All facilities shall be constructed, installed and located in
accordance with the following terms and conditions, unless otherwise
specified in a license or franchise agreement:
A. A grantee shall install its telecommunications facilities within
an existing underground duct or conduit whenever excess capacity exists
within such utility facility.
B. A grantee with permission to install overhead facilities shall install
its telecommunications facilities on pole attachments to existing
utility poles only, and then only if surplus space is available.
C. Whenever any existing electric utilities, cable facilities or telecommunications
facilities are located underground within a public way of the Township,
a grantee with permission to occupy the same public way must also
locate its telecommunications facilities underground.
D. New utility poles shall be permitted only when underground conduit
cannot be installed.
E. Whenever new telecommunications facilities will exhaust the capacity
of a public street or utility easement to reasonably accommodate future
telecommunications carriers or facilities, the grantee shall provide
additional ducts, conduits, manholes and other facilities for nondiscriminatory
access to future carriers.
F. As additionally specified in Articles
IV and
V of this Part
2.
A construction in the public ways shall comply with all state
and federal safety regulations.
All license or franchise grantees are required to obtain construction permits for telecommunications facilities as required in Article
IX of this Part
2. However, nothing in this article shall prohibit the Township and a grantee from agreeing to alternative plan review, permit, and construction procedures in a license or franchise agreement, provided such alternative procedures provide substantially equivalent safeguards for responsible construction practices.
No license or franchise grantee may locate or maintain its telecommunications
facilities so as to unreasonably interfere with the use of the public
ways by the Township, by the general public, or by other persons authorized
to use or be present in or upon the public ways. All such facilities
shall be moved by the grantee, temporarily or permanently, as determined
by the Township Engineer.
No license or franchise grantee, nor any person acting on a
grantee's behalf, shall take any action or permit any action to be
done which may impair or damage any Township property, public ways
of the Township, other ways or other property located in, on, or adjacent
thereto.
Unless otherwise provided in a license or franchise agreement,
no license or franchise grantee, nor any person acting on the grantee's
behalf, shall commence any nonemergency work in or about the public
ways of the Township or other ways without 10 working days' advance
notice to the Township.
In the event of an unexpected repair or emergency, a grantee
may commence such repair and emergency response work as required under
the circumstances, provided the grantee shall notify the Township
as promptly as possible before such repair or emergency work, or as
soon thereafter as possible if advance notice is not practicable.
Each license or franchise grantee shall maintain its facilities
in good and safe condition and in a manner that complies with all
applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
Within 30 days following written notice from the Township, a
license or franchise grantee shall, at its own expense, temporarily
or permanently remove, relocate, change, or alter the position of
any telecommunications facilities within the public ways whenever
the corporate authorities shall have determined that such removal,
relocation, change, or alteration is reasonably necessary for:
A. The construction, repair, maintenance, or installation of any Township
or other public improvement in or upon the public ways.
B. The operations of the Township or other governmental entity in or
upon the public ways.
Within 30 days following written notice from the Township, any
grantee, telecommunications carrier, or other person that owns, controls,
or maintains any unauthorized telecommunications system, facility,
or related appurtenances within the public ways of the Township shall,
at its own expense, remove such facilities or appurtenances from the
public ways of the Township. A telecommunications system or facility
is unauthorized and subject to removal in the following circumstances:
A. Upon expiration or termination of the grantee's telecommunications
license or franchise;
B. Upon abandonment of a facility within the public ways of the Township;
C. If the system or facility was constructed or installed without the
prior grant of a telecommunications license or franchise;
D. If the system or facility was constructed or installed without the
prior issuance of a required construction permit;
E. If the system or facility was constructed or installed at a location
not permitted by the grantee's telecommunications license or franchise.
The Township retains the right and privilege to cut or move
any telecommunications facilities located within the public ways of
the Township as the Township may determine to be necessary, appropriate,
or useful, in response to any public health or safety emergency.
Unless directly and proximately caused by the willful, intentional,
or malicious acts by the Township, the Township shall not be liable
for any damage to or loss of any telecommunications facility within
the public ways of the Township as a result of or in connection with
any public works, public improvements, construction, excavation, grading,
filling, or work of any kind in the public ways or on behalf of Abington
Township.
A. When a license or franchise grantee, or any person acting on its
behalf does any work in or affecting any public ways, other ways or
Township property, it shall, at its own expense, promptly remove any
obstructions therefrom and restore such ways or property to as good
a condition as existed before the work was undertaken, unless otherwise
directed by the Township.
B. If weather or other conditions do not permit the complete restoration
required by this section, the grantee shall temporarily restore the
affected ways or property. Such temporary restoration shall be at
the licensee's sole expense, and the licensee shall promptly undertake
and complete the required permanent restoration when the weather or
other conditions no longer prevent such permanent restoration.
C. A grantee or other person acting in its behalf shall use suitable
barricades, flags, flagmen, lights, flares, and other measures as
required for the safety of all members of the general public to prevent
injury or damage to any person, vehicle, or property by reason of
such work in or affecting such ways or property.
Each license or franchise grantee shall provide the Township
with an accurate map or maps certifying the location of all telecommunications
facilities within the public ways. Each grantee shall provide updated
maps annually.
Within 10 days of a written request from the Township Manager,
each license or franchise grantee shall furnish the Township with
information sufficient to demonstrate:
A. That the grantee has complied with all requirements of this Part
2;
B. That all municipal sales, message and/or telecommunications taxes
due the Township in connection with the telecommunications services
and facilities provided by the grantee have been properly collected
and paid by the grantee.
C. All books, records, maps and other documents maintained by the grantee
with respect to its facilities within the public ways shall be made
available for inspection by the Township at reasonable times and intervals.
A license or franchise grantee shall have the right, without
prior Township approval, to offer or provide capacity or bandwidth
to its customers; provided:
A. The grantee shall furnish the Township with a copy of any such lease
or agreement;
B. The customer or lessee has complied, to the extent applicable, with
the requirements of this Part 2.
Unless otherwise provided in a license or franchise agreement,
each grantee shall, as a condition of the grant, secure and maintain
the following liability insurance policies insuring both the grantee
and the Township, its elected and appointed officers, officials, agents
and employees as coinsurers:
A. Comprehensive general liability insurance with limits not less than:
(1) Five million dollars for bodily injury or death to each person;
(2) Five million dollars for property damage resulting from any one accident;
and
(3) Five million dollars for all other types of liability.
B. Automobile liability for owned, nonowned and hired vehicles with
a limit of $3,000,000 for each person and $3,000,000 for each accident;
C. Workers' compensation within statutory limits and employer's liability
insurance with limits of not less than $1,000,000;
D. Comprehensive insurance for premises operations, explosions and collapse
hazard, underground hazard and products completed hazard with limits
of not less than $3,000,000;
E. The liability insurance policies required by this section shall be
maintained by the grantee throughout the term of the telecommunications
license or franchise, and such other period of time during which the
grantee is operating without a franchise or license hereunder, or
is engaged in the removal of its telecommunications facilities. Each
such insurance policy shall contain the following endorsement:
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"It is hereby understood and agreed that this policy may not
be canceled nor permitted to lapse until 90 days after receipt by
the Township, by registered mail, of a written notice addressed to
the Township Manager of such intent to cancel or not to renew."
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F. Within 60 days after receipt by the Township of said notice, and
in no event later than 30 days prior to said cancellation or lapse,
the grantee shall obtain and furnish to the Township replacement insurance
policies meeting the requirements of this section.
Each license or franchise agreement shall include, to the extent
permitted by law, the grantee's express undertaking to defend, indemnify
and hold the Township and its officers, employees, agents, and representatives
harmless from and against any and all damages, losses and expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of suit or defense),
arising out of, resulting from, or alleged to arise out of or result
from the negligent, careless, or wrongful acts, omissions, failures
to act, or misconduct of the grantee or its affiliates, officers,
employees, agents, contractors, or subcontractors in the construction,
operation, maintenance, repair or removal of its telecommunications
facilities, and in providing or offering telecommunications services
over the facilities or network, whether such acts or omissions are
authorized, allowed, or prohibited by this Part 2 or by a grant agreement
made or entered into pursuant to this Part 2.
Before a license or franchise granted pursuant to this Part
2 is effective, and as necessary thereafter, the grantee shall provide
and deposit such monies, bonds, letters of credit, or other instruments
in form and substance acceptable to the Township as may be required
by this Part 2 or by an applicable license or franchise agreement.
Each grantee shall establish a permanent security fund with
the Township by depositing the amount of $50,000 with the Township
in cash, an unconditional letter of credit, or other instrument acceptable
to the Township, which fund shall be maintained at the sole expense
of the grantee so long as any of the grantee's telecommunications
facilities are located within the public ways of the Township.
A. The fund shall serve as security for the full and complete performance
of this Part 2, including any costs, expenses, damages or loss that
the Township pays or incurs because of any failure attributable to
the grantee to comply with the codes, ordinances, rules, regulations,
or permits of the Township.
B. Before any sums are withdrawn from the security fund, the Township
shall give written notice to the grantee:
(1) Describing the act, default, or failure to be remedied, or the damages,
cost, or expenses which the Township has incurred by reason of the
grantee's act or default;
(2) Providing a reasonable opportunity for the grantee to first remedy
the existing or ongoing default or failure, if applicable;
(3) Providing a reasonable opportunity for the grantee to pay any monies
due the Township before the Township withdraws the amount thereof
from the security fund, if applicable;
(4) That the grantee will be given an opportunity to review the act,
default, or failure described in the notice with the Township Manager
or his designee.
C. Grantees shall replenish the security fund within 14 days after receiving
written notice from the Township that there is a deficiency in the
amount of the fund.
Unless otherwise provided in a license or franchise agreement,
a performance bond written by a corporate surety acceptable to the
Township equal to at least 100% of the estimated cost of constructing
the grantee's telecommunications facilities within the public ways
of the Township shall be deposited before construction is commenced.
A. The construction bond shall remain in force until 60 days after substantial
completion of the work, as determined by the Township Engineer, including
restoration of public ways and other property affected by the construction.
B. The construction bond shall guarantee, to the satisfaction of the
Township:
(1) Timely completion of construction;
(2) Construction in compliance with applicable plans, permits, technical
codes and standards;
(3) Proper location of the facilities as specified by the Township;
(4) Restoration of the public ways and other property affected by the
construction;
(5) The submission of as-built drawings after completion of the work
as required by this Part 2;
(6) Timely payment and satisfaction of all claims, demands, or liens
for labor, material, or services provided in connection with the work.
All grantees are required to cooperate with the Township and
with each other.
A. By February 1 of each year, grantees shall provide the Township with
a schedule of their proposed construction activities in or around
the public ways, or that may affect the public ways.
B. Each grantee shall meet with the Township and other grantees and
users of the public ways annually, or as determined by the Township,
to schedule and coordinate construction in the public ways.
C. All construction locations, activities, and schedules shall be coordinated,
as ordered by the Township Engineer, to minimize public inconvenience,
disruption or damages.
Ownership or control of a telecommunications system, license,
or franchise may not, directly or indirectly, be transferred, assigned
or disposed of by sale, lease, merger, consolidation, or other act
of the grantee, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior
consent of the Township. Such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld
or delayed, as expressed by ordinance. Consent may be delayed only
on such reasonable conditions as may be prescribed therein.
A. No grant shall be assigned or transferred in any manner within 12
months after the initial grant of the license or franchise, unless
otherwise provided in a license or franchise agreement.
B. Absent extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances, no grant, system,
or integral part of a system shall be assigned or transferred before
construction of the telecommunications system has been completed.
C. The grantee and the proposed assignee or transferee of the grant
or system shall provide and certify the following information to the
Township not less than 150 days prior to the proposed date of transfer:
(1)
Complete information setting forth the nature, terms and condition
of the proposed transfer or assignment;
(2)
All information required of a telecommunications license or franchise applicant pursuant to Article
IV or
V of this Part
2 with respect to the proposed transferee or assignee;
(3)
Any other information reasonably required by the Township.
D. No transfer shall be approved unless the assignee or transferee has
the legal, technical, financial, and other requisite qualifications
to own, hold, and operate the telecommunications system pursuant to
this Part 2.
E. Unless otherwise provided in a license or franchise agreement, the
grantee shall reimburse the Township for all direct and indirect fees,
costs, and expenses reasonably incurred by the Township in considering
a request to transfer or assign a telecommunications license or franchise.
F. Any transfer or assignment of a telecommunications grant, system,
or integral part of a system without prior approval of the Township
under this section or pursuant to a license or franchise agreement
shall be void and is cause for revocation of the grant.
Any transactions which singularly or collectively result in a change of 10% or more of the ownership or working control of the grantee, of the ownership or working control of a telecommunications license or franchise, of the ownership or working control of affiliated entities having ownership or working control of the grantee or of a telecommunications system, or of control of the capacity or bandwidth of the grantee's telecommunications system, facilities or substantial parts thereof, shall be considered an assignment or transfer requiring Township approval pursuant to §
154-100 hereof. Transactions between affiliated entities are not exempt from Township approval.
A license or franchise granted by the Township to use or occupy
public ways of the Township may be revoked for the following reasons:
A. Construction or operation in the Township or in the public ways of
the Township without a license or franchise grant of authorization;
B. Construction or operation at an unauthorized location;
C. Unauthorized substantial transfer of control of the grantee;
D. Unauthorized assignment of a license or franchise;
E. Unauthorized sale, assignment, or transfer of the grantee's franchise
or license assets, or substantial interest therein;
F. Misrepresentation or lack of candor by or on behalf of a grantee
in any application to the Township;
G. Abandonment of telecommunications facilities in the public ways;
H. Failure to relocate or remove facilities as required in this Part
2;
I. Failure to pay taxes, compensation, fees, or costs when and as due
the Township;
J. Insolvency or bankruptcy of the grantee;
K. Violation of material provisions of this Part 2;
L. Violation of the material terms of a license or franchise agreement.
In the event that the Township Manager believes that grounds
exist for revocation of a license or franchise, he shall give the
grantee written notice of the apparent violation or noncompliance,
providing a short and concise statement of the nature and general
facts of the violation or noncompliance, and providing the grantee
a reasonable period of time not exceeding 30 days to furnish evidence:
A. That corrective action has been or is being actively and expeditiously
pursued to remedy the violation or noncompliance;
B. That rebuts the alleged violation or noncompliance;
C. That it would be in the public interest to impose some penalty or
sanction less than revocation.
In the event that a grantee fails to provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Township Manager as provided in §
154-104 hereof, the Manager shall refer the apparent violation or noncompliance to the corporate authorities. The corporate authorities shall provide the grantee with notice and a reasonable opportunity to be heard concerning the matter.
If persuaded that the grantee has violated or failed to comply
with material provisions of this Part 2, or of a franchise or license
agreement, the corporate authorities shall determine whether to revoke
the license or franchise, or to establish some lesser sanction and
cure, considering the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of
the violation as reflected by one or more of the following factors:
A. Whether the misconduct was egregious;
B. Whether substantial harm resulted;
C. Whether the violation was intentional;
D. Whether there is a history of prior violations of the same or other
requirements;
E. Whether there is a history of overall compliance;
F. Whether the violation was voluntarily disclosed, admitted, or cured.