Skip to code content (skip section selection)
Compare to:
Reading Overview
Reading, PA Code of Ordinances
READING, PA CODE OF ORDINANCES
PREFACE
Chapter C HOME RULE CHARTER
Chapter 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Chapter 5 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
Chapter 14 AUTHORITIES
Chapter 23 BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND COUNCILS
Chapter 36 FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES
Chapter 51 INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Chapter 62 PENSIONS
Chapter 70 PERSONNEL
Chapter 77 POLICE DEPARTMENT
Chapter 91 SALARIES AND COMPENSATION
Chapter 120 ALARM SYSTEMS
Chapter 127 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Chapter 141 ANIMALS
Chapter 166 CABLE TELEVISION
Chapter 173 COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY CODE
Chapter 180 CONSTRUCTION CODES
Chapter 185 CONVERSION THERAPY
Chapter 188 CURFEW
Chapter 201 ELECTRIC SERVICE
Chapter 212 FEES
Chapter 219 FIREARMS
Chapter 225 FIREWORKS
Chapter 231 FIRE INSURANCE PROCEEDS
Chapter 237 FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION
Chapter 251 FOOD CODE
Chapter 272 GRAFFITI
Chapter 288 HEALTH AND SAFETY
Chapter 295 HISTORICAL AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
Chapter 302 HOUSE NUMBERING
Chapter 308 HOUSING
Chapter 317 INVASIVE PLANTS AND NOXIOUS WEEDS
Chapter 325 LAW ENFORCEMENT
Chapter 328 LEAD POISONING PREVENTION
Chapter 332 LIBRARY
Chapter 339 LICENSES AND PERMITS
Chapter 346 LITTER AND ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Chapter 353 LOITERING AND PANHANDLING
Chapter 364 MASSAGE THERAPISTS
Chapter 378 MUNICIPAL CLAIMS AND LIENS
Chapter 387 NOISE
Chapter 396 PARKS AND RECREATION
Chapter 403 PAWNBROKERS
Chapter 410 PEDDLING AND SOLICITING
Chapter 424 POLES
Chapter 431 PROPERTY SALES
Chapter 433 PUBLIC ART
Chapter 438 RAIN BARRELS
Chapter 442 RECORDS, PUBLIC ACCESS
Chapter 453 SALES
Chapter 460 SCRAP METAL DEALERS
Chapter 467 SEWERS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Chapter 473 SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
Chapter 479 SIDEWALK CAFES
Chapter 485 SIGNS
Chapter 496 SOLID WASTE
Chapter 502 STORAGE FACILITIES
Chapter 505 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Chapter 508 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
Chapter 515 SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 521 SUSTAINABILITY
Chapter 536 TAMPERING WITH PUBLIC PROPERTY
Chapter 540 TATTOO AND PIERCING ESTABLISHMENTS
Chapter 543 TAX ABATEMENTS
Chapter 546 TAX AMNESTY PROGRAM
Chapter 549 TAXATION
Chapter 555 TREES
Chapter 564 VEHICLE NUISANCES, STORAGE OF
Chapter 570 VEHICLE REPAIR SHOPS
Chapter 576 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Chapter 583 VENDING MACHINES
Chapter 600 ZONING
Chapter A610 ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY
Chapter A611 BOND ISSUES AND LOANS
Chapter A612 FRANCHISE AND SERVICES
Chapter A613 GOVERNMENTAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Chapter A614 PLAN APPROVAL
Chapter A615 PUBLIC PROPERTY
Chapter A616 SEWERS
Chapter A617 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
Chapter A618 WATER
Chapter A619 ZONING; PRIOR ORDINANCES
Chapter DT DERIVATION TABLE
Chapter DL DISPOSITION LIST
§ 166-109. Operation and maintenance.
   A.   Maintenance and complaints.
      (1)   The grantee's office and technical personnel, or answering services, will receive customer calls 24 hours per day and respond to all customer complaint calls between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on normal business days. After 8:00 p.m. on any normal business day, trained technicians shall respond to calls if three or more calls are received from the same service area as defined in the franchise agreement. A written log shall be maintained listing all complaints and their disposition, including the time taken to respond to the complaint and to repair the problem.
      (2)   The grantee shall maintain sufficient phone service to ensure that subscribers' calls will be answered within a reasonable amount of time and no subscriber will be put on hold unnecessarily.
      (3)   The grantee shall render efficient service, make repairs promptly, and interrupt service only for good cause for the shortest time possible. Such interruptions, insofar as possible, shall be preceded by notice and shall occur during periods of minimum use of the system. A written log shall be maintained for all plant maintenance service interruptions exceeding 30 minutes.
      (4)   The grantee shall maintain a repair force of technicians capable of responding to subscriber complaints or requests for repair service within 24 hours after receipt of the complaint or request.
      (5)   The grantee shall furnish each subscriber at the time service is installed, written instructions that clearly set forth procedures, furnish information concerning the procedures for making inquiries or complaints, including the name, address and local telephone number of the service department where complaints or inquiries are to be addressed, and furnish information concerning the City office responsible for administration of the franchise with the address and telephone number of the office when provided by the City.
   B.   Rights of individuals.
      (1)   The grantee shall not deny service, deny access, or otherwise discriminate against subscribers, channel users, or general citizens on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age or sex. The grantee shall comply at all times with all other applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, and all executive and administrative orders relating to nondiscrimination which are hereby incorporated and made part of this chapter by reference.
      (2)   The grantee shall strictly adhere to the equal employment opportunity requirements of the Act, § 634, and of the FCC, state and local regulations, as amended from time to time.
   C.   Protection of subscriber privacy. All rights pursuant to the protection of subscriber privacy shall be governed by § 631 of the Act.
   D.   Tenant rights.
      (1)   Interference with cable service prohibited. Neither the owner of any multiple-unit residential dwelling nor his agent or representative shall unreasonably interfere with the right of any tenant or lawful resident thereof to receive cable television service, cable installation or maintenance from a cable television company regulated by and lawfully operating under a valid and existing cable television franchise issued by the City.
      (2)   Gratuities and payment to permit service prohibited. The owner of any multiple-unit residential dwelling shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for the grantee's occupation of the owner's property. Neither the owner of any multiple-unit residential dwelling nor his agent or representative, however, shall as demand or receive any additional payment, service or gratuity in any form as a condition for permitting or cooperating with the installation of cable communications service to the dwelling unit occupied by a tenant or resident requesting service.
      (3)   Penalties and charges to tenants for service prohibited. Neither the owner of any multiple-unit residential dwelling nor his agent or representative shall knowingly penalize, charge or surcharge a tenant or resident, or forfeit or threaten to forfeit any right of such tenant or resident, or discriminate in any way against such tenant or resident who requests or receives cable communications service from a grantee operating under a valid and existing cable communication franchise issued by the City.
      (4)   Protection of property permitted. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person from requiring that cable television system facilities conform to laws and regulations and reasonable conditions necessary to protect safety, functioning, appearance and value of premises or the convenience and safety of persons or property.
      (5)   Risks assumed by grantee. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person from requiring a grantee to agree to indemnify the owner, or his agents or representatives, for damages or from liability for damages caused by the installation, operation, maintenance or removal of cable television facilities.
      (6)   Relief. In the event that permission to serve tenants of any multiple unit, or single, residential dwelling, is denied by the landlord or his agent or representative, the grantee may petition the grantor for relief from the requirement to provide service to such units and such relief shall not unreasonably be withheld.
   E.   Grantee rules and regulations. The grantee shall have the authority to promulgate such rules, regulations, terms and conditions governing the conduct of its business as shall be reasonably necessary to enable the grantee to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under this franchise, and to assure an uninterrupted service to each and all of its customers. Provided, however, that such rules, regulations, terms and conditions shall not be in conflict with the provisions hereof or applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations.