(a) Upon the expiration or termination of a franchise, if the franchise is not renewed and if neither the County nor an assignee purchases the cable communications system, the grantee may remove any underground cable from the streets without trenching or other opening of the streets along the extension of cable to be removed. The grantee shall not remove any underground cable or conduit which requires trenching or other opening of the streets along the extension of cable to be removed, except as provided in this section. The grantee shall remove, at its sole cost and expense, any undergrounded cable or conduit by trenching or opening the streets along the extension thereof or otherwise which is ordered to be removed by the Board based upon a determination, in the sole discretion of the Board, that removal is required in order to eliminate or prevent a hazardous condition or promote future utilization of the streets for public purposes. Any order by the Board to remove cable or conduit shall be mailed to the grantee not later than ninety (90) calendar days following the date of the expiration of the franchise. A grantee shall file written notice with the Clerk of the Board not later than sixty (60) calendar days following the date of the expiration or termination of the franchise of its intention to remove cable authorized by this subsection to be removed. The notice shall specify the location of all cable intended to be removed and a schedule for removal by location. The schedule and timing of removal shall be subject to approval and regulation by the Director of Public Works. Removal shall be completed not later than twelve (12) months following the date of the expiration or termination of the franchise. Underground cable and conduit in the streets which are not removed shall be deemed abandoned, and title thereto shall be vested in the County.
(b) Upon the expiration or termination of a franchise, if the franchise is not renewed and if neither the County nor an assignee purchases the system, the grantee, at its sole expense, unless relieved of the obligation by the County, shall remove from the streets all aboveground elements of the cable communications system, including, but not limited to, amplifier boxes, pedestal-mounted terminal boxes, and cable attached to or suspended from poles which are not purchased by the County or its assignee.
(c) The grantee shall apply for and obtain such encroachment permits, licenses, authorizations, or other approvals and pay such fees and deposit such security as required by applicable general laws of the County, shall conduct and complete the work of removal in compliance with all such applicable laws, and shall restore the streets to the same condition they were in before the work of removal commenced. The work of removal shall be completed not later than one year following the date of the expiration of the franchise. (§ 1, Ord. 961, eff. October 27, 1983)