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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC ORD 1984-1815 RENEWING A NON EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE WITH COX CABLE SAN DIEGO INC.ORDINANCE NO. 1815 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY RENEWING A NON-EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE WITH COX CABLE SAN DIEGO INC. TO CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE A CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEM WITHIN SAID CITY The City Council of the City of National City does ordain as follows: SECTION 1. Definitions WHENEVER, in this ordinance, the following words or phrases are used, they shall have the respective meanings as- signed to them in the following definitions; and words or phrases not defined in this section which are defined in any franchise documents shall have the same meaning in this ordinance assigned to them in such franchise documents, unless the context in which they are used shall clearly indicate a different meaning: (a) "Grantee" shall mean Cox Cable San Diego Inc. a subsidiary of Cox Cable Communications Inc. (b) "Franchise Documents" shall, in addition to this franchise ordinance, mean and include all of the following: (1) Chapter 6.10 of the National City Municipal Code; (2) Any and all rules and regulations governing the operation of CATV systems within the City of National City which are adopted by the City Council; (3) The written acceptance of CATV franchise by the Grantee SECTION 2: Incorporation of Franchise Documents All of the franchise documents as defined herein, are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this ordinance. By acceptance of this franchise, Grantee agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions contained in said franchise documents. (1) SECTION 3: Application of Franchise Ordinance In the event of any specific and direct conflict between the provisions of this franchise ordinance and any other franchise document as defined herein, the provisions of this franchise ordinance shall govern. SECTION 4: Grant of Franchise There is hereby granted to Cox Cable San Diego Inc. a subsidiary of Cox Cable Communications Inc. a non-exclu- sive franchise to construct, erect, operate and maintain in, upon, along, across, above, over and under the public streets and ways, now or in the future dedicated for public use in the City, poles, wires, cables, underground conduits, manholes and other cable television conductors, apparatus and fixtures necessary or convenient for the maintenance and operation in the City of National City of a cable television system to trans- mit television, FM radio and other signals within the City. SECTION 5: Non -Exclusive Grant The right to use and occupy said streets, alleys, public ways and places for the purposes herein set forth shall not be exclusive and the City reserves the right to grant a similar franchise to any person at any time during the term of this franchise. SECTION 6.: Term of Franchise The term of this franchise shall be twenty (20) years commencing upon the effective date hereof unless the five (5) year extension provisions of Section 10 (b) (3) of this ordinance are implemented, in which case, the total term of the franchise shall be twenty-five (25) years from the effective date hereof. SECTION 7: Effective Date This franchise shall become effective thirty (30) days from and after the date of adoption of this ordinance provided, however, that the franchise hereby granted shall not become effective unless and until the Grantee files written (2) acceptance thereof in accordance with Section 8 of this franchise ordinance. SECTION 8: Acceptance of Franchise This franchise shall not become effective for any purpose unless and until written acceptance thereof shall have been filed with the City Clerk and such written acceptance shall be in form and substance as shall be prescribed by the City Attorney and shall be and operate as an acceptance of each and every term, condition and limitation contained herein, or otherwise specified by ordinance or resolution of the City Council. Said written acceptance shall be filed by the Grantee not later than 12:01 P.M. of the fifteenth (15th) day following the date of the adoption by the City Council of this ordinance and if such written acceptance by any such Grantee shall not be received by the City Clerk, then such Grantee shall have no rights, recourse or redress in the premises, unless and until the City Council shall, by resolution, determine that such acceptance be received or filed and then upon such terms and conditions as the City Council may impose. SECTION 9: The Grantee National City, during the priviledge of operating a Annual Franchise Fee shall pay annually to the City of term of this franchise, for the CATV system under this franchise, a sum equivalent to three percent (3%) of its gross annual receipts as defined in Chapter 6.10 of the National City Municipal Code, provided, however, that in the event Federal regulations are amended to permit a fee in excess of three percent (3%), without necessity of obtaining a waiver, Grantee's annual franchise fee payment to the City shall automatically be adjusted upward to the new permitted franchise fee limit, subject to the further provision that no prior to the beginning of such adjustment shall become effective the third year of the franchise term. In no event, shall the Grantee's annual franchise fee be less than three percent (3%)or more than five percent (5%). Further- (3) more, Grantee agrees to support any application the City of National City may make to the Federal Communications Commission for a waiver of any franchise fee limitation which would permit the adjustment of the annual franchise fee beyond the current three percent (3%) limitation. The Grantee shall file with the City within ninety (90) days after the expiration of any calendar year during which this franchise is in force, a statement of gross receipts signed by a corporate officer showing in detail the gross annual receipts as defined in the franchise documents of the Grantee during the preceeding calendar year. It shall be the duty of the Grantee to pay to the City, within ten (10) days after the time for filing such statement, the specified sum for the calendar year covered by said statement. SECTION 10: Programming and Services (a) Statement of General Intent (1) Grantee recognizes and concurs with the City's desire pursuant to Municipal Code Section 6.10 170 that all CATV systems franchised to operate within the city shall maintain, operate and where technically and financially feasible modify the CATV system to insure its performance in accordance with the best accepted and proven standards of the cable television industry. (2) Grantee agrees to diligently evaluate and where technically and financially feasible in accordance with Municipal Code Section 6.10 170, implement improvements to insure its performance in accordance with the best accepted and proven standards of the cable television industry. (4) (b) Channel Capacity and Programming (1) In addition to complying with requirements of Municipal Code 6.10 170, Grantee states its intention, subject to the availability of programming, financial feasibility, customer demand, and/or must carry channel requirements to expand the channel capacity of its system beyond the existing 35 channels. It is the further intent of the Grantee that such expansion shall occur within the initial twenty (20) year franchise term. (2) Grantee hereby consents and agrees that at such time as it commences an expansion in channel capacity beyond 35 channels in any of its current San Diego franchises, it shall within nine (9) months thereof commence and diligently pursue completion of an identical expansion of channel capacity throughout its National City system. (3) In the event, Grantee expands the channel capacity of its National City system to 54 channels or more within the first ten (10) years of the franchise term and providing the Grantee has complied with the provisions of this franchise ordinance, City agrees concurrent with the date expansion is completed, to automatically extend the term of the franchise for an additional five (5) years, provided Grantee has filed with the City Clerk a notice verifying the completion of expansion and compliance herewith. (5) SECTION 11: Cable Connections to City and Public School Facilities (a) Grantee shall, without charge provide all Basic Subscriber Services of its system, as defined in Municipal Code Chapter 6.10 as hereinafter provided: (1) Within two (2) years of the effective date hereof, Grantee shall provide one cable television connection to each City office or facility designated by the City Manager, including, but not limited to, the Civic Center, Police facility, Fire Stations, Public Library, and other facilities owned, rented, leased or controlled by the City which are located within the Grantee's franchise area. Each such connection shall consist of, at a minimum, a drop connection to the exterior of the office, building or property and one outlet installation. (2) Within two (2) years of the effective date hereof, Grantee shall provide one cable television connection to each public school site designated by the Superintendent of School or other appropriate official, with the exception of Las Palmas School which, due to more difficult installation requirements, shall be connected within three (3) years of the effective date hereof. Each such connection shall consist of, at a minimum, a drop connection to the exterior of the building and one outlet installation. (6) (b) Installation of additional services beyond these specified in Section (a) hereof shall be subject to negotiation and mutual agree- ment between the Grantee and the appropriate City or School District representative. (c) Grantee agrees to work with the City Police and Fire Departments in developing and facilitating the use of their cable connections for training and related purposes. SECTION 12: Obscene or Objectionable Adult Pay Television Programming (a) Grantee and the City while recognizing the right of individuals to subscribe to and receive adult pay television programming, recognize also the right of other subscribers not to receive such programming over the cable system. (b) Grantee commits to implement the following proposal designed to eliminate cablecasting of obscene or objectionable adult pay television programming to those subscribers who do not wish to receive such programming: (1) Grantee will publicize and offer at no charge to subscribers, a replacement converter, properly programmed, in exchange for a converter which the sub- scriber believes is working improperly and thereby permitting obscene or objectionable adult pay television programming to be broadcast into the subscribers home. Additionally, Grantee will, upon request and free of charge, provide information regarding the detuning (7) of "cable ready" television sets within the corporate limits of National City to prevent receipt of obscene or objection- able adult pay television programming. (2) Grantee will continue to provide all new subscribers with properly programmed converters or decoders which delete any channel which is not specifically subscribed to by a customer. (3) Grantee commits to be in full compliance with Municipal Code Section 6.10.240B by the end of calendar year 1985. (4) Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, Grantee shall not be required to delete any channel of programming which is a part of a tier or program package except upon deletion of the entire tier or program package. SECTION 13. Prohibited Activities of Grantee Grantee shall be prohibited from directly or indirectly doing any of the following: (a) Engaging in the business of selling at retail, leasing, renting, repairing or servicing of television sets, radios or other receiving apparatus which are not the property of the Grantee. (b) Providing any repair service for a fee or otherwise, which extends beyond the connection of and maintenance for its service, and the determination of Grantee of the quality of its signal to its subscribers. (c) Solicting, referring, or causing or permitting the solicitation or referral of any subscriber to any specifically named person, firms or corporations engaged in any business which (8) Grantee is prohibited from engaging in by the provisions hereof. SECTION 14. Publication. This ordinance shall be published once in the official newspapers of the City, in summary. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 24th day of April , 1984. ATTEST: CITY CLERK Passed and adopted by the Council of the City of National City, California, on April 24/ 1984 by the following vote, to -wit: Ayes: Councilmen Nays: Councilmen Absent: Councilmen Abstain: Councilmen AUTHENTICATED BY: Cooper, None Dalla, Van Devviltmw, WatexA, Morgan. None None KILE MORGAN Mayor of the City of National City, California City Clerk p‘f the City of Nation1 City, California By: Deputy I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing ordinance was not finally adopted until seven calendar days had elapsed between the days of its introduction and the days of its final passage, to wit, on ....March-.27.r...19.8.4 and on Apra 1. 2.4..,.. .19.8 4 I FURTHER CERTIFY THAT said ordinance was read in full prior to its final passage or that the reading of said ordinance in full was dispensed with by a vote of not less than a majority of the members elected to the Council and that there was available for the consideration of each mem- ber of the Council and the public prior to the day of its passage a written or printed copy of said ordinance. I FURTHER CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is a full, true and cor- rect copy of ORDINANCE NO. M7-5 of the City of National City, passed and adopted by the Council of said City on ap.r,i..1 244. 1984 (Seal) City Clerk of the City of National City, California By: Deputy