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A. The county administrator shall administer cable communications operations within the county as governed by this chapter and applicable license agreements. The county administrator or designee may take all administrative action on behalf of the county except for those actions specified herein which are reserved for the board of supervisors. The board of supervisors has the sole authority to: grant licenses, modify license agreements, renew licenses, revoke licenses, and authorize the transfer of licenses.
B. The county reserves the right during the term of the license agreement and during normal business hours and upon the giving of reasonable notice to examine, audit, review and obtain copies of the licensee's contracts, engineering plans, accounting, financial data, and service records relating to the property and operations of the licensee and to all other records required to be kept pursuant to this chapter.
C. The county expressly reserves the right to regulate a licensee's rates and charges to the extent permitted by law at any time it deems it to be desirable or in the public interest. If the county decides to exercise any such authority it may have, it shall develop regulations which shall govern the procedure pursuant to which a licensee may seek authority for rate increases.
(Ord 1997-17 § 3, 1997; Prior code § 19.12.010(A))
A. A licensee shall not deny service, access, or otherwise discriminate against subscribers, users, or residents of the county. A licensee shall comply at all times with all applicable federal, state and county laws, rules and regulations, executive and administrative orders relating to nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity requirements. A licensee shall strictly adhere to the equal employment opportunity requirements of the FCC, state statutes and local regulations, and as the same may be amended from time to time.
B. A licensee shall at all times comply with the subscriber privacy provisions of Section 631 of the Cable Act, 47 U.S.C. Subsection 551.
C. No equipment shall be installed by the licensee for subscriber service without first securing a service request from the owner or resident of any private property involved.
D. A licensee shall not originate or knowingly permit subliminal transmission at any time for any purpose whatsoever.
E. A licensee shall establish and conform to the following policy regarding refunds to subscribers and users:
1. If the licensee collects a deposit or advance charge on any service or equipment requested by a subscriber or user, the licensee shall provide such service or equipment within thirty days of the collection of the deposit or charge or it shall refund such deposit or charge within five days thereafter upon request of the subscriber or user. The subscriber shall be advised of this right of refund at the time the order is placed.
2. If any subscriber or user terminates any monthly service during the first twelve months of said service because of the failure of the licensee to render satisfactory service in terms of signal quality in accordance with the standards set forth in the license agreement, the licensee shall refund, on a pro-rata basis, to such subscriber or user an amount equal to the installation or reconnection charges paid by the subscriber or user for the period of unsatisfactory service.
3. In the event that a subscriber or user makes an annual or other payment in advance, the appropriate pro-rata portion of said payment shall be refunded by the licensee.
F. The following requirements shall apply to disconnection:
1. There shall be no charge for disconnection of any installation or outlet unless such charge was disclosed at the time the subscriber ordered service. All cable communications equipment shall be removed within a reasonable time from a subscriber's property at the subscriber's request, such time not to exceed thirty days from the date of the request.
2. If any subscriber fails to pay a properly due monthly subscriber's fee or other charge, the licensee may disconnect the subscriber's service outlet; provided, however, that such disconnection shall not be effected until thirty days after the due date of the charges and shall include a prior written notice to the subscriber of the intent to disconnect. After disconnection, upon payment in full of all proper fees or charges, including the payment of any reconnection charge, the licensee shall promptly reinstate the service.
(Ord 1997-17 § 3, 1997; Prior code § 19.12.020(A))
A. Without limitation upon the rights which the county may otherwise have, the county expressly reserves the right to amend any section or provision of this chapter for any reason determined to be desirable by the county including, but not limited to:
1. New developments in the state of technology of cable communications systems;
2. Any changes in federal or state laws, rules or regulations.
B. The county reserves the right to require the designation or use of channel capacity, equipment, facilities, and services for public, educational or governmental use under Section 611 of the Cable Act, 47 U.S.C. Subsection 531.
(Ord 1997-17 § 3, 1997; Prior code § 19.12.030)
A. The county may impose liquidated damages as set forth in this section and the license agreement.
B. All license agreements executed subsequent to the adoption of this Ordinance shall contain a provision for liquidated damages, in amounts as mutually agreed upon between the county and the licensee, for the licensee's failure to comply with various requirements of this chapter and the license agreement in amounts not to exceed those specified below:
1. For failure to substantially complete system construction or line extensions as required, unless the county specifically approves a delay caused by the occurrence of conditions beyond the licensee's control, the licensee shall pay five hundred dollars ($500) per day for each day, or part thereof, the deficiency continues.
2. For material failure to provide data, documents, reports and information in a timely manner as required, the licensee shall pay one hundred dollars ($100) per day, or part thereof, that each violation occurs or continues.
3. For substantial failure to remedy any other violation of this ordinance or the license agreement within fifteen days of receipt of notice of each violation, the licensee shall pay three hundred dollars ($300) per day for each day, or part thereof, that the violation continues.
4. For failure to substantially comply with reasonable orders of the county, the licensee shall pay fifty dollars ($50) per day for each day, or part thereof, that noncompliance continues.
C. Liquidated damages will not be imposed if the county finds that the failure of the licensee resulted from conditions beyond the licensee's control. Liquidated damages may be reduced or eliminated by the county if it finds that the failure of the licensee resulted from excusable neglect. The licensee shall bear the burden of proof in establishing the existence of such conditions.
D. Prior to assessing any of the liquidated damages set forth in this section, the county shall give licensee thirty days written notice of its intention to assess such damages. In said notice(s), the county shall set forth, at a minimum, the following:
1. The amount to be assessed;
2. The factual basis for such assessment; and
3. The specific provision of this chapter or the license alleged to have been violated.
Following receipt of the notice set forth in this section, licensee shall have a thirty-day period during which time licensee and the county shall make reasonable efforts to resolve the dispute in question.
E. The imposition and collection of liquidated damages shall not prevent the county from pursuing other remedies for violations of this ordinance or the license agreement.
(Ord. 1997-17 § 3, 1997)
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