(a) There are hereby established the following procedural rules and requirements for all cable television franchisees operating within the City of Richmond Heights on and after the effective date of this chapter:
(1) The following procedures shall only apply to the regulation of basic rates and services and the equipment and installation used to receive basic services. Hereinafter the term "rates" shall mean cable television charges for basic services and equipment and installation used to received basic services.
(2) Thirty days prior to any increase in rates, the company shall notify the Mayor and Council and all affected subscribers in writing of the proposed rate increase. All necessary supporting documents showing why the increase is necessary shall be provided at this time.
(3) The franchising authority shall review the information and notify the cable company within thirty days that the request is either approved, disapproved, or that additional time and/or additional information is required before a decision can be made. If additional time is needed, the franchising authority shall have an additional ninety days to act if the cable company requests an increased based on the benchmark rates, or an additional 150 days to act if the request is based on a cost of service showing. Proper notice shall be provided of the franchising authority's decision.
(4) Any interested party may provide written comment regarding the proposed rates after the Mayor has received notice of a proposed rate increase and before the franchising authority makes a final determination concerning the proposal.
(5) The rate increase cannot take effect while the City is reviewing the request.
(6) If the franchising authority requests additional information as to the proposal, the cable company must provide said information within five calendar days.
(7) All information provided to the franchising authority shall be considered public unless the cable company requests the information to be kept confidential and said request is consistent with State and Federal law and Section 957.02
.
(8) The franchising authority shall make its decision in writing, notify the cable company of its decision, and post a public notice of said decision. No retroactive rate increases are permitted without prior approval of the Federal Communications Commission.
(b) Increasing rates or eliminating long-standing discounts without the franchising authority's permission shall be punishable by a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per day of each violation and a full credit with interest to all affected subscribers.
(Ord. 14-94. Passed 5-10-94.)