Editor's Note: Prior ordinance history includes portions
of Ordinance No. 714.
[Ord. No. 884 § 1]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Cablevision
of New Jersey, Inc., Municipal Consent Renewal Ordinance."
[Ord. No. 884 § 2]
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. When
not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense
include the future, words in the plural include the singular, and
words in the singular include the plural.
a.
APPLICATION - Shall mean the Application for Renewal of Municipal
Consent filed with the Borough on or about October 21, 1999.
b.
BOARD - Shall mean the Board of Public Utilities of the State of
New Jersey.
c.
BOROUGH - Shall mean the Borough of Haworth, County of Bergen, State
of New Jersey, and shall include, as appropriate, the Governing Body
of the Borough.
d.
CABLE SYSTEM OR CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEM - Shall have the same meaning
as set forth in N.J.S.A. 48:5A-3(d).
e.
CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY OR CATV COMPANY - Shall mean any person
owning, controlling, operating, or managing a cable television system.
The term "person" as used herein shall be construed, without limiting
the generality thereof, to include specifically any agency or instrumentality
of this State or of any of its political subdivisions; but this definition
shall not include a telephone, telegraph, or electric utility company
regulated by the Board in a case where it merely leases or rents or
otherwise provides to a CATV Company wires, conduits, cables, or pole
space used in the redistribution of television signals to or toward
subscribers or customers of such CATV company.
f.
COMPANY - Shall mean the grantee of rights under this chapter renewing
municipal consent and is known as Cablevision of New Jersey, Inc.
(Cablevision)
g.
FCC - Shall mean the Federal Communications Commission.
h.
FEDERAL ACT - Shall mean that Federal statute relating to cable communications
commonly known as 47 U.S.C. § 521 et seq., or as that statute
may be amended.
i.
FEDERAL REGULATIONS - Shall mean those Federal regulations relating
to cable television service, 47 C.F.R. § 76.1 et seq., and,
to the extent applicable, any other Federal rules and regulations
relating to cable television, including, but not limited to, those
described in 47 C.F.R. § 76.3, or as such regulations may
be amended.
j.
HIGHWAY - As used herein shall mean and include every street, road,
alley, thoroughfare, way or place of any kind used by the public or
open to use by the public.
k.
OCTV - Shall mean the Office of Cable Television in the Board of
Public Utilities.
l.
PERSON - Shall mean any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company, or organization of any kind.
m.
STATE ACT - Shall mean that statute of the State of New Jersey relating
to cable television, known as the Cable Television Act, N.J.S.A. § 48:5A-1
et seq., or as that statute may be amended.
n.
STATE REGULATIONS - Shall mean those regulations of the Board relating
to cable television, N.J.A.C. 14:17-1.1 et seq., and N.J.A.C. 14:18-1.1
et seq., or as such State regulations may be amended.
o.
SUBSCRIBER REVENUES - Shall mean those revenues derived from all
recurring charges in the nature of subscription fees paid by subscribers
located within the Borough for cable television reception service
as set forth in the State Act.
[Ord. No. 884 § 3]
A public hearing concerning the renewal of the franchise herein
granted to the Company was held on May 22, 2000, after proper public
notice pursuant to the terms and conditions of the State Act. Said
notice was published on April 27, 2000, and again on May 4, 2000.
Said hearing, having been held as above stated and having been fully
open to the public, and the Borough, having received at said hearing
all comments regarding the qualifications of the Company to receive
this municipal consent, hereby finds that the Company continues to
possess the necessary legal, technical, character, financial, and
other qualifications and that the Company's operating and construction
arrangements are adequate and feasible, and that, therefore, the Borough
hereby grants the Company a non-exclusive consent, right and privilege
(the "municipal consent") to construct, erect, operate, modify and
maintain, in, upon, along, across, above, over, and under the highways,
streets, alleys, sidewalks, public ways and public places now laid
out or dedicated and all extensions thereof, and additions thereto,
in the Borough such poles, wires, cables, underground conduits, manholes,
and other television conductors and fixtures necessary for the maintenance
and operation in the Borough of a cable television system and cable
communications system for the purpose of distributing television and
radio signals, and other electronic impulses in order to furnish television
and radio programs, and various communications and other electronic
services to the public. The right so granted includes the right to
use and occupy said highways, streets, alleys, public ways and public
places, and all manner of easements for the purposes herein set forth
and as provided by the Federal and State Act.
[Ord. No. 884 § 4]
The municipal consent granted the Company herein shall expire
10 years from the date of the expiration of the current Certificate
of Approval issued by the Board.
[Ord. No. 884 § 5]
The Company shall, during each year of operation under this
municipal consent, pay to the Borough 2% of the annual gross subscriber
revenues received by the Company for cable television reception services
rendered to subscribers located within the Borough as set forth in
the State Act. In the event that applicable laws are changed or amended
to mandate an increased franchise fee, the Borough will be entitled
to collect such additional payments. In the event applicable law hereinafter
permits a larger franchise fee, but does not fix the amount thereof,
the Borough and the Company shall negotiate in good faith with respect
to the amount thereof.
[Ord. No. 884 § 6]
The Borough reserves the right to regulate rates, including
but not limited to rates for basic service, to the extent not prohibited
by Federal or State law, including any future changes in law.
[Ord. No. 884 § 7]
a.
During the term of this municipal consent, the Company shall maintain
a local business office or agent for the purpose of receiving and
resolving all complaints regarding the quality of service, equipment
malfunctions, and similar matters in accordance with N.J.A.C. 14:18-5.1.
All complaints shall be received and processed by the Company pursuant
to N.J.A.C. 14:17-6.5.
b.
In addition to the requirements of paragraph a of this section, the
OCTV is hereby designated as the complaint officer required by N.J.S.A.
48:5A-26, to receive and act upon complaints by subscribers to cable
television service provided pursuant to this municipal consent.
[Ord. No. 884 § 8]
a.
The Company shall pay, and by its acceptance of this municipal consent
the Company expressly agrees that it will pay, all damages and penalties
which the Borough may legally be required to pay as a result of the
Company's activities in the installation, operation, or maintenance
of the cable television system authorized herein. The Borough shall
notify the Company's manager within 60 days after the presentation
of any claim or demand to the Borough, either by suit or otherwise,
made against the Borough on account of any action, negligence or contract
as aforesaid on the part of the Company. It is expressly understood
and agreed that the Company shall not be required to indemnify the
Borough with regard to claims, damages and/or penalties arising out
of programming, access or consent.
b.
Cablevision agrees to maintain and keep in force and effect at its
sole cost at all times during the term of this consent, sufficient
liability insurance naming the Township of Haworth as an insured and
insuring against loss by any such claim, suit, judgment, execution
or demand in the minimum amounts of $500,000 for bodily injury or
death to one person, and one million ($1,000,000.00) dollars for bodily
injury or death resulting from any one accident or occurrence stemming
from or arising out of the Company's exercise of its rights hereunder.
c.
During the life of the municipal consent, the Company shall give
a bond to the Borough in accordance with N.J.S.A. 48:5A-28(d), which
bond shall be in the amount of $25,000. Such bond shall be to insure
the faithful performance of all undertakings of the Company as represented
in the application herein.
[Ord. No. 884 § 9]
a.
Franchise Territory. The consent granted under this chapter to the
Company shall apply to the entirety of the Borough, and any property
hereafter annexed thereto.
b.
Service Area. The Company shall be required to proffer cable television
service along any public right-of-way within the Borough to any person's
residence within he portion of the franchise territory, as described
in the application for municipal consent, at tariffed rates for standard
and nonstandard installations. Such area shall constitute the Company's
service area.
c.
Extension of Service. Cablevision shall be required to extend service
along public rights-of-way, outside of the Company's service
area to any person's business or residence in accordance with
the Company's commercial and residential line extension policies
as provided in the application for municipal consent.
d.
Facilities and Equipment. In transmitting its television signals
to subscribers in the Borough, the Company shall provide a quality
of signal that is at least as good as that customarily provided under
prevailing industry standards, and shall comply with any lawful requirements
imposed by the Federal regulations, any Federal pronouncements, and
(to the extent not preempted by Federal law) any State pronouncements
relating to technical standards for the transmission of television
signals, transmission quality, or facilities and equipment.
e.
Relocation of Poles. In the event that, at any time during the term
of this chapter, the Borough shall lawfully elect to alter or change
the grade of any street, alley, or other public way, the Company,
upon reasonable notice by the Borough, shall remove, relay and relocate
its poles, wires, cables, underground conduits, manholes, and other
fixtures at the Company's own expense.
f.
Temporary Wire Changes. The Company shall, on the request of any
person holding a valid building moving permit issued by the Borough,
temporarily raise or lower its wires to permit the moving of buildings,
machinery or in other similar circumstances. The expense of such temporary
removal, raising or lowering of wires shall be paid by the person
requesting same, unless the request is made by the Borough in which
case there shall be no charge, and the Company shall have the authority
to require any such payment in advance. The Company shall be given
not less than 10 days advance notice to arrange for temporary wire
changes.
g.
Tree Trimming. The Company shall have the authority to trim trees
upon and overhanging streets, highways, alleys, sidewalks, and public
places within the Borough so as to prevent the branches of such trees
from coming into contact with the wires and cables of the Company.
In nonresidency situations the Company shall provide reasonable advanced
notice to the Borough of contemplated tree trimming activities.
h.
Compliance with Standards. All facilities and equipment of the Company
shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with any applicable
State, Federal or local law.
i.
System to be Technologically Current. The Company agrees that the
capabilities of the system serving the Borough shall be maintained
as technologically current throughout the duration of the franchise,
as compared with other systems operated by Cablevision in Bergen County
of comparable size, measured by the number of subscribers in the system,
and to the extent economically reasonable and commercially practicable.
j.
Emergency Uses. Cablevision shall be required to have the capability
to override the audio portion of the system in order to permit the
broadcasting of emergency messages by the Borough pursuant to State
and Federal requirements. The Company shall in no way be held liable
for any injury suffered by the Borough or any other person, during
an emergency, if for any reason the Borough is unable to make full
use of the capable system as contemplated herein. The Borough shall
utilize the State approved procedures for such emergencies.
[Ord. No. 884 § 10]
The Company 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 the Company to exercise
its rights and perform its obligations under this Franchise, and to
assure an uninterrupted service to each and all of its customers;
provided, however, that such rules, regulations, terms and conditions
shall not be in conflict with Federal and/or State laws.
[Ord. No. 884 § 11]
The Company shall not sell or transfer its CATV System to another,
nor transfer any rights under this franchise to another, except as
provided in the State Act.
[Ord. No. 884 § 12]
This chapter and franchise is subject to all provisions of the
State Act and Federal Act and to all lawful rules and regulations
of the Board and OCTV, adopted pursuant thereto. The Company shall
at all times comply with the rules and regulations governing cable
television operations lawfully promulgated and adopted by the Board.
In the event of a conflict between the State Act and State regulations
and any FCC or Federal regulations, the FCC or Federal regulations
shall prevail.
[Ord. No. 884 § 13]
The Company shall not allow its cable or other operations to
interfere with television reception of persons not served by the Company,
nor shall the system interfere with, obstruct or hinder in any manner,
the operation of the various utilities serving the residents of the
Borough.
[Ord. No. 884 § 14]
The Company shall provide one standard installation and outlet
of free monthly cable television reception to all State accredited
primary and secondary schools, municipal public libraries and the
Municipal Building in the Borough. In addition, the Company shall
provide one cable modem and monthly Internet access service, free
of charge to all State accredited primary and secondary schools, municipal
public libraries and the Municipal Building in the Borough. Additionally,
if requested by the schools and/or library, the Company agrees to
install a router, for a one-time fee not to exceed $2,000, which will
enable such State accredited primary and secondary schools, municipal
public libraries receiving the free cable modem and monthly Internet
access service to connect up to 25 outlets to such service at each
location.
[Ord. No. 884 § 15]
The Company shall continue to offer a discount on basic cable
service for qualifying senior citizens in accordance with the requirements
set forth by the State Act, N.J.S.A., 48:5A-11.1.
[Ord. No. 884 § 16]
a.
Cablevision shall make available a noncommercial educational and
governmental (PEG) access channel for the Borough's future use
upon reasonable request.
b.
The Borough agrees that Cablevision shall retain the right to use
the PEG access channel, or portion thereof, for non-PEG access programming,
during times when the Borough is not utilizing the channel for purposes
of providing PEG access programming. In the event that Cablevision
uses said PEG access channel for the presentation of such other programming,
the PEG programming shall remain the priority use and the Company's
rights with respect to using the channel for non-PEG programming shall
be subordinate to the Township provision of PEG access programming
on such channel.
c.
Cablevision shall also provide for the use of the Borough $10,000
to be applied toward the purchase of PEG access equipment, such as
a character generator and a modulator.
[Ord. No. 884 § 17]
All of the statements and commitments contained in the application
and any amendment thereto, except as modified herein, are binding
upon the Company as terms and conditions of this consent. The application
and other relevant writings submitted by the Company shall be made
a part hereof by reference.
[Ord. No. 884 § 17]
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion
of this chapter is for any reason held invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional
by any court or Federal or State agency of competent jurisdiction,
such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct, and independent
provision of this chapter, and such holding shall not affect the validity
of the remaining portions hereof.
[Ord. No. 884 § 18]
Should any of the Federal or State acts, regulations or pronouncements applicable to the regulation of cable television service be modified in any way, such modification, to the extent it embodies required terms and conditions and meaningfully can be incorporated into this chapter shall be so incorporated, consistent with any applicable effective dates specified in such modification. To the extent that any such modification places limits on permissible terms and conditions, and any provision of this chapter becomes invalid by virtue of such modification, the preceding Section 20-18 shall apply.
[Ord. No. 884 § 20]
This chapter shall take effect upon its final passage and publication
according to law.
[Ord. No. 884 § 21]
The Municipal consent and associated rights granted herein are
nonexclusive and the Borough may, in accordance with the requirements
of the Federal Act and the State Act, award another municipal consent
to a separate CATV company in addition to the Company, or to any other
communications service provider in accordance with law.
[Ord. No. 884 § 22]
During the term of the municipal consent, the Company agrees
that upon a request from the Borough, the Company will meet with Borough
officials on a reasonable basis and attend meetings of the Borough
Governing Body to discuss matters regarding the Company's service
and to answer relevant questions. The Borough will provide the Company
with reasonable advance written notice of any such request.
[Ord. No. 884 § 23]
In the event the Borough approves or permits a cable television
system to operate in the Borough of Haworth on terms more favorable
or less burdensome than those contained in this franchise, such more
favorable or less burdensome terms shall be applicable in this franchise,
pursuant to approval of a petition to the Board of Public Utilities
as provided for under N.J.S.A. 48:5A-47 and N.J.A.C. 14:17-6.7.
[Ord. No. 884 § 24]
In the event that a nonfranchisable multi-channel video programmer
provides service to subscribers of the Borough of Haworth, Cablevision
shall have the right to petition the Board of Public Utilities for
franchise amendments that relieve Cablevision of regulating burdens
that create a competitive disadvantage to Cablevision. Such petition
shall: (1) identify the nonfranchised competitor; (2) detail the provisions
of its franchise that place it at a competitive disadvantage and the
manner in which those provisions place Cablevision at a competitive
disadvantage; (3) identify the regulations to be amended or repealed
(and only the minimum amendments required to eliminate its competitive
disadvantage without giving Cablevision a competitive advantage) in
order to eliminate the competitive disadvantage. The Borough shall
review the petition and shall determine whether it shall grant its
consent to the petition based upon the best interests of the Borough
and the subscribers in Haworth. The Borough shall not unreasonably
withhold granting Cablevision's petition and so amending the
franchise agreement, pursuant to approval of the petition by the Board
of Public Utilities as provided for under N.J.S.A. 48:5A-47 and N.J.A.C.
14:17-6.7.
[Ord. No. 884 § 25]
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions
of this chapter are hereby repealed.
[Ord. No. 884 § 26]
If any provisions of this chapter are found to be invalid, for
any reason, by the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction,
the validity of such portions shall not affect the validity of the
remaining provisions of this chapter, which shall be severable therefrom.
[Ord. No. 884 § 27]
This chapter shall take effect immediately after final adoption
and publication as required by law.
