elsewhere in this chapter, a franchisee may make a charge to subscribers for the installation of service outlets and for the reconnection of service outlets. The rates for the connection or reconnection shall be as authorized in the rate schedule.
(Prior Code, § 4.1-36) (Ord. passed 9-19-1979)
If, in the future, the state or the United States government, or any regulatory agency thereof, regulates the rates of the franchisee for the service provided for in the franchise, this division shall be of no effect during the regulation to the extent of any conflict therewith.
(Prior Code, § 4.1-37) (Ord. passed 9-19-1979)
(A) (1) The franchisee shall, without charge for installation, maintenance or service, make single installations of its standard CATV service facilities to those public buildings operated by the town, when the building is located on the franchisee’s system and when the system is constructed consistent with the requirements of this chapter.
(2) The installations shall be made at the reasonable locations as shall be requested by the Board of Alderpersons. Any charge for relocation of the installation shall, however, be charged at actual cost.
(3) Additional installations at the same location may be made at normal charge. No monthly service charges shall be made for distribution of the franchisee’s signals within the publicly owned buildings.
(B) In addition, the franchisee shall, without charge for installation, maintenance or service, make single installations of its standard community service facilities at any other town facility identified in the franchise agreement. Further, no installation to any of the abovementioned locations shall be made until requested in writing by the Board of Alderpersons.
(Prior Code, § 4.1-38) (Ord. passed 9-19-1979)
(A) Charges to users of the franchisee’s production facilities for public access programming shall not exceed actual costs incurred. The charges shall be publicly posted and made available at no cost to anyone upon request.
(B) Charges shall be clearly and completely stated in the operating rules for public access programming. The charges may be amended only upon approval by the Board of Alderpersons.
(C) The franchisee shall furnish standard playback facilities and labor at actual cost incurred for the public access channel.
(Prior Code, § 4.1-39) (Ord. passed 9-19-1979)
FRANCHISE AGREEMENT ADMINISTRATION
The franchisee shall have no recourse whatsoever against the town or its officers, boards, commissions, agents or employees for any loss, cost, expense or damage arising out of any provision or requirement of the franchise or because of its enforcement.
(Prior Code, § 4.1-40) (Ord. passed 9-19-1979)
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