(a) A franchisee must have the following insurance coverage in force at all times during the franchise period:
(1) workmen's compensation insurance to meet all state requirements;
(2) general comprehensive liability insurance;
(3) automobile liability insurance covering all vehicles as specified in the franchise but not less than $250,000 per person, $500,000 per occurrence, and $100,000 for property damage; and
(4) any additional types of insurance and coverage amounts as the County may require.
All insurance policies must be with sureties qualified to do business in Maryland and in a form approved as to legality by the County Attorney. The County may accept a self- insurance plan that assures comparable protection in lieu of these insurance policies.
(b) To ensure the franchisee's performance of franchise obligations, a franchisee must have in force at all times during the franchise period a bond in a form approved by the County Attorney, consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit, or a performance bond. A performance bond must be provided by a surety qualified to do business in Maryland. The bond must be to the benefit of the County or to other parties named in a franchise agreement. The bond must be of a type and in a sum specified in the franchise agreement as necessary to ensure the faithful performance and discharge of obligations imposed by law and the franchise agreement. Except for a limited franchise, the minimum bond amount must not be less than $250,000.
(c) A franchisee must, at its sole cost and expense, indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the County, its officials, boards, commissions, agents, and employees, against any claims, suits, causes of action, proceedings and judgments for damages or equitable relief arising out of the construction, maintenance, or operation of its cable system regardless of whether the act or omission complained of is authorized, allowed or prohibited by the franchise. This requirement includes claims arising out of copyright infringement or a failure by the franchisee to secure consent from the owner, authorized distributor, or licensee of a program to be delivered by the cable system.
(d) In an overbuild situation the County may require franchisees to indemnify each other for any damage to facilities and services caused by construction or maintenance of their respective cable systems. (FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 3, § 1; 2006 L.M.C., ch. 34, § 1.)