Unless a review of future cable-related needs
and interests (whether conducted prior to issuance of an RFP or in
evaluating an unsolicited proposal) shows that different standards
should apply, every cable system must at least satisfy the following
requirements.
Any cable system constructed, upgraded, or reconstructed
after the effective date of this chapter at a minimum shall be designed
to meet or exceed the capacity standards of the cable system with
the greatest capacity then in operation within the County of Chester.
The franchisee shall comply with all FCC standards and requirements
pertaining to converters and cable-ready televisions as may be amended
from time to time.
The franchisee shall provide the Township a
full description of the system proposed for construction and shall,
upon completion of any system modification or upgrade, submit to the
Township as-built maps for the entire system, as modified or upgraded,
to the extent such maps have not previously been provided to the Township.
A.
The franchisee and the Township shall evaluate at
intervals no greater than once every five years from the date of the
franchise agreement the feasibility of interconnecting the cable system
with other cable systems.
B.
When feasible, the franchisee shall, at the request
of the Township, interconnect with other cable systems.
C.
Nothing herein shall require franchisee to interconnect
with another cable system without the permission of such cable system.
All costs of any interconnection required by this section are external
costs which may be passed through directly to basic subscribers. To
the extent Township approval is required for any such basic rate adjustment,
franchisee shall be under no obligation to perform such interconnection
until such approval is granted.
Unless otherwise specified in a franchise agreement,
after cable service has been established by activating trunk distribution
cable for an area specified in a franchise agreement, the franchisee
shall provide cable service to any household requesting cable service
within that area, including each multiple-dwelling unit in that area,
except for multiple-dwelling units to which it cannot obtain access.
At a minimum, franchisee shall provide cable service within the Township
whenever there is a minimum of 35 homes per linear mile into which
the system can be extended. This construction will be completed as
soon as possible, but, in any case, within six months of attainment
of said density for aboveground facilities and within 12 months for
underground facilities. Franchisee may apply to the Township for an
extension of the time limit, not to exceed an additional six-month
period, provided that the franchisee used due diligence in attempting
timely completion and any delay was caused by circumstances beyond
the franchisee's control, in which case Township's agreement to said
extension shall not be unreasonably withheld. For new residential
subdivisions, a franchisee shall install cable system facilities in
the public right-of-way to be dedicated to the Township concurrent
with the installation of other utilities in the public right-of-way.
A.
Any cable system within the Township shall meet or
exceed the technical standards set forth in 47 CFR § 76.601
and any other applicable technical standards, including any such standards
as hereafter may be amended or adopted by the Township.
B.
A franchisee shall not design, install, or operate
its facilities in a manner that will interfere with the signals of
any broadcast station, the facilities of any public utility, the cable
system of another franchisee, or individual or master antennas used
for receiving television or other broadcast signals.
C.
At the times specified in the franchise agreement
or as required by FCC rules, the franchise shall perform at its expense
proof of performance tests, and such other tests as may be specified
in the franchise agreement, designed to demonstrate compliance with
this section, the franchise agreement, and FCC requirements. The franchisee
shall, upon the request of the Township, make such test results available
to the Township for inspection and copying at the franchisee's offices.
The Township shall have the right to inspect the cable system facilities
during and after their construction to ensure compliance with this
section, the franchise agreement, and applicable provisions of local,
state and federal law, and may require the franchisee to perform additional
tests based upon its prior investigation of system performance or
upon subscriber complaints.