(a) All subscribers have the right to receive all available cable services from the franchisee if their financial and other obligations to the franchisee are satisfied.
(b) If the franchise is terminated or transferred, the franchisee must do everything in its power to ensure that all subscribers receive continuous, uninterrupted cable service. The franchisee must cooperate with the County to operate the system for a transition period after termination or transfer as necessary to maintain continuity of cable service to all subscribers. The transition period must not exceed 12 months without the franchisee's written consent. During the transition period, the cable system must be operated under terms and conditions to which the County and the franchisee agree, or on such other terms and conditions that will continue, to the extent possible, the same level of cable service to subscribers and that will provide reasonable compensation to the cable operator.
(c) If the franchisee discontinues service to its subscribers without County approval, the franchise may be terminated immediately, and if the franchisee does not have other authority to maintain and operate its facilities in the County’s public rights-of-way, the County may take possession of all facilities and property, real and personal, related to the cable system for the purpose of operating the system. The County may undertake such operation itself or authorize operation by a contractor. (FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 3, § 1; 2006 L.M.C., ch. 34, § 1.)
Editor’s note—Previous Sec. 8A-25, County purchase of cable system; eminent domain, derived from FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 3, § 1, was repealed by 2006 L.M.C., ch. 34, § 1.
Section 8A-25, formerly 8A-26, was renumbered and amended pursuant to 2006 L.M.C., ch. 34, § 1.