[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Greencastle 10-7-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-3 (Ch. 13, Part 2, of the 1985 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 169.
Trees — See Ch. 187.
A. 
Borough of Greencastle ("Borough"), pursuant to applicable federal and state law, is authorized to grant one or more nonexclusive franchises to construct, operate, maintain and reconstruct cable television systems within Borough limits.
B. 
The Borough Council finds that the development of cable television systems has the potential of having great benefit and impact upon the residents of the Borough. Because of the complex and rapidly changing technology associated with cable television, the Borough Council further finds that the public convenience, safety and general welfare can best be served by establishing regulatory powers which should be vested in Borough or such persons as Borough shall designate. It is the intent of this chapter and subsequent amendments to provide for and specify the means to attain the best possible cable television service to the public and any franchises issued pursuant to this chapter shall be deemed to include this finding as an integral part thereof.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. Words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular number and words in the singular number include the plural number. All capitalized terms used in the definition of any other term shall have their meaning as otherwise defined in this section. The words "shall" and "will" are mandatory and "may" is permissive. Words not defined shall be given their common and ordinary meaning.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
A. 
The services such as the transmissions of all leased access signals not included in basic subscriber service, nonlocal broadcast signals and pay television signals.
B. 
Services not involving the transmission of signals, including rental of equipment, training services and all other services which may be provided by grantee to residential subscribers.
BASIC CABLE SERVICE
Any service tier which includes the retransmission of local television broadcast signals.
BOROUGH
Borough of Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, a Pennsylvania municipal corporation, including all areas within its existing boundaries and territory hereafter acquired or annexed.
BOROUGH AGENCY
The person, department, committee or agency designated by the Council in a contemporaneous resolution to act for it in certain matters relating to cable television; or otherwise the Council itself.
CABLE ACT
The Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, Pub. L. No. 98-549, 98 Stat. 2779 (1984) [codified at 47 U.S.C. §§ 521-611 (1982 & Supp. V 1987)] as amended by the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, Pub. L. No. 102-385 and Pub. L. No. 104-101, 110 Stat. 56 et seq. (1996), and as may, from time to time, be amended.
CABLE SERVICE
A. 
The one-way transmission to subscribers of video programming or other programming service; and
B. 
Subscriber interaction, if any, which is required for the selection or use of such video programming or other programming service.
CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEM, SYSTEM or CABLE SYSTEM
A facility, consisting of a set of closed transmission paths and associated signal generation, reception and control equipment, that is designed to provide cable 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 one or more television broadcast stations;
B. 
A facility that serves subscribers without using any public rights-of-way;
C. 
A facility of a common carrier which is subject, in whole or in part, to the provisions of 47 U.S.C. §§ 201-226, except that such facility shall be considered a cable system to the extent such facility whether on a common carrier basis or otherwise is used in the transmission of video programming directly to subscribers unless the extent of such use is solely to provide interactive on-demand services;
D. 
An open video that complies with § 653 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended; or
E. 
Any facilities of any electric utility used solely for operating its electric utility system.
CHANNEL or CABLE CHANNEL
A portion of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum which is used in a cable system and which is capable of delivering a television channel as defined by the Federal Communications Commission.
COMMERCIAL SUBSCRIBER
A subscriber who receives services in connection with a business, trade, profession or institution.
CONVERTER
An electric device which converts cable signals to a frequency receivable by a television receiver.
COUNCIL
The governing body of the Borough of Greencastle.
FRANCHISE
An initial authorization, or renewal thereof, issued by Borough, whether such authorization is designated as a franchise, permit, license, resolution, contract, certificate, agreement, or otherwise, which authorizes the construction or operation of a cable system.
FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
A franchise granted pursuant to this chapter, containing the specific provisions of the franchise granted, including references, specifications, requirements and other related matters.
FRANCHISE FEE
Any tax, fee or assessment of any kind imposed by Borough or other governmental entity on a grantee or cable subscriber, or both, solely because of their status as such. The term "franchise fee" does not include:
A. 
Any tax, fee or assessment of general applicability (including any such tax, fee or assessment imposed on both utilities and cable operators or their services but not including a tax, fee or assessment which is unduly discriminatory against cable operators or cable subscribers);
B. 
Capital costs which are required by the franchise agreement to be incurred by the cable operator for public, educational or governmental access facilities;
C. 
Requirements or charges incidental to the awarding or enforcing of the franchise, including payments for bonds, security funds, letters of credit, insurance, indemnification, penalties or liquidated damages; or
D. 
Any fee imposed under Title 17 of the United States Code.
GOVERNING BODY
The governing body of the Borough of Greencastle.
GRANTEE
Any person receiving a franchise pursuant to this chapter and its agents, employees, officers, designees or any lawful successor, transferee or assignee.
GRANTOR or BOROUGH
The Borough of Greencastle, as represented by the governing body or any delegate acting within the scope of its jurisdiction.
GROSS ANNUAL REVENUES
Any and all cash, credits, property or other consideration of any kind or nature received annually, directly or indirectly by the franchisee, its affiliates or any person in which the franchisee has a financial interest, or by any other entity that is a cable operator of the system arising from, attributable to, or in any way derived from the provisions by the franchisee of cable service in the Borough, including the studios and other facilities associated therewith. Gross annual revenues include, but are not limited to, monthly fees charged subscribers for any basic, optional, premium, per-channel or per-program service; installation, disconnection, reconnection and change-in-service fees; leased channel fees; late fees and administrative fees; fees, payments or other consideration received from programmers for carriage of programming on the system; revenues from converter rentals or sales; studio and production equipment rental; advertising revenues; barter other than revenues derived from barter with any not for profit entity; revenues from program guides; and revenues from home shopping and bank-at-home channels. Gross annual revenues shall not include any taxes on services furnished by the franchisee which are imposed directly on any subscriber or user by the state, Borough or other governmental unit which are collected by the franchisee on behalf of said governmental unit, nor shall it include revenue derived from the sale or rental of real property interests of franchisee.
ILLEGAL CONNECTION
Any connection to the system or use of the cable services that is not authorized by the grantee or that is otherwise prohibited by law.
INITIAL SERVICE AREA
The area of the Borough which will receive cable service initially, as set forth in any franchise agreement.
INSTALLATION
The connection of the system to subscribers' terminals and the provision of cable service.
LEASED ACCESS CHANNEL
Any channel designed for commercial lease.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL
Any channel where the Council or other local governments or agencies are the designated programmers.
LOCAL ORIGINATION CHANNEL
Any channel where grantee is the programmer.
MONITORING
Observing a one-way communications signal, where the observer is neither the subscriber nor the programmer, whether the signal is observed by visual or electronic means for any purpose whatsoever.
NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS
Those hours during which most similar businesses in the community are open to serve customers. In all cases, "normal business hours" must include some evening hours at least one night per week and/or some weekend hours or as otherwise specified in the franchise agreement.
NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS
Those services which are within the control of grantee. Those conditions which are not within the control of grantee include, but are not limited to, natural disasters, civil disturbances, power outages, telephone network outages and severe or unusual weather conditions and significant legislative or regulatory requirements. Those conditions which are ordinarily within the control of grantee include, but are not limited to, special promotions, pay-per-view events, regular peak or seasonal demand periods and maintenance or upgrade of the system.
ORDINANCE
The ordinances of the Borough of Greencastle.
PAY TELEVISION
The delivery to subscribers, over the cable communications system, of television signals for a fee or charge to subscribers over and above the charge for basic subscriber service, on a per-program, per-channel or other subscription basis.
PERSON
Any natural person or any association, firm, individual, partnership, joint stock company, joint venture, trust, corporation, limited liability company or other legally recognized entity, private or public, whether for-profit or not-for-profit.
PRIVATE CHANNEL
Any channel which is available only to subscribers who possess equipment or receive signals of the appropriate frequency.
PROGRAMMER
Any person, firm, corporation, institution or entity who or which produces or otherwise provides program material for distribution to subscribers by means of the cable communications system.
PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNEL
Any channel where any member of the general public may be a programmer.
PUBLIC, EDUCATIONAL OR GOVERNMENT ACCESS FACILITIES or PEG ACCESS FACILITIES
A. 
Channel capacity designated for public, educational or governmental use; and
B. 
Facilities and equipment for the use of such channel capacity.
RESIDENTIAL SUBSCRIBER
A subscriber who receives service in an individual dwelling unit where the service is not in connection with a business, trade, profession or institution.
SECTION
Any section, subsection or provision of this chapter.
SECURE CHANNEL
Any channel so arranged electronically as to be available only to subscribers who possess special decoding equipment in order to receive a usable signal.
SERVICE AREA or FRANCHISE AREA
The entire geographic area within the Borough as it is not constituted or may in the future be constituted, unless otherwise specified in the franchise agreement.
SERVICE INTERRUPTION
The loss of picture or sound on one or more cable channels affecting at least 10% of the subscribers on the system.
STATE
The State of Pennsylvania.
STREET
Each of the following which have been dedicated to the public or are hereafter dedicated to the public and maintained under public authority or by others and located within Borough limits: streets, roadways, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, sidewalks, easements, rights-of-way and similar public property and areas that the Borough shall permit to be included within the definition of "street" from time to time.
SUBSCRIBER
Any person who or which lawfully elects to subscribe to, for any purpose, a cable service provided by grantee by means of or in connection with the cable system and who pays the charges therefor, except such persons or entities authorized to receive a cable service without charge as described in the franchise agreement.
SUBSCRIBER SERVICE DROP
Each extension wiring from grantee's distribution lines to a subscriber's point of use.
A franchise granted by Borough under the provisions of this chapter shall encompass the following purposes:
A. 
To engage in the business of providing cable service and such other services as may be permitted by the franchise agreement.
B. 
To erect, install, construct, repair, rebuild, reconstruct, replace, maintain and retain cable lines, related electronic equipment, supporting structures, appurtenances and other property in connection with the operation of a cable system in, on, over, under, upon, along and across streets or other public places within the designated service area.
C. 
To maintain and operate said franchise properties for the origination, reception, transmission, amplification and distribution of television and radio signals for the delivery of cable services and any other services permitted by the franchise agreement.
D. 
To set forth the obligations of a grantee under the franchise agreement.
It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, install or operate a cable television system in the Borough within any street without a properly granted franchise awarded pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
A. 
A franchise granted hereunder shall be for a term established in the franchise agreement, commencing on Borough's adoption of an ordinance or resolution authorizing the franchise.
B. 
A franchise granted hereunder may be renewed upon application by grantee pursuant to the provisions of applicable state and federal law and of this chapter.
Any franchise shall be valid within all the territorial limits of the Borough, and within any area added to the Borough during the term of the franchise, unless otherwise specified in the franchise agreement.
A. 
This chapter shall be construed in a manner consistent with all applicable federal and state laws.
B. 
In the event that the state or federal government discontinues preemption in any area of cable communications over which it currently exercises jurisdiction in such manner as to expand rather than limit municipal regulatory authority, grantor may, if it so elects, adopt rules and regulations in these areas to the extent permitted by law.
C. 
This chapter shall apply to all franchises granted or renewed after the effective date of this chapter. It shall further apply to the extent permitted by applicable federal or state law to all existing franchises granted prior to the effective date of this chapter.
D. 
Grantee's rights are subject to the police powers of the Borough to adopt and enforce ordinances necessary to the health, safety and welfare of the public. The grantee shall comply with all applicable general laws and ordinances enacted by the Borough pursuant to that power. However, the grantor acknowledges that the provisions of the franchise agreement constitute a valid and enforceable contract between the parties. Grantor will undertake no unilateral action that materially changes the franchise agreement; subject, however, to the police powers of the grantor to take action necessary to the health, safety and welfare of the public.
E. 
The grantee shall not be relieved of its obligation to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter or any franchise granted pursuant to this chapter by reason of any failure of the Borough to enforce prompt compliance.
F. 
This chapter and any franchise granted pursuant to this chapter shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Pennsylvania.
A. 
The grantee shall not sell, transfer, lease, assign, sublet or dispose of, in whole or in part, either by forced or involuntary sale, or by ordinary sale, consolidation or otherwise, the franchise and/or cable system or any of the rights or privileges granted by the franchise, without the prior consent of the Council, which consent shall not be unreasonably denied or delayed and shall be denied only upon a good-faith finding by the Borough that the proposed transferee lacks the legal, technical or financial qualifications to perform its obligations under the franchise agreement. Any attempt to sell, transfer, lease, assign or otherwise dispose of the franchise and/or cable system without the consent of the Council shall be null and void. This provision shall not apply to sales of property or equipment in the normal course of business. No consent from the Borough shall be required for a transfer in trust, mortgage or from instrument of hypothecation, in whole or in part, to secure an indebtedness, or for a pro forma transfer to a corporation, partnership or other entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the grantee.
B. 
The following events shall be deemed to be a sale, assignment or other transfer of the franchise and/or cable system requiring compliance with this section: the sale, assignment or other transfer of all or a majority of the grantee's assets; the sale, assignment or other transfer of capital stock or partnership, membership or other equity interests in the grantee by one or more of its existing shareholders, partners, members or other equity owners so as to create a new controlling interest in the grantee; the issuance of additional capital stock or partnership, membership or other equity interest by the grantee so as to create a new controlling interest in the grantee; and the entry by the grantee into an agreement with respect to the management or operation of the grantee and/or the system. The term "controlling interest" as used herein means majority equity ownership of the grantee.
C. 
In the case of any sale or transfer of ownership of any franchise and/or cable system, the Borough shall have 120 days to act upon any request for approval of such sale or transfer that contains or is accompanied by such information as is required in accordance with other reasonable information as Borough, in its sole discretion, may request. If the Borough fails to render a final decision on the request within 120 days from receipt by the Borough of all required information, such request shall be deemed granted unless the requesting party and the Borough agree to an extension of time.
D. 
The grantee shall notify the grantor in writing of any foreclosure or any other judicial sale of all or a substantial part of the franchise property of the grantee or upon the termination of any lease or interest covering all or a substantial part of said franchise property. Such notification shall be considered by the grantor as notice that a change in control of ownership of the franchise has taken place and the provisions under this section governing the consent of the grantor to such change in control of ownership shall apply.
E. 
For the purpose of determining whether it shall consent to such change, transfer or acquisition of control, the grantor may inquire into the qualifications of the prospective transferee or controlling party and the grantee shall assist the grantor in any such inquiry. In seeking the grantor's consent to any change of ownership or control, the grantee shall have the responsibility of insuring that the transferee completes an application in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the grantor, which application shall include the information required under state and federal law as well as Subsection B(1) through (8) of § 99-12 of this chapter. An application, acceptable to the Borough, shall be submitted to the grantor not less than 60 days prior to the date of transfer. The transferee shall be required to establish that it possesses the legal, technical and financial qualifications to operate and maintain the system and comply with all franchise requirements for the remainder of the term of the franchise. If, after considering the legal, financial, character and technical qualities of the applicant and determining that they are satisfactory, the Borough finds that such transfer is acceptable, the Borough shall transfer and assign the rights and obligations of such franchise. The consent of the Borough to such transfer shall not be unreasonably denied.
F. 
Any financial institution having a pledge of the grantee or its assets for the advancement of money for the construction and/or operation of the franchise shall have the right to notify the Borough that it or its designee satisfactory to the Borough shall take control of and operate the cable television system, in the event of a grantee default in its financial obligations. Further, said financial institution shall also submit a plan for such operation within 30 days of assuming such control that will insure continued service and compliance with all franchise requirements during the term the financial institution exercises control over the system. The financial institution shall not exercise control over the system for a period exceeding one year unless extended by the Borough in its discretion and during said period of time it shall have the right to petition the Borough to transfer the franchise to another grantee.
A. 
The grantee shall design, construct and maintain the cable television system to have the capability to pass every dwelling unit in the service area, subject to any line extension requirements of the franchise agreement.
B. 
After service has been established by activating trunk and/or distribution cables for any part of the service area, the grantee shall provide cable service to any requesting subscriber within that service area within 30 days from the request; provided, that the grantee is able to secure all rights-of-way necessary to extend service to such subscriber within such thirty-day period on reasonable terms and conditions where economically feasible. Economic feasibility shall be defined as installation costs within 150% of the average cost of service installation, as demonstrated by the cable operator.
Any franchise granted shall be nonexclusive. The Borough specifically reserves the right to grant, at any time, such additional franchises for a cable television system or any component thereof, as if deems appropriate, subject to applicable state and federal law; provided, however, that no franchise shall be granted on terms materially less burdensome or more favorable than any other franchise granted hereunder.
A. 
The grantor may grant one or more franchises for a service area. The grantor may, in its sole discretion, limit the number of franchises granted, based upon, but not necessarily limited to, the requirements of applicable law and specific local considerations, such as:
(1) 
The capacity of the public rights-of-way to accommodate multiple coaxial cables in addition to the cables, conduits and pipes of the utility systems, such as electrical power, telephone, gas and sewerage.
(2) 
The impact on the community of having multiple franchises.
(3) 
The disadvantages that may result from cable system competition, such as the requirement for multiple pedestals on residents' property and the disruption arising from numerous excavations of the rights-of-way.
(4) 
The financial capabilities of the applicant and its guaranteed commitment to make necessary investment to erect, maintain and operate the proposed system for the duration of the franchise term.
B. 
Each grantee awarded a franchise to serve the entire Borough shall offer service to all residences in the Borough, in accordance with construction and service schedules mutually agreed upon between the grantor and the grantee and consistent with applicable law.
C. 
Developers of new residential housing with underground utilities shall provide conduit to accommodate cables for at least two cable systems in accordance with the provisions of § 99-18.
D. 
The grantor may require that any new grantee be responsible for its own underground trenching and the costs associated therewith, if, in the grantor's opinion, the rights-of-way in any particular area cannot feasibly and reasonably accommodate additional cables.
E. 
Any additional franchise granted by the Borough to provide cable service in a part of the Borough in which a franchise has already been granted and where an existing grantee is providing service shall require the new grantee to provide service throughout its service area within a reasonable time and in a sequence which does not discriminate against lower-income residents.
A. 
Any person desiring an initial franchise for a cable television system shall file an application with the Borough. A reasonable nonrefundable application fee established by the Borough shall accompany the application or renewal application. Such application fee shall not be deemed to be "franchise fees" within the meaning of § 622 of the Cable Act (47 U.S.C. § 542) and such payments shall not be deemed to be:
(1) 
"Payments in kind" or any involuntary payments chargeable against the compensation to be paid to the Borough by the grantee pursuant to § 99-18 hereof and applicable provisions of a franchise agreement; or
(2) 
Part of the compensation to be paid to Borough by grantee pursuant to § 99-18 hereof and applicable provisions of a franchise agreement.
B. 
An application for an initial franchise for a cable television system shall contain, where applicable:
(1) 
A statement as to the proposed franchise and service area.
(2) 
Resume of prior history of the applicant, including the legal, technical and financial expertise of the applicant in the cable television field.
(3) 
List of the partners, general and limited, of the applicant, if a partnership, or the percentage of stock owned or controlled by each shareholder, if a corporation.
(4) 
List of officers, directors and managing employees of the applicant, together with a description of the background of each such person.
(5) 
The names and addresses of any parent or subsidiary of applicant or any other business entity owning or controlling applicant in whole or in part, or owned or controlled in whole or in part by the applicant.
(6) 
A current financial statement of the applicant verified by a CPA audit or otherwise certified to be true, complete and correct to the reasonable satisfaction of the Borough.
(7) 
Proposed construction and service schedule.
(8) 
Any additional information that the Borough deems applicable.
A. 
Upon receipt of any application for an initial franchise, the Manager shall prepare a report and make his recommendations respecting application to the Borough Council.
B. 
A public hearing shall be set prior to any initial franchise grant, at a time and date approved by the Council. Within 30 days after the close of the hearing, the Council shall make a decision based upon the evidence received at the hearing as to whether or not the franchise(s) should be granted, and, if granted, subject to what conditions. The Council may grant one or more initial franchises, or may decline to grant any franchise.
Franchise renewals shall be in accordance with applicable law including, but not necessarily limited to, the Cable Communication Act, as amended. The grantor and grantee, by mutual consent, may enter into renewal negotiations at any time during the term of the franchise.
Except as otherwise provided in the franchise agreement, the grantee shall maintain an office or offices to provide the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to comply with the following consumer protection standards under normal operating conditions excluding periods of system outage and monthly billing cycles:
A. 
Cable system office hours and telephone availability.
(1) 
The grantee will maintain a local, toll-free or collect call telephone access line which will be available to its subscribers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
(a) 
Trained grantee representatives will be available to respond to customer inquiries during normal business hours.
(b) 
After normal business hours, the access line may be answered by a service or an automated response system, including an answering machine. Inquiries received after normal business hours must be responded to by a trained grantee representative on the next business day.
(2) 
Under normal operating conditions, telephone answer time by a customer representative, including wait time, shall not exceed 30 seconds when the connection is made. If the call needs to be transferred, transfer time shall not exceed 30 seconds. These standards shall be met no less than 90% of the time under normal operating conditions, measured on a quarterly basis.
(3) 
The grantee will not be required to acquire equipment or perform surveys to measure compliance with the telephone answering standards above unless a historical record of complaints indicates a clear failure to comply.
(4) 
Under normal operating conditions, the customer will receive a busy signal less than 3% of the time.
(5) 
Customer service center and bill payment locations will be open at least during normal business hours and will be conveniently located.
B. 
Installations, outages and service calls. Under normal operating conditions, each of the following four standards will be met no less than 95% of the time measured on a quarterly basis:
(1) 
Standard installations will be performed within seven business days after an order has been placed. "Standard" installations are those that are located up to 125 feet from the existing distribution system.
(2) 
Excluding conditions beyond the control of the grantee, the grantee will begin working on "service interruptions" promptly and in no event later than 24 hours after the interruption becomes known. Grantee must begin actions to correct other service problems the next business day after notification of the service problem.
(3) 
At the subscriber's request, the "appointment window" alternatives for installations, service calls and other installation activities will be at a specific time or within a maximum four-hour time block during normal business hours. (The grantee may schedule service calls and other installation activities outside of normal business hours for the express convenience of the customer.)
(4) 
The grantee may not cancel an appointment with a customer after the close of business on the business day prior to the scheduled appointment.
(5) 
If the grantee's representative is running late for an appointment with a customer and will not be able to keep the appointment as scheduled, the customer will be contacted. The appointment will be rescheduled, as necessary, at a time which is convenient for the customer.
C. 
Communications between the grantee and cable subscribers.
(1) 
Notifications to subscribers.
(a) 
The grantee shall provide written information on each of the following areas at the time of installation of service, at least annually, to all subscribers, and at any time upon request:
[1] 
Products and services offered.
[2] 
Prices and options for programming services and conditions of subscription to programming and other services.
[3] 
Installation and service maintenance policies.
[4] 
Instructions on how to use the cable service.
[5] 
Channel positions programming carried on the system.
[6] 
Billing and complaint procedures, including the address and telephone number of the Borough's cable office.
(b) 
Customers will be notified of any change in rates, programming services or channel positions as soon as possible through announcements on the cable system and in writing. Notice must be given to subscribers a minimum of 30 days in advance of such change if the change is within the control of the grantee. In addition, the grantee shall notify subscribers 30 days in advance of any significant change in the other information required by the preceding subsection. The grantor may, in its sole discretion, waive this requirement on a case-by-case basis.
(2) 
Billing.
(a) 
Bills will be clear, concise and understandable. Bills must be fully itemized, with itemizations including, but not limited to, basic and premium service charges and equipment charges. Bills will also clearly delineate all activity during the billing period, including optional charges, rebates and credits.
(b) 
In case of a billing dispute, the grantee must respond to a written complaint from a subscriber within 30 days.
(c) 
Should the grantee choose, or be required, to print the Borough's telephone number on the bills, the grantee shall print the Borough's telephone number in such a manner that it is clearly known to be that of the Borough and is not easily confused with the grantee's telephone number. This is intended to go by clarity for the grantee's customers and to attempt to avoid numerous unnecessary phone calls for both the customers and the Borough.
(3) 
Refunds. Refund checks will be issued promptly, but no later than either:
(a) 
The customer's next billing cycle following resolution of the request or 30 days, whichever is earlier; or
(b) 
The return of the equipment supplied by the grantee if service is terminated.
(4) 
Credits. Credits for service will be issued no later than the customer's next billing cycle following the determination that a credit is warranted.
The grantee shall not disseminate information as to the names, addresses or telephone numbers of subscribers or any subscriber information furnished in connection with the request for service, except in conformity with § 361 of the Cable Act; subject, however, to the right of the Borough to audit the records of the grantee to establish compliance with this chapter and with any franchisee agreement.
The Borough reserves the right to regulate rates for basic cable service and any other services offered over the cable system, to the extent not prohibited by federal or state law. The grantee shall be subject to the rate regulation provisions provided for herein, and those of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at 47 CFR Part 76.900, Subpart N. The Borough shall follow the rules relating to cable rate regulation promulgated by the FCC at 47 CFR Part 76.900, Subpart N.
A. 
Following the issuance and acceptance of a franchise, the grantee shall pay to the Borough a franchise fee in the amount set forth in the franchise agreement.
B. 
The Borough, on an annual basis, shall be furnished a statement within 60 days of the close of the calendar year, certified by an officer of the grantee or audited by a certified public accountant, reflecting the total amounts of gross annual revenues and all payments and computations for the previous calendar year. Upon 10 days' prior written notice, the grantor shall have the right to conduct an independent audit of the grantee's records, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and if such audit indicates a franchise fee underpayment of 5% or more, the grantee shall assume all reasonable costs of such an audit.
C. 
Except as otherwise provided by law, no acceptance of any payment by the Borough shall be construed as a release or an accord and satisfaction of any claim the Borough may have for further or additional sums payable as a franchise fee under this chapter or any franchise agreement or for the performance of any other obligation of the grantee.
D. 
In the event that any franchise fee payment or recomputed amount is not made on or before the dates specified in the franchise agreement, the grantee shall pay as additional compensation an interest charge, computed from such due date, at an annual rate equal to the prime lending rate plus 1 1/2% during the period for which payment was due.
E. 
Franchise fee payments shall be made in accordance with the schedule indicated in the franchise agreement.
A. 
The grantee shall not construct any cable system facilities until the grantee has secured the necessary permits from the grantor or other cognizant public agencies.
B. 
In those areas of the Borough where transmission or distribution facilities of all the public utilities providing the telephone and electric power service are underground, the grantee likewise shall construct, operate and maintain its transmission and distribution facilities therein underground.
C. 
In those areas of the Borough where the grantee's cables are located on the aboveground transmission or distribution facilities of the public utility providing telephone or electric power service and in the event that the facilities of both such public utilities subsequently are placed underground, then the grantee likewise shall construct, operate and maintain its transmission and distribution facilities underground, at the grantee's cost. Certain of the grantee's equipment, such as pedestals, amplifiers and power supplies, which normally are placed above ground, may continue to remain in aboveground closures.
D. 
In new residential developments in which all the electric power and telephone utilities are underground, the following procedure shall apply with respect to access to and utilization of underground easements:
(1) 
The developer shall be responsible for contacting and surveying all franchised cable operators to ascertain which operators desire (or, pursuant to the terms and provisions of this chapter and any franchise agreement, may be required) to provide cable service to that development. The developer may establish a reasonable deadline to receive cable operator responses. The final development map shall indicate the cable operators that have agreed to serve the development.
(2) 
If one or two cable operators wish to provide service, they shall be accommodated in the joint utilities trench on a nondiscriminatory shared basis. If fewer than two operators indicate interest, the developer shall provide conduit to accommodate two sets of cable television cables and dedicate to the Borough any initially unoccupied conduit. The developer shall be entitled to recover the cost of such initially unoccupied conduit in the event that the grantor subsequently leases or sells occupancy or use rights to any grantee.
(3) 
The developer shall provide at least 10 working days' notice of the date that utility trenches will be open to the cable operators that have agreed to serve the development. When the trenches are open, cable operators shall have two working days to begin the installation of their cables and five working days after beginning installation to complete installation.
(4) 
The final development map shall not be approved until the developer submits evidence that:
(a) 
It has notified each grantee that underground utility trenches are to open as of an estimated date, and that the grantee will be allowed access to such trenches, including trenches from proposed streets to individual homes or home sites, on specified nondiscriminatory terms and conditions.
(b) 
It has received a written notification from each grantee that the grantee intends to install its facilities during the open trench period on the specified terms and conditions, or such other terms and conditions as are mutually agreeable to the developer and the grantee, or has received no reply from a grantee within 10 days after its notification to such grantee, in which case the grantee will be deemed to have waived its opportunity to install its facilities during the open trench period.
(5) 
Sharing the joint utilities trench shall be subject to compliance with state regulatory agency and utility standards. If such compliance is not possible, the developer shall provide a separate trench for the cable television cables, with the entire cost shared among the participating cable operators. With the concurrence of the developer, the affected utilities and the cable operators, alternative installation procedures, such as the use of deeper trenches, may be utilized, subject to applicable law.
E. 
Any cable operator wishing to serve an area where the trenches have been closed shall be responsible for its own trenching and associated costs and shall repair all property to the condition which existed prior to such trenching.
F. 
In the event that more than one franchise is awarded, the Borough reserves the right to limit the number of drop cables and/or pedestals per residence, or to require that the drop cable(s) and/or pedestal(s) be utilized only by the cable operator selected by the resident to provide service.
A. 
The grantee shall construct, install, operate and maintain its system in a manner consistent with all applicable laws, ordinances, construction standards, governmental requirements, Federal Communications Commission technical standards and any standards set forth in its franchise agreement. In addition, the grantee shall provide to the Borough, upon request, a written report of the results of the grantee's periodic proof of performance tests conducted pursuant to Federal Communications Commission standards and guidelines.
B. 
Repeated and verified failure to maintain specified technical standards shall constitute a material franchise violation.
C. 
All construction practices shall be in accordance with all applicable sections of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, as well as all other applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations.
D. 
All installation of electronic equipment shall be in accordance with the provisions of the National Electrical and Safety Code and National Electrical Code, as amended, and as may from time to time be amended.
E. 
Antennae and their supporting structures (towers) shall be painted, lighted, erected and maintained in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration and all other applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations.
F. 
All of the grantee's plant and equipment, including, but not limited to, the antenna site, headend and distribution system, towers, house connections, structures, poles, wire, coaxial cable, fixtures and appurtenances, shall be installed, located, erected, constructed, reconstructed, replaced, removed, repaired, maintained and operated in accordance with good engineering practices, performed by experienced maintenance and construction personnel so as not to endanger or interfere with improvements the Borough may deem appropriate to make or to interfere in any manner with the rights of any property owner, or to unnecessarily hinder or obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
G. 
The grantee shall at all times employ ordinary care and shall install and maintain in use commonly accepted methods and devices preventing failures and accidents which are likely to cause damage, injury or nuisance to the public.
[Amended 9-7-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
The grantee shall have the authority to trim trees, in accordance with all applicable utility restrictions, ordinance and easement restrictions, upon and hanging over streets, alleys, sidewalks and public places of the Borough so as to prevent the branches of such trees from coming in contact with the wires and cables of the grantee. Borough representatives shall have authority to supervise and approve all trimming of trees conducted by the grantee. No trimming shall be done without first obtaining an annual permit from the Borough of Greencastle Borough Council, except minor trimming of trees that is performed in accordance with the specifications of the Borough Council and that does not result in a substantial change in appearance of the trees.
The Borough shall have the right to install and maintain, free of charge, upon the poles and within the underground pipes and conduits of the grantee, any wires and fixtures desired by the Borough for the use of the Borough and any other public institutions or not-for-profit entities in the Borough, other than for a competitive cable system, to the extent that such installation and maintenance does not interfere with operations of the grantee.
Cablecasting shall be offered pursuant to the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Programming decisions will be at the sole discretion of the grantee; however, all local commercial and public broadcast services, as directed by the Federal Communications Commission, will be provided, as well as such governmental and educational access channels agreed to in any agreement established under this chapter. All notices of channel changes, program changes and rate changes will be provided to the Borough at least 30 days prior to their implementation, or as otherwise directed by federal rules and regulations.
A. 
The grantee shall indemnify, hold harmless, release and defend the Borough, its officers, boards, commissions, agents and employees as provided in the franchise agreement.
B. 
The Borough shall promptly notify the grantee of any claims subject to indemnification by the grantee and shall cooperate with all reasonable requests by the grantee for information, documents, testimony or other assistance appropriate to a resolution of such claims. The grantee shall have full responsibility for and control of any action or undertaking directed at the resolution of such claims.
The grantee shall provide insurance as specified in the franchise agreement.
A. 
The grantee shall at all times maintain:
(1) 
A full and complete set of plans, records and "as-built" maps showing the location of the cable television system installed or in use in the Borough, exclusive of subscriber service drops and equipment provided in subscribers' homes.
(2) 
If requested by the grantor, a summary of service calls, identifying the number, general nature and disposition of such calls, on a monthly basis. A summary of such service calls shall be submitted to the Borough within 30 days following its request in a form reasonably acceptable to the Borough.
B. 
Upon 48 hours' written notice, and during normal business hours, the grantee shall permit examination by any duly authorized representative of the Borough, of all franchise property and facilities, together with any appurtenant property and facilities of the grantee situated within or without the Borough, and all records relating to the franchise; provided, they are necessary to enable the Borough to carry out its regulatory responsibilities under local, state and federal law, this chapter and the franchise agreement. Such records include all books, records, maps, plans, financial statements, service complaint logs, performance test results, records of request for service and other like materials of the grantee. The grantee shall have the right to be present at any such examination.
C. 
If any of the records described in the previous subsection are proprietary in nature or must be kept confidential by state, federal or local law, upon proper request by the grantee, such information obtained during such an inspection shall be treated as confidential, making it available only to those persons who must have access to perform their duties on behalf of the Borough including, but not limited to, the Division of Finance, the Law Department and Council members. To the extent any federal requirement for privacy applies to the information to be submitted, said law shall control.
D. 
Copies of all petitions, applications, communications and reports submitted by the grantee or on behalf of or relating to the grantee to the Federal Communications Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal or state regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction with respect to any matters affecting the cable system authorized pursuant to this chapter and any franchise shall be made available to the Borough upon request. Copies of responses from the regulatory agencies to the grantee shall likewise be furnished to the Borough upon request.
E. 
All reports required by the Cable Act under this chapter, except those required by law to be kept confidential, shall be available for public inspection in the grantee's offices during normal business hours.
A. 
The grantee shall submit a written end-of-the-year report to the grantor with respect to the preceding calendar year containing the following information:
(1) 
A summary of the previous year's (or in the case of the initial reporting year, the initial year's) activities in development of the cable system, including but not limited to services begun or discontinued during the reporting year.
(2) 
A list of the grantee's officers, members of its board of directors and other principals of the grantee.
(3) 
A list of stockholders or other equity investors holding 5% or more of the voting interest in the grantee.
(4) 
Information as to the number of subscribers and the number of basic and pay service subscribers.
(5) 
The Borough, including its agents and representatives, shall have the authority, during normal business hours, to arrange for and conduct an inspection of annual reports required pursuant to this chapter or a franchise agreement. The Borough shall give the grantee 24 hours' written notice of the inspection request. If the requested information is proprietary in nature or must be kept confidential by state, federal or local law, upon proper request by the grantee, such information obtained during such an inspection shall be treated as confidential, making it available only to those persons who must have access to perform their duties on behalf of the Borough including, but not limited to, the Division of Finance, the Law Department and Council members. To the extent any federal requirement for privacy applies to the information to be submitted, said law shall control.
B. 
All reports and records required under this chapter shall be furnished at the sole expense of the grantee, except as otherwise provided in this chapter or the franchise agreement.
C. 
The grantee shall, throughout the life of the franchise, keep the Borough fully informed with respect to the matters specified above, and the failure to disclose such information during the life of the franchise.
If the grantee fails to perform in a timely manner any material obligation required by this chapter or a franchise granted hereunder, following notice from the Borough and an opportunity to cure such nonperformance, the grantor may act to remedy such violation in accordance with the following procedures:
A. 
The grantor shall notify the grantee of any alleged material violation in writing by personal delivery or registered or certified mail, and demand correction within a reasonable time, which shall not be less than 10 days in the case of the failure of the grantee to pay any sum or other amount due the Borough under this chapter or the grantee's franchise and 30 days in all other cases.
B. 
If the grantee fails either to correct the violation within the time prescribed or to commence correction of the violation within the time prescribed and thereafter diligently pursue correction of such violation, the Borough shall then give written notice of not less than 14 days of a public hearing to be held before the Council. Said notice shall specify the violations alleged to have occurred.
C. 
At the public hearing, the Council shall hear and consider relevant evidence and thereafter render findings and its decision. In the event the Council finds that a material violation exists and that the grantee has not corrected the same in a satisfactory manner or has not diligently commenced correction of such violation after notice thereof from the grantor and is not diligently proceeding to fully remedy such violation, the Council may revoke the franchise or impose any other penalty permitted by the franchise committee.
In the event the grantee's performance of any of the terms, conditions or obligations required by this chapter or a franchise granted hereunder is prevented by a cause or event not within the grantee's control, such inability to perform shall be deemed excused and no penalties or sanctions shall be imposed as a result thereof. For the purpose of this section, causes or events not within the control of the grantee shall include, without limitation, acts of God, strikes, sabotage, riots or civil disturbances, restraints imposed by order of a governmental agency or court, failure or loss of utilities, explosions, acts of public enemies and natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, landslides and fires.
A. 
In the event that the use of any property of the grantee within the franchise area or a portion thereof is discontinued for a continuous period of 12 months, the grantee shall be deemed to have abandoned that franchise property.
B. 
The grantor, upon such terms as the grantor may impose, may give the grantee permission to abandon, without removing, any system facility or equipment laid, directly constructed, operated or maintained under the franchise. Unless such permission is granted or unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the grantee shall remove all abandoned aboveground facilities and equipment upon receipt of written notice from the grantor and shall restore any affected street to its former state at the time such facilities and equipment were installed so as not to impair its usefulness. In removing its plant, structures and equipment, the grantee shall refill, at its own expense, any excavation that shall be made by it and shall leave all public ways and places in as good condition as that prevailing prior to such removal without materially interfering with any electrical or telephone cable or other utility wires, poles or attachments. The grantor shall have the right to inspect and approve the condition of the public ways, public places, cables, wires, attachments and poles prior to and after removal. The liability, indemnity and insurance provisions of this chapter and any security fund provided in the franchise shall continue in full force and effect during the period of removal and until full compliance by the grantee with the terms and conditions of this section.
C. 
Upon abandonment of any franchise property in place, the grantee, if required by the Borough, shall submit to the grantor an instrument, satisfactory in form to the Borough, transferring to the Borough the ownership of the franchise property abandoned.
D. 
At the expiration of the term for which the franchise is granted, or upon its revocation or earlier expiration, as provided for herein, in any such case without renewal, extension or transfer, the Borough shall have the right to require the grantee to remove, at its own expense, all aboveground portions of the cable television system from all streets and public ways within the Borough within a reasonable period of time, which shall not be less than 180 days.
E. 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this chapter, the grantee may abandon any underground franchise property in place so long as it does not materially interfere with the use of the street or public rights-of-way in which such property is located or with the use thereof by any public utility or other cable grantee.
Upon expiration or revocation of the franchise, the Borough shall have discretion to permit and/or require the grantee to continue to operate the cable television system for an extended period of time not to exceed six months from the date of such expiration or revocation. The grantee shall continue to operate the system under the terms and conditions of this chapter and the franchise and to provide the regular subscriber service and any and all of the services that may be provided at that time.
A. 
A franchise granted hereunder shall, at the option of the grantor, cease and terminate 120 days after appointment of a receiver or receivers, or trustee or trustees, to take over and conduct the business of the grantee, whether in a receivership, reorganization, bankruptcy or other action or proceeding, unless such receivership or trusteeship shall have been vacated prior to the expiration of said 120 days, or unless:
(1) 
Such receivers or trustees shall have, within 120 days after their election or appointment, fully complied with all the terms and provisions of this chapter and the franchise granted pursuant hereto, and the receivership or trustees within said 120 days shall have remedied all the faults under the franchise or provided a plan for the remedy of such faults which is satisfactory to the Borough; and
(2) 
Such receivers or trustees shall, within said 120 days, execute an agreement duly approved by the court having jurisdiction in the premises, whereby such receivers or trustees assume and agree to be bound by each and every term, provision and limitation of the franchise granted.
B. 
In case of a foreclosure or other judicial sale of the franchise property, or any material part thereof, the grantor may serve notice of termination upon the grantee and the successful bidder at such sale, in which the event the franchise granted and all rights and privileges of the grantee hereunder shall cease and terminate 30 days after service of such notice, unless:
(1) 
The grantor shall have approved the transfer of the franchise, as and in the manner that this chapter provides; and
(2) 
Such successful bidder shall have covenanted and agreed with the grantor to assume and be bound by all terms and conditions of the franchise.
A. 
In addition to any rights specifically reserved to the Borough by this chapter, the Borough reserves to itself every right and power which is required to be reserved by a provision of any ordinance or under the franchise.
B. 
The Borough shall have the right to waive any provision of the franchise, except those required by federal or state regulation, if the Borough determines that it is in the public interest to do so, and that the enforcement of such provision will impose an undue hardship on the grantee or the subscribers. To be effective, such waiver shall be evidenced by a statement in writing signed by a duly authorized representative of the Borough. Waiver of any provision in one instance shall not be deemed a waiver of such provision subsequent to such instance nor be deemed a waiver of nay other provision of the franchise unless the statement so recites.
A. 
The grantee shall not deny service, deny access or otherwise discriminate against subscribers, channel users or general citizens on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age or gender. The grantee shall comply at all times with all other applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to nondiscrimination.
B. 
The grantee shall adhere to the applicable equal employment opportunity requirements of federal, state and local regulations, as now written or as amended from time to time.
C. 
Neither the grantee nor any person, agency or entity shall, without the subscriber's consent, tap or arrange for the tapping of any cable, line, signal input device or subscriber outlet or receiver for any purpose except routine maintenance of the system, detection of unauthorized service, polling with audience participating or audience viewing surveys to support advertising research regarding viewers where individual viewing behavior cannot be identified.
D. 
In the conduct of providing its services or in pursuit of any collateral commercial enterprise resulting therefrom, the grantee shall take reasonable steps to prevent the invasion of a subscriber's or general citizen's right of privacy or other personal rights through the use of the system as such rights are delineated or defined by applicable law. The grantee shall not, without lawful court order or other applicable valid legal authority, utilize the system's interactive two-way equipment or capability for unauthorized personal surveillance of any subscriber or general citizen.
E. 
No cable line, wire amplifier, converter or other piece of equipment owned by the grantee shall be installed by the grantee in the subscriber's premises, other than in appropriate easements, without first securing any required consent. If a subscriber requests service, permission to install upon subscriber's property shall be presumed. Where a property owner or his predecessor has granted an easement including a public utility easement or a servitude to another and the servitude by its terms contemplates a use such as the grantee's intended use, the grantee shall not be required to obtain the written permission of the owner for the installation of cable television equipment.
In the event of a conflict between any provision of this chapter and a franchise agreement entered into pursuant to it, the provisions of this chapter shall control, except as may be specifically otherwise provided in the franchise agreement.
If any provision of this chapter is held by any court or by any federal or state agency of competent jurisdiction to be invalid as conflicting with any federal or state law, rule or regulation now or hereafter in effect, or is held by such court or agency to be modified in any way in order to conform to the requirements of any such law, rule or regulation, such provision shall be considered a separate, distinct and independent part of this chapter, and such holding shall not affect the validity and enforceability of all other provisions hereof. In the event that such law, rule or regulations is subsequently repealed, rescinded, amended or otherwise changed, so that the provision hereof which had been held invalid or modified is no longer in conflict with such law, rule or regulation, said provision shall thereupon return to full force and effect and shall thereafter be binding on the grantor and the grantee; provided, that the grantor shall give the grantee 30 days' written notice of such change before requiring compliance with said provision or such longer period of time as may be reasonably required for the grantee to comply with such provision.