(A) The county finds that the development of cable television and communications systems has the potential of having great benefit and impact upon the people of the county. Because of the complex and rapidly changing technology associated with cable television, the county further finds that the public convenience, safety and general welfare can best be served by establishing certain regulatory powers, which may be vested in the county or such persons as the county shall designate.
(B) Further, it is recognized that cable communications systems have the capacity to provide not only entertainment and information services to the county's residents but can also provide a variety of broadband, interactive communications services to institutions and individuals.
(C) For these purposes, the following goals underlie the regulations contained herein:
(1) Where economically and technically feasible, communications services should be available to the maximum number of county residents, as provided for herein;
(2) The cable television systems should be capable of accommodating both the present and reasonably foreseeable future communications needs of the county to the extent that such integration is economically and technically feasible;
(3) The cable television systems should be maintained as necessary during the franchise term so that the new facilities, if any, may be integrated to the maximum extent possible with existing facilities; and
(4) The communications systems authorized by this article shall be responsive to the needs and interests of the local community;
(D) The public, educational and governmental needs for reasonable access to the cable system shall be met.
(Ord. 3502, passed 10-7-02)