(A) The county finds that further development of cable systems has the potential to be of great benefit to the county and its residents and businesses. Cable technology is rapidly changing, and cable plays an essential role as part of the county’s basic infrastructure. Cable systems extensively make use of scarce and valuable public rights-of-way, in a manner different from the way in which the general public uses them, and in a manner reserved primarily for those who provide services to the public, such as utility companies. A cable company currently typically faces very limited competition; thus, the grant of a franchise has the effect of giving the holder extensive economic benefits and places the holder in a position of public trust. Because of these facts, the county finds that public convenience, safety and general welfare can best be served by establishing regulatory powers vested in the county or such persons as the county so designates to protect the public and to ensure that any franchise granted is operated in the public interest. In light of the foregoing, the following goals, among others, underlie the provisions set forth in this chapter.
(1) Cable service should be available to as many county residents and businesses as possible and provide the widest possible diversity of information sources and services to the public.
(2) A cable system should be capable of accommodating both present and reasonably foreseeable future cable-related needs of the community.
(3) A cable system should be constructed and maintained during a franchise term so that changes in technology may be integrated to the maximum extent possible into existing system facilities, taking into account all relevant factors including costs.
(4) A cable system should grow and develop and be responsive to the needs and interests of the community.
(B) The county intends that all provisions set forth in this chapter be construed to serve the public interest and the foregoing public purposes, and that any franchise issued pursuant to this chapter be construed to include the foregoing findings and public purposes as integral parts thereof.
(1993 Code, § 72.002) (Ord. 96-12, passed 10-16-1996)