The Board of Alderpersons reserves the option to designate a Regulatory Commission to promote and develop access to the CATV system. Membership, term and functions of that Commission shall be established by resolution when the Board of Alderpersons chooses to exercise the option. In the absence of a Regulatory Commission, the Board of Alderpersons requires of the Town Administrator/Town Clerk performance of the following functions:
(A) Advise the Board of Alderpersons on applications for franchises, unless the Board of Alderpersons shall otherwise provide for the handling of this function;
(B) Advise the Board of Alderpersons on matters which might constitute grounds for revocation of the franchise in accordance with this chapter;
(C) Resolve disagreements among franchisees, subscribers and public and private users of the system. The decisions of the Town Administrator/Town Clerk shall be appealable to the Board of Alderpersons;
(D) Advise the Board of Alderpersons on the regulation of rates in accordance with this chapter. The advisory function shall be in the form of a written report to the Board of Alderpersons, which shall include recommendations to the Board of Alderpersons and the facts upon which the recommendations are based;
(E) Coordinate franchisee and town activities for the best use of public facilities and channels of the system;
(F) Advise the Board of Alderpersons regarding general policy relating to the services provided subscribers and the operation and use of public channels, with a view to maximizing the diversity of programs and services to subscribers. The use of public channels shall be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to limitations on monopolization of system time or prime time;
(G) Require an audit of all franchisee records required by this chapter and, in his or her discretion, require the preparation and filing of information additional to that required herein;
(H) Make an annual report to the Board of Alderpersons, including an account of franchise fees received and distributed, the total number of hours of utilization of public channels and hourly subtotals for various programming categories and a review of any plans submitted during the year by franchisee(s) for development of new services; and
(I) Conduct evaluations of the system at least every five years with the franchisee and, pursuant thereto, make recommendations to the Board of Alderpersons for amendments to this chapter or the franchise agreement.
(Prior Code, § 4.1-51) (Ord. passed 9-19-1979)