HomeMy WebLinkAboutIV (A) Public Hearing - Proposal from Telesat Cablevision, Inc. AGENDA 5-17-88
ITEM IV A
LEFKOWITZ, MINER 8C COOL, P. A.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
430 NORTH MILLS AVENUE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32803
IVAN M. LEFKOWITZ TELEPHONE
CHARLES D. MINER (3o s) 4251974
DWIGHT I. (IKE) COOL MEMORANDUM �
TO: OCOEE CITY COMMISSIONERS
FROM: DWIGHT I. ( IKE) COOL
SUBJECT: TELESAT CABLEVISION, INC. APPLICATION
DATE: MAY 11, 1988
Telesat Cablevision, Inc. (the "applicant" ) has applied for
a franchise to provide cable service in the City.
Florida law requires the City Commission to consider the
following specific criteria at a public hearing before awarding
or denying a franchise:
(a) The economic impact upon private property within the
franchise area;
(b) The public need for such franchise, if any;
(c) The capacity of public rights-of-way to accommodate the
cable system;
(d) The present and future use of the public rights-of-way
to be used by the cable system;
(e) The potential disruption to existing users of the
public rights-of-way to be used by the cable system and the
resultant inconvenience which may occur to the public;
( f) The financial ability of the franchise applicant to
perform;
(g) Other societal interests as are generally considered
in cable television franchising; and
(h) Such other additional matters, both procedural and
substantive, as the City may, in its sole discretion, determine
to be relevant.
The applicant, other cable operators, and citizens should be
given an opportunity to participate in the public hearing, and
this input must occur before the City Commission makes any
determination. The Commission should generate a "legislative
record" with the assistance of the required criteria listed
above.
Florida law also requires that the City may not grant any
overlapping franchise for cable service on terms or conditions
more favorable or less burdensome than the terms and conditions
in any existing franchise within the City. In addition,
requiring terms or conditions which are less favorable or more
burdensome may violate constitutional equal protection, unless
there is a rational basis for the different terms or conditions.
The City Commission should have concrete evidence to support
its decision; otherwise, the decision will be more susceptible to
challenge in the courts. Some cities and counties have obtained
written studies in order to insure that they have sufficient
evidence.
Attached is the most recent draft of the "City of Ocoee /
Telesat Cablevision, Inc. Nonexclusive Cable Television Franchise
Agreement" submitted by the attorneys for the applicant. This
draft is a revision of a former draft, and includes several
changes which I requested after consultation with City Manager
Ted Ryan. There is one requested change which has not yet been
made, but which the attorneys for the applicant have agreed to
make prior to the hearing scheduled for May 17th. In lieu of
handling this as a Resolution approving a Franchise Agreement, it
should be handled as an Ordinance, and the applicant has agreed
to re-draft the attached Franchise Agreement as a proposed
Ordinance.
Subsection 4.2 of the attached Franchise Agreement is dif-
ferent than the comparable provision in the existing Ordinance
(Section 3, Subsection B) . These two provisions relate to when
and under what conditions the cable company is required to make
cable service available, and can be summarized as follows:
Existing:
(a) Areas described on map - 90 days / standard rates;
(b) Density of 50/mile - 90 days / standard rates; and
(c) Other areas - actual cost formula.
Proposed:
(a) Unserved areas with density of 50/mile - 90 days /
standard rates; and
(b) Other areas - actual cost formula.
You should review these provisions in order to satisfy yourselves
that the proposed terms are not more favorable or less burdensome
than the terms of the existing franchise.
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t
Subject to these comments, it is my opinion that the terms
and conditions of the proposed franchise are not more favorable
nor less burdensome than the terms and conditions of the existing
franchise.
I would recommend that the following order of events should
be observed at your meeting on May 17th:
( 1 ) Presentations by the applicant and others;
(2 ) Discussion by the Commissioners on each of the required
criteria (a)-(h) , separately on each of the criteria, including
discussion on whether the Commissioners have been presented with
sufficient evidence;
(3 ) Other discussion by the Commissioners;
( 4 ) Motion to award a franchise, motion to deny a
franchise, or other appropriate motion. If the Commissioners
decide that sufficient evidence has not been presented to award
or deny a franchise, the Commissioners could decide to require a
study of some sort, and the hearing could be continued or
delayed.
( 5 ) If the Commissioners decide to award a franchise, the
specific proposed Ordinance submitted by the applicant could then
be considered.
I will be available to answer any questions you may have at
the meeting on May 17th, or any time prior to the meeting.
41(j/ 4/
cc: Teddy C. Ryan, Jr.
Thomas A. Cloud, Esq.
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RESOLUTION NO.-
A RESOLUTION OF THE OCOEE CITY
COMMISSION; GRANTING A NON-EXCLUSIVE
CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE TO TELESAT
CABLEVISION, INC. ; AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTION OF A NON-EXCLUSIVE CABLE
TELEVISION FRANCHISE AGREEMENT; PROVIDING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
RECITALS
1. Telesat Cablevision, Inc. (hereafter "Franchisee" )
has filed an application for a non-exclusive cable television
franchise throughout the City of Ocoee on March 7, 1988.
2. Pursuant to its home rule powers under Florida
law, and consistent with Section 166. 046, Florida Statutes,
and the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, 47 USCS §521
et seq, and rules promulgated thereunder, the City regulates
any cable television systems which wish to operate within the
incorporated boundaries of the City of Ocoee.
3. The City has this day held a duly noticed pubic
hearing in accordance with §166. 046 ( 2) , Fla. Stat.
4 . The City has received competent, substantial evidence
in the form of testimony and other documents and has considered
the economic impact upon private property within the proposed
franchise area, the public need for such franchise, the capacity
of public rights-of-way to accommodate the cable system, the
present and future of the public rights-of-way to be used by
the cable system, the potential disruption to existing users
of the public rights-of-way to be used by the cable system
and the resulting inconvenience which may occur to the public,
and financial ability of the franchise applicant to perform,
and other societal interests.
5. The first cable television operator in the City
of Ocoee was Group W Cable, Inc. , and they transferred their
franchise to Cablevision Industries of Central Florida, Inc.
(hereafter "CI" ) effective July 3, 1984.
6. To the extent required by law, all burdens imposed
on CI as successor to the first cable operator in the City
are hereby imposed on the Franchisee to the extent it is likewise
the first operator to service areas in the City.
7. Based upon the evidence and testimony received
during the public hearing, the City has determined that it
is in the best interests of the public welfare of the citizens
of the City of Ocoee to grant this franchise subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in a proposed non-exclusive
cable television franchise agreement.
ACCORDINGLY, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED by the people
of the City of Ocoee.
SECTION 1 . RECITALS. The above Recitals are true and
correct, and form a material part of this Resolution.
SECTION 2 . GRANT OF NON-EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE. Based
on the findings made in the above-mentioned Recitals, the City
hereby grants a non-exclusive cable television franchise to
Telesat Cablevision, Inc. , subject to the terms and conditions
contained in the City of Ocoee/Telesat Cablevision, Inc.
Non-Exclusive Cable Television Franchise Agreement, which is
attached to and incorporated in this Resolution as Exhibit
"A" . The franchise granted pursuant to this Resolution shall
not take effect unless and until ( 1 ) Telesat Cablevision, Inc.
executes said non-exclusive cable television franchise agreement,
and ( 2) said franchise agreement is ratified by ordinance of
the City Commission.
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Resolution shall take
effect immediately upon adoption.
RESOLVED AND ENACTED this day of May, 1988
CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA
By:
ATTEST:
• City Clerk
CITY OF OCOEE/TELESAT CABLEVISION, INC.
NONEXCLUSIVE CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into this day of May,
1988, by and between the CITY OF OCOEE, a municipal corporation
created pursuant to the laws of the State of Florida (hereafter
"City" ) and TELESAT CABLEVISION, INC. , a Florida corporation
(hereafter "Franchisee" ) .
RECITALS
1 . The Franchisee has filed an application for a nonexclu-
sive cable television franchise throughout the City of Ocoee on
March 7 , 1988 .
2 . Pursuant to its home rule powers under Florida law, and
consistent with Section 166 . 046 , Fla. Stat. , and the Cable
Communications Policy Act of 1984, 47 U.S.C.S. § 521 et seq, and
rules promulgated thereunder, the City regulates any cable tele-
vision systems that wish to operate within the incorporated boun-
daries of the City of Ocoee.
3 . The City has held a duly noticed public hearing in
accordance with § 166 . 046 ( 2 ) , Fla. Stat.
4 . The first cable television operator in the City of Ocoee
was Group W Cable, Inc. , and they transferred their franchise to
Cablevision Industries of Central Florida, Inc. (hereafter "CI" )
effective July 3 , 1984 .
5. To the extent required by law, all burdens imposed on CI
as successor to the first cable operator in the City are hereby
imposed on the Franchisee to the extent it is likewise the first
operator to serve areas in the City.
6 . The City has determined that it is in the best interest
of the public welfare of the citizens of the City of Ocoee to
grant this franchise subject to the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement.
ACCORDINGLY, the parties hereto agree as follows :
SECTION 1 . RECITALS. The above recitals are true and
correct and form a material part of this Agreement.
SECTION 2 . DEFINITIONS . The parties agree that in
construing this Agreement, the following words, phrases and terms
shall have the following meanings unless the context requires
otherwise:
2 . 1 . "Agreement" means this City of Ocoee/Telesat Cablevision,
Inc. Nonexclusive Cable Television Franchise Agreement, or as it
may be amended from time to time.
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2 . 2 . "Cablecasting" means programming carried on a cable
system, exclusive of broadcast signals, whether originated by the
cable operator or any other party.
2. 3 . "Cable Communications System" or "System" means any
system which receives and amplifies signals broadcast by one or
more television and/or radio stations and which transmits
programming originated by the system itself or by another party,
and distributes such signals and programming by wire, cable,
microwave, satellite, or other means to persons who subscribe to
such service.
2 .4 . "City" means the City of Ocoee, Florida. The City of
Ocoee, in its present incorporated form, or as it may be changed
by annexation.
2. 5 . "Commission" means the City Commission of the City of
Ocoee, Florida.
2 . 6 . "FCC" means the Federal Communications Commission, its suc-
cessors, or other legal entity authorized and designated as the
controlling legal Federal Agency as established by the Congress
of the United States.
2. 7 . "Franchisee" means Telesat Cablevision, Inc.
2 . 8. "Gross Revenues" means any and all compensation, in what-
ever form, exchange or otherwise, derived from the provision of
all cable services and transmission facility in the City.
2 . 9 . "Subscriber" means a recipient of cable television ser-
vice.
SECTION 3 . GRANT OF AUTHORITY.
3 . 1 . The City hereby grants to Franchisee, the right and
privilege to construct, erect, operate and maintain, in, upon,
along, across, above, over and under the streets, alleys, public
ways and public places now laid out or dedicated and all exten-
sions thereof, and additions thereto, in the City poles, wires,
cable, underground conduits, manholes, and other cable conductors
and fixtures necessary for the maintenance and operation in the
City of Ocoee, of a Cable Communications System, to be used for
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the sale and distribution of cable services to the residents of
the City. Said broadband cable service shall include, but shall
not be limited to, the carriage of television and radio signals
and any cablecasting programming. This is a non-exclusive
franchise and nothing contained herein shall prohibit the City of
Ocoee, from granting franchise agreements to other Cable
Communications System companies . The Franchisee shall, at all
times during the operation of this franchise, be subject to all
lawful exercise of the police power as may be hereafter provided
by the franchising authority.
3 .2 . The Franchisee shall not be deemed to enjoy any terms or
conditions hereunder which are more favorable or less burdensome
than those in the CI franchise. The City hereby declares that,
to the fullest extent required by law and permitted by state and
federal constitutions, the foregoing sentence shall govern in the
event of conflict with any other provision of this franchise.
SECTION 4 . FRANCHISE TERRITORY.
4. 1 . The franchise is for the present territorial limits of
the City of Ocoee, and for any area henceforth added thereto
during the term of this franchise.
4 . 2. The Franchisee shall be obligated to make cable service
available to all dwelling units in the City, at its regular
installation and service rates, subject to only the following
exceptions:
( 1 ) Unserved areas with a density of fifty ( 50 )
dwelling units per contiguous aerial cable mile shall be provided
with cable television service within ninety (90 ) days after ser-
vice is requested.
( 2 ) In other areas, the service need not be available
at regular installation rates where there is a dwelling unit den-
sity of less than fifty (50 ) per contiguous aerial cable mile.
Any potential subscriber(s) in an area of less than fifty ( 50)
dwelling units per contiguous aerial cable mile may receive cable
service upon payment of an installation charge equal to the
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actual cost per subscriber of extending the cable plant to pro-
vide service, less the cost the company would have incurred per
subscriber had the density been fifty ( 50 ) dwelling units per
contiguous aerial cable mile.
SECTION 5 . DURATION OF FRANCHISE. The duration of the
rights, privileges and authorizations hereby granted shall be
August 1 , 1999 .
SECTION 6 . POLICE POWERS. In accepting this franchise,
Franchisee acknowledges that its rights hereunder are subject to
the police powers of the City, to adopt and enforce ordinances
necessary to the safety and welfare of the public; and it agrees
to comply with all applicable general laws and ordinances enacted
by the City, pursuant to such power.
SECTION 7 . TRANSFER OF CONTROL. The franchise, or control
thereof, shall not be transferred or assigned without the prior
written consent of the City, which consent shall not be arbi-
trarily or unreasonably withheld . Such consent shall be given
only after a hearing upon a written application therefor on forms
to be prescribed by the City. The application for consent to a
transfer or assignment shall be signed by Franchisee and by the
proposed transferee or assignee, or by their representatives,
evidence of whose authority shall be submitted with the applica-
tion.
SECTION 8. INSTALLATION, INDEMNIFICATION.
8 . 1 . In installing, operating, and maintaining equipment,
cable and wires, Franchisee shall avoid all unnecessary damage
and injury to trees, structures and improvements in and along the
cable routes authorized by the City.
8.2 . Franchisee shall indemnify and hold the City harmless at
all times during the term of the franchise from any and all
claims for injury and damage to persons or property, both real
and personal, caused by the installation, operation, or main-
tenance of any structure, equipment, wire or cable authorized to
be installed pursuant to the franchise. Upon receipt of notice
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in writing from the City, Franchisee shall, at its own expense,
defend any action or proceeding against the City, in which it is
claimed that personal injury or property damage was caused by
activities of Franchisee in the installation, operation, or
maintenance of its system.
8 . 3 . The City shall have the right, during the life of this
franchise, to install and maintain, free of charge, upon the
poles of Franchisee, any wire and pole fixtures that do not
unreasonably interfere with the CATV operations of Franchisee.
The City agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Franchisee harmless
from actions resulting from the City ' s use thereof.
8 .4. Franchisee shall, during the life of this franchise, at
such times prior to commencing underground or trench cable
construction in the City, apply to the City for all necessary or
required licenses, permits, etc. , required to commence and under-
take underground or trench cable construction within the City.
Franchisee shall also pay all required City license or permit
fees as are normally specified by the City, in order to undertake
such underground or trench cable construction within the City.
8 . 5 . The Franchisee shall indemnify and hold harmless the
City and its officers and employees against any and all losses,
claims, damages and liabilities arising out of the grant of this
franchise, including any amount paid in settlement of any litiga-
tion commenced or threatened which arises from the grant of this
franchise (but only if such settlement is effected with the writ-
ten consent of the Franchisee) . Upon receipt of notice in
writing from the City, Franchisee shall, at its own expense,
defend any action or proceeding against the City, in which it is
claimed that any losses, damages, or liabilities have been caused
by the City in granting said Franchise.
SECTION 9 . COSTS OF PUBLICATIONS. Costs to be borne by
Franchisee shall include, but shall not be limited to, all costs
of publication of legally required notices prior to any public
meeting provided for pursuant to this franchise.
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SECTION 10 . INSURANCE. The Franchisee shall carry insurance
in companies satisfactory to the City of Ocoee, indemnifying the
City, and itself from and against any and all claims for injury
or damage to persons and property, both real and personal, caused
by the construction, installation, operation, or maintenance of
any structure, equipment, wires or cables authorized or used pur-
suant to the franchise. The amount of such insurance against
liability for damage to property shall not be less than one
million five hundred thousand ( $1 ,500,000 . 00 ) dollars as to any
one ( 1 ) accident. The amount of such insurance for liability for
injury or death to persons shall not be less than one million
five hundred thousand ( $1 ,500,000 . 00) dollars on account of
injury to or death of any one ( 1 ) person or number of persons in
any one (1 ) accident. The Franchisee shall also carry automobile
and Worker' s Compensation Insurance, as well as other customary
insurance carried by cable operators for protection against
claims such as defamation and other related claims common to
cable systems .
Certificates of Insurance shall be filed with the City, when
executed, and the City shall be notified in writing at least
thirty ( 30 ) days prior to the cancellation of any such policy.
SECTION 11 . COMPETITION FOR TELEVISION AND RADIO REPAIRS AND
SALES. The Franchisee, its officers , directors and employees
acting on behalf of Franchisee shall not engage directly or
indirectly in the business of selling or repairing television or
radio sets.
SECTION 12 . FREE SERVICE. The Franchisee shall provide a
cable drop and an outlet along its cable route, at no cost, to
public schools, police and fire stations, public libraries and
other public buildings designated in writing by the City of
Ocoee. In addition, Franchisee will provide, at cost, all design
specifications, construction, equipment and parts needed to pro-
vide service and additional outlets to the buildings specified in
this section. The basic level of service is to be provided at
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all such outlets without charge. The Franchisee shall provide
closed circuit television coverage (hereafter "0-Span" ) , each
week, of City Commission Meetings, public meetings, public
events, and community activities, in accordance with the policies
and schedules to be agreed upon between Franchisee and the City.
SECTION 13 . REMOVAL OF SYSTEM. Upon termination of the
period of the franchise or of any renewal thereof by passage of
time or otherwise, the Franchisee shall remove its supporting
structures, poles, transmission and distribution systems and
other appurtenances from the streets, ways, lanes, alleys, park-
ways, bridges, highways and other public places in, over, under
and along which they are installed and shall restore the areas to
their original condition. If such removal is not completed
within twelve ( 12 ) months of such termination, the City may deem
any property not removed as having been abandoned.
SECTION 14. REPAIRS AND RESTORATION. Whenever the Fran-
chisee takes up or disturbs any pavement, sidewalk or other
improvement of any public way or public place, the same shall be
replaced and the surface restored in as good condition as before
entry, as soon as practicable. If the Franchisee fails to make
such restoration within a reasonable time, the City of Ocoee, may
fix a reasonable time for such restoration and repairs and shall
notify the Franchisee in writing of the restoration and repairs
required and the time fixed for the performance thereof. Upon
failure of the Franchisee to comply within the time specified,
the City of Ocoee, may cause proper restoration and repairs to be
made and the expense of such work shall be paid by the Franchisee
upon demand by the City of Ocoee.
SECTION 15. TRANSPOSITION OF SIGNALS . If the Franchisee
transposes any television signals from the channel on which it
was originally broadcast so that it is received on a different
channel on the receiving sets of subscribers, it shall notify its
subscribers in writing of such transposition and provide them
with a marker suitable for mounting on a television receiver
indicating the fact of the transposition.
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SECTION 16 . EQUAL TIME. If the Franchisee permits any per-
son who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office to
employ the facilities of its system, or originate and disseminate
political campaign material, it shall afford equal opportunities
to all other such candidates for the same office to use such
facilities to originate and disseminate any views concerning a
controversial issue of public importance, and shall afford reason-
able opportunity for the presentation over its facilities of
contrary points of view. The Franchisee shall be guided by, and
its decisions shall be consistent with those of the FCC under
similar provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 , as amended,
and of policies established by the FCC.
SECTION 17 . PERFORMANCE BOND. The Franchisee shall main-
tain, with the City, a bond with a surety company licensed to do
business in Florida, with corporate surety satisfactory to such
authority in the amount of twenty-five thousand ( $25,000 . 00 )
dollars. The condition and terms of said bond shall be as
follows:
( 1 ) The satisfactory operation of the cable system, in
accordance with the provision of this franchise.
( 2) The indemnity of the City, in accordance with the
provisions of this franchise.
( 3 ) The satisfactory removal of it system, in accor-
dance with the provisions of this franchise.
(4 ) The satisfactory restoration of pavements,
sidewalks, and other improvements, in accordance with the provi-
sions of this franchise.
SECTION 18 . SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS. In the event Franchisee' s
service to any subscriber is interrupted for twenty-four ( 24 ) or
more consecutive hours, Franchisee will grant such subscriber a
prorated credit or rebate. It is the responsibility of the
customer to notify the cable operator of any service interrup-
tions .
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SECTION 19 . PLACEMENT OF WIRES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT: TREES.
19 . 1 . In all sections of the City where the cables, wires or
other facilities of public utilities are placed underground,
Franchisee shall place its cable, wires or other like facilities
underground to the maximum extent that the cost and existing
technology, as determined by the City, reasonably permit Fran-
chisee to do so. In the event that the City may, in the future,
require public utilities to further place their cables, wires or
other facilities underground in areas presently served aerially,
Franchisee shall also place its cables , wires or other like faci-
lities underground without expense or liability to the City, or
direct charge to the subscribers .
19 . 2. Franchisee shall have authority, with the concurrence
of the City Department of Public Works, to trim trees upon and
overhanging streets, alleys, sideways and public ways and places
of the City, so as to prevent the branches of such trees from
coming in contact with the wires, cables and equipment of
Franchisee.
SECTION 20. OPERATION, SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE OF SYSTEM.
20.1 . Franchisee shall maintain and operate a modern Cable
Communications System and render efficient service consistent
with all applicable regulations to subscribers during the term of
this franchise. The construction, maintenance and operation of
the Cable Communications System for which this franchise is
granted shall be done in conformance with OSHA, the National
Electrical Code, the National Electrical Safety Code, the
National Television Standard Code and the Rules and Regulations
of the FCC, as the same exist, or as they may be hereafter
changed or amended. Further, Franchisee shall install and main-
tain its wire, cable, fixtures and other equipment in such a
manner as shall not interfere with any installation of the City,
or any public utility serving the City.
20 .2 . All structures and all lines, equipment and connections
in, over, and upon streets, sidewalks, alleys and public ways and
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places of the City, wherever situated or located, shall at all
times be kept and maintained in a safe, suitable, substantial
condition and in good order and repair.
20 . 3 . The signal of any television, radio station or satellite
carried on the Cable Communications System shall be carried
without material degradation in quality within the limits imposed
by the FCC.
20.4 . Franchisee shall maintain a complete set of maps of the
City. Such maps shall be updated and revisions thereof submitted
to the City of Ocoee, on request. The maps will show the loca-
tion of all streets, residences, wire, cables and other facili-
ties used by Franchisee located in the City.
20 . 5 Franchisee shall comply with all FCC regulations as
they now apply or as they may be amended regarding the carriage
of television and radio signals .
20. 6 . Franchisee shall, upon the request of any person holding
a building moving permit issued by the City, temporarily raise or
lower its wires to permit the moving of the buildings . Fran-
chisee shall be given not less than seven ( 7 ) days advance notice
to arrange for such temporary wire changes. Costs for such ser-
vices will be billed and paid for in advance of such services
being performed.
SECTION 21 . SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS . In addition to the spe-
cifications expressly provided for in this franchise, Franchisee
shall construct and maintain a cable communications system for
the City that will, at a minimum, carry the signals of any tele-
vision or radio station without material degradation in quality
within the limits set forth by the FCC. The cable television
system shall be operated and maintained so as to comply with the
technical standards set forth in Subpart K of the FCC' s Rules and
Regulations as they apply to cable television systems . The
Franchisee agrees that the cable system shall have a capacity of
at least thirty ( 30 ) video channels .
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SECTION 22 . LEASED ACCESS CHANNELS. The Franchisee shall
maintain at least one ( 1 ) specially designated channel for leased
access uses . In addition, other portions of its non-broadcast
bandwidth, including unused portions of the specially designated
channels, shall be available for leased uses . On at least one of
the leased channels, priority shall be given to part-time users .
The Franchisee shall provide unused channel capacity on a non-
discriminatory, first-come, first-serve basis for leased access
cablecasting to any person, group, organization or entity upon
the filing of an appropriate request therefor. The Franchisee
shall establish operating rules, subject to the approval of the
City, which shall govern the operation of the leased access chan-
nels . These rules shall prohibit the presentation of lottery
information, except as specifically permitted by FCC rules . In
addition, these rules shall require adequate sponsorship iden-
tification whenever an access channel user presents any matter
for which he receives money, service or other valuable con-
sideration. It is still premature to specify the rates that will
be charged to users of the leased access channels . However, when
such rates are finalized, based on experience gathered from the
actual operation of the leased channels, such rates shall be fair
and reasonable.
SECTION 23 . SIGNAL CARRIAGE. The Franchisee shall carry all
signals mandated by the FCC and in addition it will carry a
variety of off-air, satellite and microwave delivered signals and
services available now or in the future, and shall also carry
selected FM stereo signals .
SECTION 24. COMPANY SERVICES. Subscriber rates for cable
service shall not be regulated by the City. Franchisee shall
provide at least the following services :
24 . 1 . Standard Installation.
Standard installation consisting of an aerial drop, not
exceeding one hundred fifty ( 150 ) feet, from a single pole
attachment to the customer' s residence. Drops in excess of one
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hundred fifty ( 150 ) feet, concealed wiring, and all underground
drops shall be charged according to the rate schedule.
24 . 2. Project Prewiring.
( 1 ) Franchisee shall provide service to prewired pro-
jects according to the terms and conditions and at such rates
provided in the rate schedule.
(2 ) Franchisee shall review and approve methods and
materials, supply specifications, technical assistance, and
material according to the rate schedule.
( 3 ) Franchisee shall prewire a project upon request
according to rate schedule.
24. 3 . Deposits .
Franchisee may require a deposit for materials, converters
and services according to the rate schedule as it may be amended
from time to time.
24 .4 . Additional Outlets.
Franchisee shall provide additional outlets, as customers
may request, according to the rate schedule.
24 . 5. Transfers .
When a current customer moves from one address within the
franchised area to a second address within the franchised area
and there is no lapse in service, Franchisee shall transfer
service at a rate according to the rate schedule.
24 . 6 . Reconnection.
Franchisee shall restore service to customers wishing
restoration of service provided the customer shall first satisfy
any previous obligation owed.
24 . 7 . Relocation or Extension of Cable.
When a current customer requests that an extension or reloca-
tion of said customer' s cable service be made, the Franchisee
shall do so according to the rate schedule.
24. 8 . Service Calls.
Franchisee shall provide CATV system repair service to
customer' s premises to test and repair service.
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SECTION 25 . COMPLAINTS, LOCAL OFFICE.
25. 1 . Franchisee shall maintain a business office in the
Ocoee area, with a toll-free number and a twenty-four ( 24 ) hour
answering service, which subscribers may call without incurring
added message or toll charges so that prompt maintenance service
shall be available.
25. 2 . Upon reasonable notice, Franchisee shall expeditiously
investigate and resolve complaints regarding the quality of ser-
vice, equipment malfunctions and similar matters .
25 . 3 . Franchisee shall normally respond to all service calls
within twenty-four (24 ) hours and correct malfunctions as
promptly as possible after its discovery. For these purposes,
Franchisee shall maintain a competent staff of employees suf-
ficient to provide adequate and prompt service to its subscri-
bers .
25 .4. Upon request of the City, Franchisee shall, within ten
( 10 ) days after receiving such a request, send a written report
to the City, with respect to any complaint. Such a report shall
provide a full explanation of the investigations, findings and
corrective steps taken.
25 .5 . Except where there exists an emergency situation neces-
sitating a more expedited procedure, Franchisee may interrupt
service for the purpose of repair or upgrading of the cable com-
municating system, only during periods of minimum use.
25 . 6 . Should a subscriber have an unresolved complaint
regarding cable television operations, the subscriber shall be
entitled to file his complaint with the City, which shall have
primary responsibility for the continuing administration of the
franchise and the implementation of complaint procedures . The
subscriber shall thereafter meet jointly with the City, or its
designee, and a representative of Franchisee, within thirty ( 30 )
days of the subscriber' s filing of his complaint, to fully discuss
and resolve the matter. Franchisee shall notify each new sub-
scriber at the time of initial subscription to the cable service
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of the procedures for reporting and resolving such complaints.
SECTION 26 . COMPANY RULES AND REGULATIONS. The Franchisee
shall have the authority to promulgate such rules, regulations,
terms and conditions governing the conduct of its business as
shall be reasonably necessary to enable Franchisee to exercise
its rights and perform its obligations under this franchise, and
to assure an uninterrupted service to each and all of its custo-
mers; provided, however, that such rules, regulations, terms and
conditions shall not be in conflict with the provisions hereof or
applicable State and Federal laws, rules and regulations .
SECTION 27 . COOPERATION WITH DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE. The
Franchisee agrees to cooperate with any designated representative
of the City, in all matters concerning the operation of the cable
system in the City of Ocoee.
SECTION 28. FRANCHISE FEE.
28 . 1 . The fee paid to the City, during the term of the
franchise shall be three ( 3%) per cent of the gross annual reve-
nue derived by Franchisee from all of its operations located
within the City of Ocoee.
28 .2 . The franchise fee shall be paid quarterly, to the City
Clerk' s Office, and Franchisee shall file a complete and accurate
verified statement of all gross annual revenue within the City,
during the period for which said quarterly payment is made, and
said payment shall be made to the City, not later than thirty
( 30) days after the expiration of the quarter when due.
28 . 3 . The City shall have the right to inspect Franchisee' s
income records and the right to audit and recompute any amounts
determined to be payable under this franchise; provided, however,
that such audit shall take place within thirty-six ( 36 ) months
following the close of each of Franchisee' s fiscal years . Any
additional amount due to the City, as a result of the audit,
shall be paid within thirty ( 30 ) days following written notice to
Franchisee by the City, which notice shall include a copy of the
audit report.
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SECTION 29 . AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. The
Franchisee shall fully cooperate in making available at reason-
able times, and the City shall have the right to inspect the
books, records, maps, plans and other like materials of Fran-
chisee applicable to the Ocoee Cable Communications System, at
any time during normal business hours; provided however, where
volume and convenience necessitate, Franchisee may require
inspection to take place on Franchisee' s premises .
SECTION 30 . REVOCATION OF FRANCHISE.
The franchise issued hereunder may, after hearing, be
revoked by the City, for any of the following reasons :
( 1 ) For failure to file and maintain a bond, or to
maintain insurance as required by this franchise.
( 2) For repeated failure to correct violations of this
franchise after formal written notice has been served upon
Franchisee.
( 3 ) For repeated failure to maintain signal quality
under the standards provided for by the FCC and this franchise.
(4 ) For any transfer or assignment of a franchise or
control thereof without consent of the City, as required by this
franchise.
SECTION 31 . PRIVACY AND RIGHTS OF INFORMATION. The
Franchisee shall not make available to any third party, including
the City, information concerning the viewing habits of any indi-
vidual subscriber or subscriber-households ' without the prior
written consent of the subscriber. The Franchisee shall provide
written notice to each subscriber or subscriber-household, and
only after written permission has been granted by the subscriber
will equipment be installed on the system which would permit the
recording or monitoring of individual viewing habits . The
requirements of this section shall not prohibit the City, or
their designee, from obtaining from Franchisee general demo-
graphic and market data and information on number of subscribers .
The Franchisee shall not make subscriber lists available to a
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third party, other than as required to conduct the normal busi-
ness operations of the system.
SECTION 32. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. The Franchisee shall be an
Equal Opportunity Employer and, pursuant to 47 CFR S76 . 311 , and
other applicable regulations of the FCC, must file an Equal
Employment Opportunity Program with the FCC, and otherwise comply
with the FCC Regulations with respect to Equal Employment
Opportunities . A copy of said program shall also be filed with
the City. Franchisee shall take affirmative steps to avoid
discrimination and, to the extent practicable, encourage training
and employment of minority personnel.
SECTION 33 . RIGHT OF CONDEMNATION.
Nothing in the franchise shall limit any rights that the City
may have under applicable law to acquire by condemnation, con-
fiscation or otherwise, any property of the Franchisee; provided,
however, that any such acquisition shall be for a cash price that
values the business at fair market value as an ongoing business
enterprise.
SECTION 34 . SEVERABILITY.
If any section, paragraph, term or provision of this fran-
chise is determined to be illegal, invalid or unconstitutional by
any court of competent jurisdiction, or by any State or Federal
regulatory agency having jurisdiction thereof, such determination
shall have no effect on any other section, paragraph, term or
provision hereof, all of which will remain in full force and
effect for the term of the franchise or any renewal or renewals
thereof.
SECTION 35 . ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This instrument constitutes
the entire Agreement between the parties and supersedes all
previous discussion, understandings and agreements .
SECTION 36 . EFFECTIVE DATE. This Agreement shall take
effect upon the effective date of the Ratification Ordinance to
be adopted by the City. That Ratification Ordinance is attached
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to and incorporated in this Agreement as Exhibit "A" .
ENACTED THIS DAY OF , 198
CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA
By:
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
TELESAT CABLEVISION, INC.
By:
[CORPORATE SEAL]
ATTEST:
77/22:132/3R
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