(A) The grantee of any franchise issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be authorized, subject to approval of plans by the Mayor, to construct or have constructed, operate, and maintain a CATV system and to engage in the business of providing a CATV service in the city, and for that purpose to erect, install, construct, repair, replace, reconstruct, maintain, and retain in, over, on, under, upon, across, and along any public street, such wires, cables, conductors, ducts, conduits, vaults, manholes, amplifiers, appliances, attachments, and other, property, excepting poles, as may be necessary and appurtenant to the CATV system; and in addition, so to use, operate, and provide similar facilities or properties rented or leased from other persons, including, but not limited to, any public utility or other grantee franchised or permitted to do business in the city.
(B) (1) The grantee may initially charge subscribers and users of the CATV system for services up to the amounts specified in its schedule of rates and charges as proposed in its franchise application and approved by the City Council. The maximum rates shall be in effect for a minimum period of two years from the date of completion of installation of the CATV systems capable of effectively serving no less than 60% of the customers proposed in the approved initial plans.
(2) The grantee may establish rates for service from time to time thereafter not greater than the rates for equivalent service charge under the franchise granted by the City of Albemarle, or under the franchise granted by the county, whichever is less.
(C) The grantee shall not engage in the sale, service, repair, rental, or lease of television receivers, radio receivers, parts or accessories, nor shall any employee or stockholder hold any interest in any such business venture in the County. The grantee shall not require or attempt to influence its subscribers to deal with any particular person in regard to the above-mentioned services.
(D) Construction and maintenance of the CATV system, including house connection, shall be in accordance with the provisions of:
(1) The National Electrical Safety Code of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers;
(2) The National Electronic Code of the National Fire Protection Association; and
(3) The Southern Bell Telephone System’s Code of Pole Line Construction.
(Ord. 20, passed 8-5-1982; Ord. -, passed 10-7-1982)