Ordinance Number 760los
ORDINANCE NO. 760
CABLE COMMIMICATIONS SYSTEMS
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN JUAN
CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER
2, CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEMS OF TITLE 7,
PUBLIC WORKS, OF THE SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROVIDE FOR THE GRANTING
AND REGULATION OF FRANCHISES FOR CABLE
COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO,
CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Amendment Text.
Chapter 2, Title 7, of the San Juan Capistrano
Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as
follows:
TITLE 7, CHAPTER 2
CABLE COMMUNICATIONS FRANCHISE
Sec. 7-2.01. Definitions. For the purposes of this
ordinance, the following words, terms, phrases, and their
derivations shall have the meanings given herein. When not
inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense
include the future tense, words in singular number include the
plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not
merely directory.
(a) "Additional Service" means any service not included
in "Basic Service" or "Institutional Service."
(b) "AAcency Subscriber" means a subscriber who receives
a service in a government or public agency, school,
or non-profit corporation facility.
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(c) "Affiliated Person" or "Affiliates" means each
Person who falls into one or more of the following
categories: (i) each Person having, directly or
indirectly, a Controlling Interest in Grantee; (ii)
each Person in which Grantee has, directly or
indirectly, a Controlling Interest; (iii) each
Person, directly or indirectly, controlling,
controlled by, or under common Control with Grantee;
provided that "Affiliated Person" shall in no event
mean the Grantor, any Cable Usage Corporation, or
any creditor of Grantee solely by virtue of its
status as a creditor and which is not otherwise an
Affiliated Person by reason of owning a Controlling
Interest in, being owned by, or being under common
ownership, common management, or common Control with
Grantee.
(d) "Administrative Officer" means the City Manager or
his/her designee.
(e) "AttachmentPoint" means the point at which
Grantee's drop attaches to subscriber -owned
equipment.
(f) "Basic Service" or "Basic Cable Service" or "Basic
Service Tier" means the lowest service tier which
includes the retransmission of local television
broadcast signals.
(g) "Broadcast Signal" means a signal transmitted over
the air to a wide public geographic audience and
received by a cable system.
(h) "Cable operator" means any Person or group of
Persons (A) who provides Service over a Cable System
and directly or through one or more Affiliates owns
a significant interest in such cable system, or (B)
who otherwise controls or is responsible for,
through any arrangement, the management and
operation of such a Cable System.
(i) "Cable System" or "Cable Communications System" or
"System" means a facility, consisting of a set of
closed transmission paths and associated signal
generation, reception, and control equipment that is
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designed to provide Service which includes video
programming and which is provided to multiple
Subscribers within a community, but such term does
not include (A) a facility that serves only to
retransmit the television signals of 1 or more
television broadcast stations; (B) a facility that
serves only Subscribers in 1 or more multiple unit
dwellings under common ownership, control, or
management, unless such facility or facilities uses
any public right-of-way; (C) a facility of a common
carrier which is subject, in whole or in part, to
the provisions of Title II of the Cable Act, except
that such facility shall be considered a Cable
System (other than for purposes of section 621(c))
to the extent such facility is used in the
transmission of video programming directly to
subscribers; or (D) any facilities of any electric
utility used solely for operating its electric
utility systems.
(j) "Channel" means a frequency band capable of carrying
a standard video signal or some combination of video
signals, or a frequency band assigned to carry a
non-standard video signal or some combination of
such video signals.
(k) "Commercial Subscriber" means a subscriber who
receives a residential service in a place of
business, or anyone whose service is utilized in a
business, trade, or profession, including but not
limited to hotels, motels, bars, restaurants and
other similar establishments.
(1) "Cable Usaae Corporation" or "CUC" means a non-
profit, public corporation, hereinafter further
defined, established or authorized by the Grantor.
(m) "Complaint" means a billing dispute or service call
in which a subscriber is notifying Grantee of an
outage and/or degradation in picture quality.
(n) "Control" or "Controlling Interest" means actual
working control in whatever manner exercised,
including, without limitation, working control
through ownership, management, debt instruments, or
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negative control, as the case may be, of the System,
the Franchise or Grantee. A rebuttable presumption
of the existence of Control or a Controlling
Interest shall arise from the beneficial ownership,
directly or indirectly, by any Person or group of
Persons acting in concert (other than underwriters
during the period in which they are offering
securities to the public) of thirty percent (30%) or
more of any Person (which Person or group of Persons
is hereinafter referred to as "Controlling Person")
or being a party to a management contract.
"Control" or "Controlling Interest" as used herein
may be held simultaneously by more than one Person
or group of Persons.
(o) "Converter" or "Terminal" means a device which
converts signals from one frequency to another or
otherwise processes signals for use by subscribers.
(p) "Drop" means the cable and related equipment
connecting the system's plant to equipment at the
subscriber's premises.
(q) "Education Channel" means any channel where non-
profit educational institutions are the primary
designated programmers.
(r) "FCC" or "Commission" means the Federal
Communications Commission or its designated
representative(s).
(s) "Franchise" means a written legal undertaking or
action of the Grantor which awards permission to a
specific named person or entity to use the streets
and public ways for the purpose of installing,
operating and maintaining a Cable Television System.
(t) "Government Channel" means any channel where local
government agencies are the primary designated pro-
grammers and programming is non-commercial
informational programming regarding government
activities and programs.
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(u) "Grantee" means the entity to which a Franchise is
granted for the construction, operation, main-
tenance, and reconstruction of a Cable System and
the lawful successors, transferees, or assignees of
said entity.
(v) "Grantor" means the entity establishing this
Ordinance for territory within its present and
future jurisdiction, its elected governing body,
and/or such representative person or entity as it
may designate to act on cable matters in its behalf.
(w) "Gross Annual Revenue" or "Gross Annual Receipts" or
"Gross Receipts" means all revenue, or in-kind
consideration (only to the extent that such in-kind
consideration exceeds a fair market value to the
Grantee of $5,000 for any single transaction or
$10,000 annually), as determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, which is
received, directly or indirectly, by Grantee and by
each Affiliated Person from or in connection with
the distribution of any Service on the System, or
the provision of any Service related activity in
connection with the System. Gross Annual Revenue
shall also include all revenue which is received by
Grantee or any Affiliated Person from any other
Person, including without limitation, leased or
access channel programmers, from or in connection
with the distribution of any Service over the System
or the provision of any Service related activity in
connection with the System. Gross Annual Revenue
shall also include all advertising revenue which is
received by Grantee, from or in connection with the
distribution Service over the System or the
provision of any Service related activity in
connection with the System. Gross Annual Revenue
shall not include: (i) the revenue of any Person,
including, without limitation, a supplier of
programming to Grantee to the extent that said
revenue is also included in Gross Annual Revenue of
Grantee; (ii) the revenue of Grantee or any other
Person which is received directly from the sale of
any merchandise through any Service distributed over
the System (other than that portion of such revenue
which represents or can be attributed to a
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Subscriber fee or a payment for the use of the
System for the sale of such merchandise, which
portion shall be included in Gross Annual Revenue);
(iii) taxes imposed by law on Subscribers which
Grantee is obligated to collect; (iv) any investment
income earned by Grantee; (v) the revenue of any
Affiliated Person which represents standard and
reasonable amounts paid by Grantee to said
Affiliated Person for ordinary and necessary
business expenses of said Affiliated Person Grantee,
including without limitation, professional service
fees and.insurance subscription fees and advertising
receipts, to the extent all of said amounts have in
total already been included in Gross Annual Revenue;
(vi) advertising commissions deducted by advertising
agencies and national, regional or local
representation firms, which entities are not the
Grantee or an Affiliated Person, before advertising
revenues are paid over to Grantee; (vii) advertising
commissions deducted for advertising services
provided by Affiliated Persons, provided that the
percentages of gross revenues paid Affiliated
Persons for such advertising commissions do not
exceed the percentages of gross revenues paid said
Persons as of the Effective Date of any Franchise
granted hereunder; (viii) the revenue received by
any Affiliated Person or other Persons in connection
with the sale to Subscribers of any cable
programming guide so long as said cable programming
guide is sold in conjunction with other written
materials and no special charge is made for said
cable programming guide; (ix) the revenue received
in any Service related activity which is only
remotely connected with the System (e.cr., the
revenue received from ticket sales to a concert that
is jointly promoted by the System) provided,
however, that any fee or revenue directly paid to
the Grantee or Affiliated Person for promotion or
advertising in relation thereto shall be included in
Gross Annual Revenue; and (x) to the extent
consistent with generally accepted accounting
principles, consistently applied, bad debt write-
offs.
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(x) "Institutional Network" or "Institutional System"
means a system or portion of a system intended pri-
marily to service non-residential subscribers.
(y) "Lease Channel" means any channel where someone
other than Grantor or Grantee is sold the rights -to
air programming.
(z) "Local Origination Channel" means any channel where
the Grantee is the primary designated programmer.
(aa) "Monitoring" or "Tapping" means observing or
receiving a signal, or the absence of a signal,
where the observer is neither the sending nor
receiving party and is not authorized by the sending
and/or receiving party to observe said signal,
whether the signal is observed or received by
visual, electronic, or any other means whatsoever.
(ab) "Non -Broadcast Signal" means a signal that is not
involved in over -the -air broadcast for general pub-
lic reception.
(ac) "Pay Cable" or "Pay Service," "Premium -Service" or
"Pay Television" means signals for which there is a
fee or charge to users over and above the charge for
Basic Service including any tiers of service;
provided, however, the sale or lease of studio
facilities, equipment, and/or tapes to local users
shall not be deemed pay or premium services.
(ad) "Plant" means the transmitting medium and related
equipment which transmits signals between the
headend and subscribers, including drops.
(ae) "PEG Channel" means a Public, Education or
Government channel.
(af) "Person" means any corporation, partnership,
proprietorship, individual or organization
authorized to do business in the State of California
or any natural person.
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(ag) "Program" or "Programming" means the information
content of a signal and the act or process of cre-
ating such content, whether that content is intended
to be pictures and sound, sound only, or any other
form of information whatsoever.
(ah) "Programmer" means any person or entity who or which
provides program material or information for
transmission by means of a System.
(ai) "Progerty of Grantee" means all property owned or
leased within the Franchise area by Grantee in the
conduct of its system business under a Franchise
granted hereunder.
(aj) "Public Channel," "Access Channel," "Community
Service Channel" or "Community Channel" means any
channel for which members of the public or any
community organization may provide non -advertiser
supported programming; provided, however,
sponsorship identification fees may be paid and
accepted to further community programming.
(ak) "Resident" means any person residing in the
franchised area or as otherwise defined by
applicable law.
(al) "Residential Dwelling Unit" means a home, mobile
home, condominium, apartment, co-operative unit and
any other individual dwelling unit.
(am) "Residential Subscriber" means a subscriber who
receives a service in a dwelling unit, and whose
service is not utilized in a business, trade or
profession.
(an) "Section" means any section, subsection, or
provision of this Ordinance, or of a Franchise here-
under.
(ao) "Service" means any kind of service or type of
benefit provided or authorized to be provided by
Grantee pursuant to the terms of a Franchise, or
group of related benefits or abilities, obtained or
made available to any person or entity, involving
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the use of a signal transmitted via a cable
communications system, whether the signal and its
content are the entire service or comprise only a
part of a service which involves other elements of
any number or kind.
(ap) "Service Area" means the City of San Juan
Capistrano.
(aq) "Service Outage" means a substantial or complete
disruption in cable service to three (3) or more
subscribers in a localized area.
(ar) "Service Tier" or "Tier" means a category of Service
or other Services provided by a Cable Operator and
for which a separate rate is charged by the Cable
Operator other than per channel or per event
programming or legitimate packages of per channel or
per event programming.
(as) "School" means any educational institution, public
or private.
(at) "Streets and Public Ways" means the surface and the
space above and below any public street, sidewalk,
alley, or other public way or right of way of any
type whatsoever.
(au) "Subscriber" means any person or other entity
electing to subscribe to, for any purpose, a service
provided by Grantee by means of or in connection
with its cable system.
(av) "Unit" means a discrete place where system services
are used, such as a residence, apartment, office,
store, etc.
(aw) "User(s)" means any person or entity who either
receives services from a cable system or who
accomplishes any purpose by, in part or in whole,
transmitting or receiving information via a cable
system, or who creates programming for that purpose,
or who receives and uses programming.
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(ax) "Year" means a specific year or part of a year
referred to, or a full calendar year.
(ay) Terms Not Defined - Words, terms, or phrases not
defined herein shall first mean their definition in
the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, as
amended, ("Cable Act"), then their special meanings
or connotations in any industry, business, trade or
profession where they commonly carry such special
meanings. In the event such special meanings are
not common, they shall mean their standard
definitions as set forth in commonly used and
accepted dictionaries of the English language.
Sec. 7-2.02. Grant of Franchise
(a) Authority to Grant Franchises. The Grantor may
grant a Franchise to provide a System under and
pursuant to this Ordinance.
(b) Form. A Franchise may, at Grantor's sole option,
take the form of an ordinance, license, permit,
contract, agreement, resolution or any other form
elected by Grantor.
(c) Grants Not Required. Consistent with applicable
state and federal law, no provision of this ordi-
nance shall require the granting of a Franchise
when, in the opinion of the Grantor, it is in the
public interest not to do so.
(d) Purpose. The purpose of a Franchise shall be to
identify and authorize its specific Grantee and to
identify and specify those terms, conditions,
definitions, itemizations, specifications and other
particulars of the agreement between the Grantor and
Grantee which it represents. In so doing a
Franchise may clarify, extend and interpret the pro-
visions of this Ordinance. Where a Franchise and
this Ordinance conflict both shall be liberally
interpreted to achieve a common meaning or
requirement. In the event this is not possible
within reasonable limits, the Franchise shall pre-
vail.
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(e) Mutual Consideration. The award of a Franchise
authorizing the use of public property or public
rights for private purposes shall be deemed
consideration by the Grantee in the form of
agreement to provide the system and services offered
in accordance with the provisions hereof and of the
Franchise.
(f) Compliance with Law. Neither this Ordinance nor a
Franchise granted under it relieves Grantee of any
requirement of Grantor or of any ordinance, rule,
regulation, or specification of Grantor now or
hereafter in effect, including, but not limited to,
the payment of all normal permit and inspection fees
so long as said ordinance, rules, regulations or
specifications do not materially conflict with or
alter the express terms of this Ordinance and the
Franchise.
(g) Franchise Non -Exclusive.
Grantor may, at its option, grant one or more Fran-
chises to construct, operate, maintain, and
reconstruct a System. Said Franchises shall consti-
tute both a privilege and an obligation to provide
the system and services required by this Ordinance
and the Franchise Agreement.
(h) Limitation. No privilege shall be granted or con-
ferred by a franchise except those specifically
prescribed herein or in the Franchise Agreement.
(i) Duration. The term of any Franchise, and all
rights, privileges, obligations and restrictions
pertaining thereto shall be specified in the
franchise agreement. The effective date of any
franchise shall be as specified in the Franchise.
(j) Use of Public Streets and Ways. For the purposes of
operating and maintaining a System in the franchised
area, a Grantee may place and maintain within the
public rights of way such property and equipment as
are necessary and appurtenant to the operation of
the System. Prior to construction or alteration of
plant in public rights of way, the Grantee shall
apply for, pay all applicable fees, and receive all
necessary permits.
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(k) Use of Other Utilities. Any person or entity who
provides a system or services as defined herein
shall be deemed a Grantee and shall not do so except
in accordance with a franchise granted hereunder.
If such Grantee uses distribution channels furnished
by a telephone company or other public utility, said
Grantee shall be required to comply with all of the
provisicns hereof as a "Licensee," and the term
"Grantee" herein shall include "Licensee" in its
meaning.
Sec. 7-2.03. Rights Reserved to the Grantor.
(a) Reservation. There is hereby reserved to Grantor
every right it may have in relation to its power of
eminent domain over Grantor's Franchise and
property.
(b) Non -waiver or Bar. Neither the granting of any
franchise, nor any provisions hereof, shall
constitute a waiver or bar to the exercise of any
governmental right or power by Grantor.
(c) Delegation of Powers. Any right or power in, or
duty retained by or imposed upon Grantor, or any
commission, officer, employee, department, or board
of Grantor, may be assigned or transferred by
Grantor to any officer, employee, department or
board of Grantor.
(d) Right of Inspection of Construction. The Grantor
shall have the right to inspect all construction or
installation or other physical work performed by
Grantee in connection with the Franchise, and to
make such tests as it shall find necessary to ensure
compliance with the terms of the Franchise and other
pertinent provisions of law, so long as said
inspection and testing does not unreasonably
interfere with Grantee's operations.
(e) Riaht to Require Removal of Property. Consistent
with applicable law, at the expiration of the term
or any renewal term or extension for which the
Franchise is granted, or upon its lawful revocation,
expiration, or termination, the Grantor shall have
the right to require the Grantee to remove, at
Grantee's expense, all portions of its System and
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any other property—from all streets and public ways
within the Franchise area within a reasonable period
of time.
(f) Right of Intervention. The Grantor shall have the
right of intervention in any suit, proceeding or
other judicial or administrative proceeding in which
the Grantor has any material interest, to which the
Grantee is party.
(g) Place of Inspection. The Grantor shall have the
right to inspect and request copies of all relevant
information that is reasonably necessary for the
exercise of Grantor's regulatory authority upon
reasonable notice on Grantee's local premises at any
time during normal business hours, and any Grantee
records kept at another place shall, within ten (10)
days of Grantor's request, be made available at
Grantee's premises within the County of Orange for
Grantor's inspection and or copying, so long as said
inspection does not unreasonably interfere with
Grantee's operations. Grantor shall pay all
reasonable costs for copying any relevant
information needed.
Sec. 7-2.04. Rights of Subscribers.
(a) Discriminatory Practices Prohibited. The Grantee
shall not deny Service or otherwise discriminate
against Subscribers, or others on the basis of race,
color, religion, national origin, sex, age or sexual
preference. The Grantee shall strictly adhere to
the equal employment opportunity requirements of
federal, state or local governments and shall comply
with all applicable laws and executive and
administrative orders relating to non-dis-
crimination.
(b) Tapping and Monitoring. The Grantee shall not tap
or monitor or permit any other person controlled by
Grantee to tap or monitor any cable, line, signal
input device or subscriber outlet or receiver for
any purpose whatsoever without the express written
consent of the subscriber or a court order therefor;
provided, however, that the Grantee shall be
entitled to monitor customer service calls for
quality control purposes and to conduct system -wide
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or individually addressed "sweeps" for the purpose
of verifying system integrity, controlling return
path transmission, or checking for unauthorized
connections to the cable television system or
service levels or billing for pay services.
(c) Data Collection.
(1) Except for its own use or in connection with
the provision of Services or for release to the
Grantor to the extent permitted by law, the
Grantee shall not permit its system to be used
for data collection purposes, nor shall it
otherwise collect data which would reveal the
commercial product or other preferences or
opinions of individual subscribers, members of
their families, or their guests, licensees or
employees, except for Grantee's own internal
uses, unless the Grantee shall have received
the prior affirmative written consent of such
subscriber.
(2) In any event, the Grantee shall not reveal or
permit the release or sale of data on
individual subscribers but may reveal or permit
the release or sale of aggregate data only.
(d) Revealing Subscriber Preferences.
(1) Grantee shall not reveal individual subscriber
preferences, viewing habits, beliefs, philoso-
phy, creeds or religious beliefs to any third
person, firm, agency, governmental unit or
investigating agency without court authority or
prior written consent of the subscriber.
(2) Such written consent, if given, shall be limi-
ted to a period of time not to exceed one (1)
year or a term agreed upon by the Grantee and
subscriber.
(3) The Grantee shall not condition the delivery or
receipt of cable services to any subscriber on
any such consent.
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(4) Such a subscriber may revoke without penalty or
cost any consent previously made by delivering
to the Grantee in writing a substantial
indication of his intent to so revoke.
(e) Revealing Subscriber Lists. The Grantee shall not
reveal, or sell, or permit the release or sale>of
its subscriber list without the prior affirmative
written consent of each Subscriber, provided that
Grantee may use its subscriber list as necessary for
the construction, marketing, and maintenance of the
Grantee's services and facilities authorized by a
Franchise, and the concomitant billing of
subscribers for said Services; and further, provided
that consistent with applicable law, Grantor may use
Grantee's subscribers list for the purpose of
communication with subscribers in connection with
matters relating to operation, management, and
maintenance of the Cable System.
(f) Other Persons Affected. The prohibitions contained
in Sections 7-2.04 (a) - (i)
shall extend and apply to all of the foregoing as
well as to the Grantee:
(1) Officers, directors, employees and agents of
the Grantee;
(2) General and Limited Partners of the Grantee;
(3) Any person or combination of persons owning
holding or controlling five percent (51) or
more of any corporate stock or other ownership
interest of the Grantee;
(4) Any affiliated or subsidiary entity owned or
controlled by Grantee, or in which any officer,
director, stockholder, general or limited
partner or person or group of persons owning,
holding or controlling any ownership interest
in the Grantee, shall own, hold or control five
percent (51) or more of any corporate stock or
other ownership interest; and
(5) Any person, firm or corporation acting or
serving in the capacity of holding or
controlling company of the Grantee.
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(g) Subscriber Bill of Rights. Grantee shall provide,
at the time of initial connection and annually
thereafter to all subscribers a publication, in a
form prior approved by Grantor, delineating and
describing, in clear and understandable language,
the consumer rights granted herein.
(h) Notice to New Subscribers. Before providing cable
television service to any subscriber, Grantee shall
provide a written notice to the Subscriber covering
substantially the following information:
Customer. understands that Company uses
telephone and power company facilities and
public rights of way in providing service
and that this continued use cannot be
guaranteed. Customer agrees not to make
any claim against Company or the telephone
company, or power company, or counties
and/or incorporated cities of the
franchise area or their officers and/or
employees in the event that such use is
denied for any reason and Company is
unable, in its discretion, to provide
service over alternate routes.
(i) Complaint Advice. Grantor may require that Grantee
advise each subscriber as may be set forth in the
Franchise that the Grantor's representative is the
official to whom complaints of poor service should
be made if such complaints of poor service are not
resolved by Grantee to the satisfaction of each
Subscriber.
(a) Public age of the System. To the extent specified
in the Franchise, the Grantor may utilize a portion
of the cable system capacity, and associated
facilities and resources, to develop and provide
non-commercial cable services that will be in the
public interest. In furtherance of this purpose,
the Grantor may establish a non-profit or
cooperative corporation, and adopt by-laws, to
receive and allocate facilities, support funds and
other considerations provided by the Grantee, and/or
others. Such a public corporation, if established,
may be delegated the following responsibilities:
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(1) Receive, and utilize or reallocate for util-
ization, channel capacity, facilities, funding
and other support provided specifically for
public non-commercial usage of the cable
system.
(2) Review the status and progress of each non-
commercial service developed for public
benefit.
(3) Report to the Grantor annually on the utiliza-
tion of resources, the new public services
developed and the benefits achieved for the
Grantor and its residents.
(4) Reallocate resources on a periodic basis to
conform with changing priorities and public
needs.
(b) Grantee Snort for Local Cable System Usage.
Grantee shall provide to the Grantor or the Cable
Usage Corporation, at Grantor's election, equipment,
facilities, and channel capacity as provided in the
Franchise.
Sec. 7-2.06. Services.
(a) Services to be Provided. A Cable System shall
provide, as a minimum, the broad programming
categories listed in the Franchise.
(b) Changes in Services. Grantee shall inform Grantor,
at least forty-five (45) days and Subscribers at
least thirty (30) days in advance of making any
change in a Cable Service or in the rates charged
therefor, unless Grantor agrees to waive this
requirement in writing.
(c) Non-discrimination. Grantee shall not discriminate
between or among subscribers within one type or
class in the availability of services at either
standard or differential rates according to
published rate schedules. No charges may be made for
services except as listed in published schedules
which are available to inspection by anyone at
Grantee's office, quoted by Grantee on the
telephone, and displayed or communicated to all
potential subscribers.
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(d) Prepayment. Upon completion of system construction
and/or system reconstruction, Grantee may, at its
option, charge subscribers for services no more than
one (1) month in advance unless an individual
subscriber requests a longer period. Prior to
completion of system reconstruction, Grantee may
continue any existing advance billing practices
which provide for up to a maximum of two (2) months
of advance billing. Bills may be due and payable
upon mailing but shall not be delinquent, and no
late charge penalties shall be assessed, until the
later of: (1) thirty (30) days from postmark; or (2)
service has actually been provided for the billed
period. All bills and billing statements shall
clearly indicate the billing period, the actual due
date, and the delinquent or late remedy or
assessment.
(e) Disconnect for Cause. Grantee may disconnect a
subscriber only for cause, which shall include,
without limitation, the following:
(1) Payment delinquency in excess of forty-five
(45) days.
(2) Willful or negligent damage to or misappropri-
ation of Grantee property.
(3) Monitoring, tapping, or tampering with Gran-
tee's system, signals, or service.
(4) Threats of violence to Grantee's employees or
property.
(f) Reconnection. Grantee shall, upon subscriber's
written request, reconnect service which has been
disconnected for payment delinquency when payment
has removed the delinquency. If authorized by
applicable law, a published standard charge may be
made for reconnection. Grantee shall not be
required to make more than three (3) reconnections
for the same subscriber if the disconnections
involved were caused by payment delinquency within
the past twenty-four (24) months. Reconnection for
disconnects covered by sections 7-2.06 (e) (2)
shall be at Grantee's sole discretion.
LLS
(1) Grantee shall promptly provide and maintain
service to the residential, commercial, and
industrial structures as provided in the
Franchise Agreement, in the service area as
defined in the Franchise Agreement, upon
request of the lawful occupant or owner.
(2) In the case of a new drop, Grantee shall advise
each subscriber that he/she has the right to
require his/her installation be done over any
route on his property, and in any manner he/she
may elect which is technically feasible and
consistent with proper construction practices.
Grantee may, if he/she so elects, require that
any such request be made in writing. If the
subscriber requests installation other than a
standard installation, then the subscriber may
be required to pay a reasonable fee for the
time and materials occasioned by the
installation and to sign an agreement releasing
Grantee from liability for poor service or
damage to person or property resulting from the
non-standard installation.
(3) For purposes of this subsection, a standard
installation shall include installation of drop
cable with fittings up to one hundred and fifty
feet (150) feet from the CATV distribution
system measured along the cable from the center
line of the street or utility easement through
the house wall or at the customer's option
through the floor from a house vent or crawl
space directly to the customer's television set
with five feet of cable from the wall or floor
entry to the TV set. Also included as part of
a standard installation is the grounding cable,
fine tuning of the television set and the
provision of the appropriate literature.
(h) Converters/Terminals. At such time as a converter
or terminal becomes necessary for subscribers to
have access to all services on its system, Grantee
shall make them available to subscribers. Grantee
may require each subscriber who elects to take a
converter or terminal to furnish a security deposit
therefor.
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zz4
(1) Each device shall be and remain the property of
the Grantee unless Grantor approves its sale to
the subscriber. Grantee shall be responsible
for maintenance and repair of all equipment
owned by Grantee and may replace it as he/she
may from time -to -time elect, except that
subscriber shall be responsible for loss of or
damage to any such device while in his/her
possession.
(2) Upon termination or cancellation of sub-
scriber's service, subscriber shall promptly
return Grantee's property to Grantee in the
same condition as received, reasonable wear and
tear excepted.
(3) Grantee may apply the security deposit against
any sum due from subscriber for loss of or
damage to such converter exceeding reasonable
wear and tear. In the event that no security
deposit has been required, the Grantee may
charge the subscriber for any such damage
exceeding reasonable wear and tear.
(4) If Grantee has no claim against the deposit,
Grantee shall return it, or the balance, to the
subscriber within forty-five (45) days of
return of the converter.
(i) Non -Standard Installations. For each non-standard
drop installed, the Grantee may charge the
subscriber for the cost of material and labor in
excess of that for a standard drop. Grantee shall
provide each subscriber a written estimate of all
charges prior to installation and obtain
subscriber's written authorization in advance for
all non-standard drop charges.
(a) System Construction. The System shall be con-
structed in accordance with the provisions of the
Franchise agreement.
(b) Construction Components and Techniques. Construc-
tion components and techniques shall be in
accordance with the Franchise and all applicable
law.
1"it
225
(c) Technical and Performance Standards. Consistent
with applicable law, system technical and
performance standards shall be in accordance with
the Franchise.
(d) Construction Codes. The Grantee shall strictly
adhere to all building and zoning codes currently or
hereafter in force and obtain all necessary permits:
The Grantee shall arrange its lines, cables, and
other appurtenances, on both public and private
property, in such a manner as to cause no
unreasonable interference with the use of said
property by any person. In the event of such
interference, the Grantor may require the removal of
the Grantee's lines, cables, and appurtenances from
the property in question. Grantee shall give at
least forty-eight (48) hour advance notice to all
property owners and the Grantor prior to installing
any above -ground and underground structures upon
easements located on private property. Grantor
shall not modify its construction requirements
subsequent to the completion of construction so as
to require reconstruction or retrofit unless the
public health and safety so requires.
(e) System Construction Schedule.
(1) The Grantee shall begin to offer Service no
later than the schedule contained in the Fran-
chise.
(2) The Grantee shall provide a detailed construc-
tion plan indicating progress schedule, area
construction or reconstruction maps, test plan,
and projected dates for offering service.
(f) Geographical Coverage. The Grantee shall construct
the Cable System to service those residential
structures within the Service Area of the Franchise
and any annexations thereto, as defined and provided
by the Franchise, with any exceptions requiring
specific Grantor approval. Service shall be
provided to subscribers in accordance with the
schedules specified in the Franchise. The route of
separate cables serving institutional subscribers
shall be as approved by Grantor and specified in the
Franchise.
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226
(g) Provision of Service. After service has been
established for any area, the Grantee shall provide
service to any requesting residential subscriber
within that area within times and terms set forth in
the Franchise.
(h) Construction Default. Upon the failure, refusal or
neglect of Grantee to cause any construction',
repair, or other necessary work to comply with the
terms of the Franchise agreement to be properly
completed in, on, over, or under any right of way
within a time prescribed in the Franchise Agreement
or the construction permit, Grantor may (but shall
not be required to) cause such work to be completed
in whole or in part, and upon so doing shall submit
to Grantee itemized statement of costs thereof.
Grantee shall be given reasonable notice of
Grantor's intent to exercise this power and fifteen
(15) days to cure thereafter. Grantee shall, within
thirty (30) days of billing, pay to Grantor the
actual costs thereof.
(i) Vacation or Abandonment. In the event any street,
alley, public highway or portion thereof used by the
Grantee shall be vacated by the Grantor, or the use
thereof discontinued by the Grantee, upon reasonable
notice, the Grantee shall forthwith remove its
facilities therefrom unless specifically permitted
to continue the same, and on the removal thereof
restore, repair or reconstruct the area where such
removal has occurred, to such condition as may be
required by the Grantor not in excess of the
original condition. In the event of failure,
neglect or refusal of the Grantee, after thirty (30)
days' notice by the Grantor to do such work, Grantor
may cause it to be done, and the cost thereof shall
be paid by the Grantee within thirty (30) days and
collection may be made by Grantor.
(j) Abandonment in Place. Grantor may, upon written
application by Grantee, approve the abandonment of
any property in place by Grantee, under such terms
and conditions as Grantor may approve. Upon
Grantor -approved abandonment of any property in
place, Grantee shall cause to be executed,
acknowledged, and delivered to Grantor such
instruments as Grantor shall prescribe and approve,
transferring and conveying the ownership of such
property to Grantor.
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227
(k) Removal of System Facilities. In the event that
Grantee's plant is deactivated for a continuous
period of thirty (30) days except for reasons
outside Grantee's control, without prior written
notice to and approval by Grantor then Grantee
shall, at Grantor's option, and at the expense of
Grantee and at no expense to Grantor, and upon
demand of Grantor, promptly remove from any streets
or other area all property of Grantee, and Grantee
shall promptly restore the street or other area from
which such property has been removed to its
condition prior to Grantee's use thereof, provided
that Grantee shall not be required to remove conduit
from underground, where Grantor may determine no
damage to the surface of any structures may result
from such non -removal.
(1) Movement of Facilities. In the event it is nec-
essary to temporarily move or remove any of the
Grantee's property at Grantor's direction for a
public purpose in order lawfully to move a large
object, vehicle, building or other structure,
Grantee, upon reasonable notice, shall move, at the
expense of Grantee, its property as may be required
to facilitate such movements. No such movement
shall be deemed a taking of Grantee's property.
Nothing herein shall limit the right of Grantee to
seek reimbursement from any party other than
Grantor.
(m) Undergrounding of Cable. Cables shall be installed
underground at Grantee's cost where all existing
utilities are already underground. Previously
installed aerial cable shall be installed
underground at Grantee's pro rata cost in concert
with other utilities when all such other utilities
may convert from aerial to underground construction.
(n) Facility Agreements. No franchise shall relieve
Grantee of any obligations involved in obtaining
pole or conduit space from any department of
Grantor, utility company, or from others maintaining
utilities in streets.
(o) Extension of Franchise Area. If Grantor elects to
grant one or more franchise hereunder, and if
thereafter one or more of the franchises expires or
is otherwise ended, Grantor may, if it so elects,
require a remaining Grantee, or more than one, to
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M
extend its system to provide service to the area
served by the ended franchise unless Grantee
demonstrates to Grantor's reasonable satisfaction
that it is not commercially practicable to do so,
provided, however, Grantee shall not be required to
overbuild any existing system. The terms and
requirements of such extension shall not exceed
those contained herein or in Grantee's Franchise.
(p) Repair of Streets and Public Ways. Any and all
streets and public ways disturbed or damaged by the
Grantee or its contractors, during the construction,
operation, maintenance, or reconstruction of the
System, shall be restored within the timeframe and
limits specified by Grantor or agent of Grantor, at
Grantee's expense, to their original condition
unless otherwise authorized in writing by Grantor.
(q) Erection of Poles Prohibited. The Grantee shall not
erect any pole on or along any street or public way
in an existing aerial utility system. If additional
poles in an existing aerial route are required,
Grantee shall negotiate with public utility for
their installation. Any such installation shall
require the advance written approval of the Grantor.
Subject to applicable federal and state law, the
Grantee shall negotiate the lease of pole space and
facilities from the existing pole owners for all
aerial construction, under mutually acceptable terms
and conditions.
(r) Trimminq of Trees. Grantee may cut or trim any
trees in any street and Grantee may cut or trim
trees pursuant to a prior agreement with the owner
of property on which they stand, or as otherwise
authorized in writing by Grantor.
(s) Reservations of Street Rights. Nothing in a Fran-
chise shall prevent the Grantor from constructing,
repairing and/or altering any public work. All such
work shall be done, insofar as practicable, in such
manner as not to unnecessarily obstruct, injure or
prevent the free use and operation of any property
of Grantee. However, if any such property of
Grantee shall interfere with the construction,
maintenance or repair of any public improvement, all
such property shall be removed or replaced in such
manner as directed by Grantor so that the same shall
not interfere with the said public work, and such
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229
removal or replacement shall be at the expense of
the Grantee.
(t) Underground Vaults
its Cable System,
Gran
active,
Grant
below ground in waterproof
in above ground vaults or
dimensions, and placement
by the Grantor in writing.
shall instal
passive, or o
flush -mounted
pedestals whose
have been prior
Sec. 7-2.08. Operations and Maintenance.
(a) Maintenance and Complaints.
1 all of
therwise,
vaults or
design,
approved
(1) The Grantee shall maintain an office in the
Service Area, or such other location approved
by the Grantor in writing, open during all
usual business hours, but in no case less than
forty eight (48) hours per week including at
least one weekend day per week. Grantor shall
have a publicly listed non -toll -charge
telephone number, and operated as to receive
subscriber complaints and requests on a 24-hour
basis. Current information shall be maintained
of all complaints and their disposition and a
summary thereof shall be submitted to Grantor
upon request but no more often than monthly.
(2) The Grantee
hours after
relating to
(48) hours
complaints
permitted by
made to the
repair exc
service call
shall respond
receipt of re
a service outag
excluding Sunda
and requests fo
preemptive law,
Subscriber for
ept that Grantee
s not related to
within eight (8)
quest for repairs
e and forty-eight
ys for all other
r repair. Unless
no charge shall be
such a service or
may charge for
its Cable System.
(3) Telephone Service. The Grantee shall provide a
telephone system to receive all construction
and service complaints. A sufficient number of
customer service representatives shall be
provided so that callers are not required to
wait beyond thirty (30) seconds for phone
service or receive busy signals more than three
(3) percent of the time averaged quarterly.
The telephone number of the local office shall
be listed in the telephone directory serving
the City of San Juan Capistrano. The telephone
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230
service shall accept complaints twenty-four
(24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week. The
telephone system shall be capable of self -
generating reports relating to answer times,
response times, hold times, and abandoned
calls.
(4) Grantee shall provide and guarantee subscribers
with the option of scheduling a four (4) hour
period in which the service call will be made
either in morning or afternoon.
(b) procedures for Handling of Complaints. Grantee's
complaint handling procedures shall be designed to
accomplish the following:
(1) Receipt and acknowledgement of any complaint
made in person or by telephone within twelve
(12) business hours.
(2) Acknowledgement of any complaint received by
mail at Grantee's office within five (5)
business days of the date such complaint is
received.
(3) Maintain information available to Grantor,
consistent with applicable laws, upon Grantor's
request, of all complaints, including the
complainants' name, address and telephone
number, the date of its acknowledgement, and
information given as to how the complaint would
be resolved, and the action taken.
(4) Provide complete information to the complainant
regarding his ability to take his complaint to
the Grantor's representative if it is not
resolved by the Grantee.
(5) Grantee shall respond within eight (8) business
hours to complaints made or referred by
Grantor.
(c) Remedies for Inadeauate Performance. The following
remedies for loss of service are hereby
established:
(1) Except for rebuild or planned Service Outages
for which Grantee receives prior approval of
Grantor, in the event that one-third or more of
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231
its service(s) to any Subscriber is interrupted
for six (6) consecutive hours, or for a total
of twelve (12) nonconsecutive hours within any
thirty (30) day period, and Subscriber notifies
Grantee of said outage within twenty-four (24)
hours of Subscriber discovery thereof, Grantee
shall provide a ten percent (10%) rebate of the
monthly fees to affected Subscribers for each
such Service Outage period.
(2) Except for rebuild or planned Service Outages
for which Grantee receives prior approval of
Grantor, in the event that one-third or more of
its service(s) to any Subscriber is interrupted
for twenty-four (24) or more consecutive hours,
except in circumstances for which the prior
approval of the interruption is obtained from
the Grantor, and Subscriber notifies Grantee of
said outage within twenty-four (24) hours of
Subscriber discovery thereof, Grantee shall
provide a twenty percent (200) rebate of the
monthly fees to affected Subscribers for each
such Service Outage period.
(d) Triennial Audit of Performance.
(1) In addition to the provisions of section 7-2.12(c)
and, except as provided in the Franchise,
Grantor may require, at its option, that
performance audits of the system be conducted
every three (3) years by an independent
technical consultant, selected and employed by
Grantor and at Grantor's sole expense, to
verify compliance of the system to all
technical standards and other specifications of
the franchise, as provided in the Franchise
Agreement. Periodic technical specification
testing, if provided for in the Franchise and
actually conducted pursuant thereto, shall
eliminate this performance audit.
(2) Upon completion of a performance audit, the
Grantor and Grantee shall meet to review the
performance of the Cable System. The reports
required herein regarding subscriber
complaints, the records of performance tests
and the opinion survey report shall be utilized
as the basis for review. In addition, any
subscriber may submit complaints during the
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232
review meetings, either orally or in writing,
and these shall be considered.
(3) within thirty (30) days after the conclusion of
the system performance review meetings, Grantor
shall issue findings with respect to the
adequacy of system performance and quality of
service. If inadequacies are found, Grantor
may direct Grantee to correct the inadequacies
within a reasonable period of time.
(4) Grantor's and Grantee's participation in this
process shall not waive any rights they may
possess under applicable federal and/or state
law.
(5) In addition to the Triennial Audit described
above, Grantor may conduct an annual audit of
the same magnitude, at its sole expense, when
and if determined necessary or appropriate by
Grantor.
(e) System Technical Data. Grantee shall maintain in
its office a complete and up-to-date set of as -
built system maps and drawings upon completion of
construction or reconstruction, equipment spe-
cification and maintenance publications, and signal
level diagrams for each active electronic piece of
equipment in the system. As -built drawings show
all lines and installed equipment, and tap values
and spigots. The scale of maps and drawings shall
be sufficient to show the required details in
easily readable form and size. Technical data at
the office shall also include approved pole
applications, details and documentation of
satellite and microwave equipment, mobile radio
units, heavy construction vehicles and equipment,
and video and audio equipment normally used in the
operation of the system. If Grantor requires use
of technical data in its own office it may make
copies of any items at Grantor's expense.
(f) Availability of Technical Data. All technical data
shall be available to Grantor's inspection during
normal business hours, upon reasonable notice, and,
in the event of system failure or other operating
emergency, at any time, so long as the provision of
said data does not unreasonably interfere with
Grantee's operations.
233
(g) Emergency Repair Canability. It shall be Grantee's
responsibility to assure that its personnel
qualified to make repairs are available at all
reasonable times and that they are supplied with
keys, equipment location instructions, and
technical information necessary to begin repairs
upon notification of need to maintain or restore
continuous service to the system.
(h) Customer Service Standards and Procedures.
(1) information to Customers. The Grantee shall,
at the time service is initiated, provide each
new customer written information covering:
(A) The time allowed to pay outstanding bills.
(B) Grounds for termination of service.
(C) The steps the Grantee must take before
terminating service.
(D) How the customer can resolve billing disputes.
(E) The steps necessary to have service reconnected
after involuntary termination.
(F) The fact that customer service personnel shall
identify themselves by first names immediately.
(G) The fact that customers shall have the right to
speak with a supervisor, and if none is
available, supervisor shall return customer
call within one (1) working day.
(H) The appropriate regulatory authority with whom
to register a complaint and how to contact such
authority.
In addition, at least once each calendar year, Grantee shall
notify each customer that information is available upon request
concerning items (A) through (H) above.
(i) Written Notices.
Written notices of all terms of customer agreement, of all
equipment and fee options, of name, address and telephone
number of company, availability of parental control
devices, company practices with respect to privacy of
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PW11
customer, and other relevant information shall be made by
Grantee to customers before service is begun, at least
once each calendar year and at any time upon the request
of the customer. Disclosure should include but not be
limited to: availability of A/B switches, as may be
required by law, any reduced rates for seniors or other
subscribers, company billing and credit practices, the
telephone numbers for customer complaints of the company
and the Grantor, company practices regarding protection of
customer privacy. Notices should be sent to the Grantor
of current policies and practices at least once a year and
whenever changes are made.
(j) Advanced Notices.
Except as provided in applicable law, advance
notices of changes, including increases in fees or
charges and in channel lineup of stations or
services, shall be sent to Grantor and to
subscribers promptly, that is, at least thirty (30)
days to Grantor and thirty (30) days to subscribers
before the changes are made, except for changes not
known sufficiently in advance by Grantee and not
under Grantee's control or where Grantor's waiver
is obtained. Notices should be clearly identified
and in print large enough to be easily readable.
(k) Billina.
7-2.06(d)
(1) Except as provided in Section/ bills for
service shall be rendered monthly, unless
otherwise authorized by the customer and the
Grantee or unless service is rendered for a
period less than one (1) month. All bills
shall contain a telephone number and a mailing
address for billing inquiries or disputes and
shall clearly delineate all changes and the
basis for those changes.
(2) Disputed Bills
(a) In the event of a dispute between the
customer and the Grantee regarding the
bill, the Grantee shall promptly make such
investigation as is required by the
particular case and report the results to
the customer. In the event the dispute is
not resolved to the satisfaction of both
parties, the Grantee shall inform the
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235
customer of the complaint procedures of
the Grantee. If the customer wishes to
obtain the benefits of paragraphs (b) and
(c) of this sub -section, notification of
the disputed bill must be given to the
Grantee in writing within thirty (30) days
after the bill date.
(b) The customer shall not be required to pay
the disputed portion of the bill until the
earlier of the following:
(1) Resolution of the dispute,
(2) Expiration of the forty-five (45)
day period beginning on the date of
issuance, provided that the
procedures established in sub -section
(a) above have been followed.
(c) Pending resolution of the bill dispute,
Grantee shall exercise reasonable care to
ensure that no termination notices shall
be issued for the disputed portions of the
bill, nor shall any other collection
procedures be initiated for said amount.
Any such activity may be interpreted as an
attempt to avoid the provisions of these
rules and shall constitute violation of
the regulations.
(1) Referral of Accounts to Collection Agencies.
(1) Uncollected accounts may be referred to private
collection agencies for appropriate action if
the bill has not been paid by the earlier of
(a) thirty (30) days following date of
involuntary termination or (b) the sixty-first
(61st) day following the date of issuance of
the original uncollected amount, provided no
notification of billing dispute has been made,
or if procedures for resolution of billing
disputes have not been followed as required
above.
(2) If the account was voluntarily terminated, for
any reason, the account may not be referred to
a private collection agency until at least
thirty (30) days following rendering of the
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236
final bill. If notification of a billing
dispute is made, all collection procedures
shall be delayed as required in paragraph (c)
of sub -section B.3., "Disputed Bills".
Referral to collection agent shall then occur
no sooner than the sixty-first (61st) day
following issuance of the original uncollected
amount.
(m) Termination for Non -Payment.
Bills shall not be delinquent earlier than thirty
(30) days from the date of the bill, which must be
mailed to subscribers within five (5) working days
of its dated date. Subscribers must be notified in
writing of a proposed disconnection for non-payment
at least fifteen (15) days prior to disconnection.
Grantee may not assess late charges of any amount
earlier than the thirtieth (30th) day from the date
of the bill.
(n) Refund. when a subscriber voluntarily discontinues
service Grantee shall refund the unused portion of
any advance payments after deducting any charges
currently due through the end of the present
billing period within forty-five (45) days of
discontinuance of service. Unused payment portions
shall be the percentage of time for which
subscriber has paid for service and will not
receive it because of his discontinuation of
service.
(o) nuali y of Service. The quality of Grantee's
service refers to the services associated with day-
to-day operations (e.g., response to customer
complaints; billing; interruptions of service;
disconnection; rebates and credits; signal quality,
and the provision to customers or potential
customers of information on billing or services).
In order to assess the quality of service, Grantee
shall survey, at Grantor's request, a
representative telephonic sample of no less than
two hundred (200) subscribers at least once every
third calendar year. The form, content, and
methodology of the telephonic survey shall be prior
approved in writing by Grantor.
MIM
237
The results of said survey, including the raw data
-
and conclusions, shall be provided to Grantor
within thirty (30) days of completion and
tabulation of results.
Sec. 7-2.09. Violations.
(a) Use of Public Streets. From and after the effec-
tive date of this ordinance, it shall be unlawful
for any person to construct, install,_ or maintain
in any public place within Grantor's territory, or
upon any easement owned or controlled by a public
utility, or within any other public property of
Grantor, or within any privately -owned area within
Grantor's jurisdiction which is not yet, but is
designated as, a proposed public place on a
tentative subdivision map approved by Grantor, any
equipment, facilities, or system for distributing
signals or services through a cable television
system, unless a franchise has first been obtained
hereunder, and is in full force and effect.
(b) Unauthorized Connections. It shall be unlawful for
any person to make or use any unauthorized
connection to, or to monitor, tap, receive or send
any signal or service via a franchised system, or
to enable anyone to receive or use any service,
television or radio signal, picture, program, or
sound, or any other signal without payment to the
owner of said system.
(c) Tampering with Facilities. It shall be unlawful,
without the consent of the owner, to willfully
attach to, tamper with, modify, remove or injure
any physical part of a franchised cable television
system.
Sec. 7-2.10. Termination and Receivership.
(a) Revocation. Consistent with applicable law, in
addition to any rights set out elsewhere in this
document, the Grantor reserves the right to revoke
a Franchise, subject to notice to Grantee and the
provision of a hearing consistent with due process
requirements, in the event that:
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238
(1) The Grantee willfully and/or negligently on a
continuous basis violates any material
provision of its franchise.
(2) The Grantee's construction schedule is mater-
ially delayed as set forth in the Franchise and
such delays were within the control of Grantee.
(b) Forfeiture. Consistent with applicable law, upon
failure of the Grantee to comply with the material
terms of its franchise, the Grantor may by
resolution after a full hearing affording Grantee
due process, declare a forfeiture, and the Grantee
may be required to forthwith remove its structures
or property from the streets and restore the
streets to their prior condition within a
reasonable period of time and upon failure to do so
the Grantor may perform the work and collect all
actual costs, including all direct and indirect
costs, thereof from the Grantee. The cost thereof
shall be a lien upon all plant,.property, or other
assets of the Grantee, within the City limits.
Sec. 7-2.11. Franchise Applications.
(a) Franchise Applications. Applicants for a
Franchise, or renewal thereof, may submit to the
Grantor, or to a designated agency, written
application in a format provided by the Grantor, at
the time and place designated by the Grantor for
accepting applications, and including the desig-
nated application fee. This provision is deemed
procedural and shall not constitute the grant of
any right to the Grantee.
Sec. 7-2.12. Records.
(a) Records. There shall be kept in the Grantor's
offices a separate record for the Franchise, which
record shall show the things hereafter set forth in
Subparagraphs A and B below. The Grantee shall
provide such information in such form as may be
required by the Grantor for said records, as well
as copies of any records of Grantee upon request
for good cause, so long as the provision of said
documents does not unreasonably interfere with
Grantee's operations and said information is
reasonably necessary for Grantor to carry out its
regulatory functions.
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239
(1) Any amount collected annually from the Grantor
and the character and extent of the service
rendered therefor to the Grantor.
(2) The amount collected annually from other users
of service and the character and extent of the
service rendered therefor to them.
Grantee shall keep true and accurate books and records in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied, showing all income, expenses, and expense
transfers, borrowing, payments, investments of capital, and all
other transactions relating to the system. Grantor shall, upon
reasonable notice, have the right to inspect said records and
receive copies thereof to the extent said information is
reasonably necessary for Grantor to carry out its regulatory
functions.
(b) Reports of Financial and Operating Activity.
(1) No later than ninety (90) days after the close
of Grantee's fiscal years, Grantee shall
present an audited written report to the
Grantor which shall include:
(a) A financial report verified by the Chief
Financial Officer or his/her designee of
Grantee for all Cable System activity
during the previous fiscal year including
gross receipts from all sources, and
gross subscriber revenues from each
service.
(b) A summary of the previous year's activ-
ities, including, but not limited to,
subscriber totals and new services.
(c) If requested by Grantor, a summary of
complaints received and remedial actions
taken.
(c) Performance Tests and Compliance Renorts. No later
than April 15 0£ each year, the Grantee shall pro-
vide a written report of any FCC or other
performance tests required or conducted. In
addition, the Grantee shall provide reports of the
Test and Compliance procedures established by its
franchise agreement, or herein, no later than
thirty (30) days after the completion of tests.
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(d) Additional Reports. The Grantee shall prepare and
furnish to the Grantor in writing at the times and
in the form prescribed by Grantor, such additional
reports with respect to its operation, affairs,
transactions, or property, as may be reasonably
necessary and appropriate to the performance of any
of the rights, functions or duties of the Grantor,
as specified by Grantor, and for good cause so
long as the provision of said reports does not
unreasonably interfere with Grantee's operations
and said information is reasonably necessary for
Grantor to carry out its regulatory functions.
(e) Communications with Regulatory Agencies. Upon
Grantor's request copies of all communications
between the Grantee and the Federal Communications
Commission or any other agency having jurisdiction
in respect to any matters affecting cable
communications operations authorized pursuant to a
franchise, shall be submitted promptly to the
Grantor upon receipt or mailing by Grantee.
(f) Right to Audit. Grantor shall have the right to
inspect, examine, or audit, during normal business
hours and upon reasonable notice to the Grantee,
all documents which pertain to the Grantee or any
Affiliated Person with respect to the system, each
Service distributed over the System and each
service related activity and which are necessary to
the Grantor's performance of its obligations and/or
the Grantor's enforcement of its rights under the
terms of the Franchise; provided, however, that the
Grantor may not exercise said right more frequently
than once in any twelve (12) month period. All
such documents shall be made available at the local
system office of the Grantee. All such documents
which pertain to financial matters which may be the
subject of an audit by the Grantor shall be
retained by the Grantee for a minimum of five (5)
years following termination of any Franchise.
Access by the Grantor to any of the documents
covered by this Section shall not be denied by the
Grantee on grounds that such documents are alleged
by the Grantee to contain proprietary information.
To the extent allowed by applicable law, Grantor
shall maintain the confidentiality of said
documents.
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Grantor may require written certification by the
Grantee's appropriate directors, officers or other employees
with respect to all documents referred to in this Section.
Any audit conducted by the Grantor pursuant to this
Section shall be conducted at the sole expense of the Grantor
and the Grantor shall prepare a written report containing its
findings, a copy of which shall be mailed to the Grantee;
provided, however, that the Grantee shall reimburse the Grantor
for the expense of any such audit if, as the result of said
audit, it is determined that there is a shortfall of more than
five percent (5°s) in the amount of franchise fees or other
payments which have been made or will be made, by the Grantee
to the Grantor pursuant to the terms of any Franchise.
Sec. 7-2.13. Enforcement Mechanism.
(a) Notice of Franchise Default. Except as provided in
the Franchise Agreement, prior to formal con-
sideration by Grantor of termination of Grantee's
Franchise because of willful or continuous
negligent failure to correct a default attributed
to Grantee, Grantor shall make written demand on
Grantee to correct the default alleged. Grantor
and Grantee shall expeditiously meet to discuss the
alleged problem, at which time Grantee shall
indicate, in writing, the amount of time necessary
to resolve the alleged problem. During this time
period, but in no event fewer than ten (10) days
before the final date for correction, Grantee may
request additional time to correct the problem and
Grantor shall grant said request if it determines,
in the exercise of its discretion, that such time
is necessary due to delays beyond Grantee's
control. If the default continues for a period of
thirty (30) days following such deadline for
corrections, plus any extension thereof, Franchise
termination may be placed on the next available
regular Grantor's meeting agenda. The Grantee
shall be served a written notice of such
termination at least ten (10) days in advance
giving the time and place of the Grantor's meeting.
At its meeting Grantor shall hear Grantee and any
person interested in the matter and shall
determine, at that or subsequent meetings, an
appropriate course of action for enforcement or
termination of Grantee's Franchise.
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(b) Delegation of Enforcement Mechanisms. Such
liquidated damages as Grantor may assess against
Grantee which do not include loss of Franchise may,
at Grantor's option, be determined by an officer or
agency of the Grantor to which it may delegate such
administrative considerations and decisions subject
to due process and the criteria contained in this
ordinance the Franchise agreement subject to appeal
to the City Council.
Sec. 7-2.14. Miscellaneous Provisions.
(a) Captions. The section and subsection numbers and
captions throughout this ordinance are intended to
facilitate reading and reference. Such numbers and
captions shall not affect the meaning or
interpretation of any part of this ordinance.
(b) Franchise References. A franchise which cites,
refers to, or otherwise incorporates this entire
ordinance or portions thereof shall be deemed to be
a franchise issued under and subject to this
ordinance. Such a franchise may employ, as
sufficient for citation, reference, or
incorporation the section or subsection number and
caption hereof, followed by a statement of the
detail specification, or requirement of the
franchise pursuant to such reference.
(c) Filing. When not otherwise prescribed herein, all
matters herein required to be filed with Grantor
shall be filed with the Grantor's official or
agency as designated by Grantor.
(d) Non -enforcement by the Grantor. A Grantee shall
not be relieved of its obligation to comply with
any of the provisions of this ordinance, or of its
franchise or any law or regulation, by reason of
any failure of the Grantor to force prompt
compliance.
(e) Continuity of Service. It shall be the right of
all subscribers to receive all available services
within the obligations of the Franchise insofar as
their financial and other obligations to the
Grantee are honored. In the event that the Grantee
elects to rebuild, modify, or sell the system, the
Grantee shall use due diligence and reasonable care
to ensure that all subscribers receive continuous,
243
uninterrupted service. In the event of purchase by
the Grantor, or a change of Grantee, the current
Grantee shall cooperate with the Grantor or new
Grantee to operate the system for a temporary
period, to maintain continuity of service to all
subscribers. In the event that Grantee, through
its own fault, discontinues system -wide service for
seventy-two (72) continuous hours and Grantee is --,in
material default of its Franchise or said Franchise
is revoked by Grantor, but not if Grantor fails to
renew said Franchise, Grantor may, by resolution
when it deems reasonable cause exists, assume
operation of a system for the purpose of
maintaining continuity of service until any
circumstances which may, in the judgment of the
Grantor, threaten the continuity of service are
resolved to Grantor's satisfaction.
(f) Operation By Grantor. During any period when the
system is being operated by Grantor pursuant to
Section 7-2.08 Grantor shall attempt to cause as
little disruption of operations as is consistent
with the maintenance of continuing service to
subscribers. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Grantor shall, as it may deem necessary, make any
changes in any aspect of operations desirable, in
Grantor's sole judgment, for the preservation of
quality of service and its continuity. Grantor
shall further, during any such period, maintain to
the best of its ability the system's records,
physical plant, financial integrity and funds, and
other details and activities normally involved in
operations.
(g) Management By Grantor. Grantor may, upon assuming
operation of a system franchised hereunder, appoint
a manager to act for it in the overall as well as
detailed direction and conduct of the system's
affairs. Such manager shall have the authority
delegated to him by Grantor and shall be solely
responsible to Grantor for management of the
system. Grantee shall reimburse Grantor for all
its reasonable costs or damages in excess of system
revenues during Grantor operation if the Franchise
is in full force and effect during the period of
Grantor operation.
(h) Notices. All notices and other communications to
Grantee shall be addressed to it at the address at
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244
which Grantee conducts its business. All notices
and other communications to Grantor shall be
addressed to it at its published address for
receipt of public communications.
(i) Force Majeure: Grantee's Inability to Perform. In
the event Grantee's performance of any of the
terms, conditions, obligations, or requirements of
this ordinance or any franchise granted hereunder,
is prevented or impaired due to any cause beyond
its reasonable control and not reasonably
foreseeable, such inability to perform shall be
deemed to be excused, and no penalties or sanctions
shall be imposed as a result thereof. Such causes
beyond Grantee's reasonable control and not
reasonably foreseeable shall include, but not be
limited to, any acts of God, civil emergencies,
labor unrest, strikes, inability to obtain gratis
access to an individual's property, and any
inability of the Grantee to secure all necessary
permissions or permits to utilize necessary poles
or conduits so long as Grantee utilizes due
diligence to timely obtain said permissions or
permits.
(j) Application. All of the provisions of this
Ordinance, or any of the provisions hereof, shall
be applicable to all Franchises granted by the
Grantor to the maximum extent permitted by law.
(k) Preemption by State or Federal Law. If any State
or Federal law or regulation shall require the
Grantee to provide any service, or shall permit the
Grantee to provide any service, in conflict with
the terms and conditions of this Ordinance or of
the Grantee's Franchise, then such State or Federal
law or regulation shall immediately apply to the
terms and conditions of this Ordinance and
Grantee's Franchise and shall completely supersede
such previous terms and conditions which are in
conflict.
(1) Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance
is determined to be void or invalid by any
administrative or judicial tribunal, said provision
shall be deemed severable and such invalidation
shall not invalidate the entirety of this Ordinance
or any other provision thereof.
SECTION 2. Effective Date.
This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force
thirty (30) days after its passage.
SECTION 3. City Clerk's Certification.
The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this
Ordinance and cause the same to be posted at the duly
designated posting places within the City and published once
within fifteen (15) days after passage and adoption as required
by law; or, in the alternative, the City Clerk may cause to be
published a summary of this Ordinance and a certified copy of
the text of this Ordinance shall be posted in the Office of the
City Clerk five (5) days prior to the date of adoption of this
Ordinance; and, within fifteen (15) days after adoption, the
City Clerk shall cause to be published the aforementioned
summary and shall post a certified copy of this Ordinance,
together with the vote for and against the same, in the Office
of the City Clerk.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of
February '1995.
ATTEST:
CHERYL JOSOii, CITY CLERK
MAYOR
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246
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS.
CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO )
I, CHERYL JOHNSON, City Clerk of the City of San Juan
Capistrano, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is
a true and correct copy of Ordinance No. 760 which was
introduced at a meeting of the City Council of the City of San
Juan Capistrano, California, held on February 7th
1995, and adopted at a meeting held on February 21st
1995, by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members Jones, Hart, Campbell, Swerdlin and
Mayor Nash
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
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