(A) It is the intent of the city and the purpose of this subchapter:
(1) To promote the public health, safety, and general welfare by providing for the grant of one or more franchises for the construction and operation of a cable system or cable systems and open video systems within the city;
(2) To provide for the regulation, to the full extent provided for by law, of each cable system and open video system within the city in the public interest;
(3) To provide for the payment of fees and other valuable consideration by a franchisee to the city for the use of the city's rights-of-way;
(4) To promote the widespread availability of quality cable services to the city's residents and businesses, the city, and other public institutions;
(5) To encourage the development of cable and other communications technologies as a means of communication between and among members of the public, businesses, the city, and other public institutions;
(6) To promote competition in cable rates and services;
(7) To promote the safe and efficient use of the city's rights-of-way; and
(8) To encourage the provision of a diversity of information sources to residents, businesses, the community, the city, and other public institutions by cable technology.
(B) Recognizing the continuing development of communications technology and uses, it is the policy of the city to encourage experimentation and innovation in the development of cable system and open video system uses, services, programming, and techniques that will be of general benefit to the community to the extent all such experiments and innovations are consistent with applicable laws.
(Ord. 1406, passed 5-15-02)