[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Gloucester 9-22-2008 by Ord.
No. O-08-23. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Township of Gloucester hereby grants to Comcast renewal
of its nonexclusive municipal consent to place in, upon, across, above,
over and under highways, streets, alleys, sidewalks, easements, public
ways and public places in the Township, poles, wires, cables, underground
conduits, manholes and other television conductors, fixtures, apparatus
and equipment as may be necessary for the construction, operation
and maintenance in the Township of a cable television and communications
system.
For the purpose of this ordinance, the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein.
Such meaning or definition of terms is supplemental to those definitions
of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations,
47 CFR 76.1 et seq., and the Cable Communications Policy Act, 47 U.S.C.
§ 521 et seq., as amended, and the Cable Television Act,
N.J.S.A. 48:5A-1 et seq., and shall in no way be construed to broaden,
alter or conflict with the federal and state definitions:
Chapter 186 of the General Laws of New Jersey, 1972, and
subsequent amendments thereto, N.J.S.A. 48:5A-1 et seq.
The company's application for renewal of municipal consent.
Any service tier, which includes the retransmission of local
television broadcast signals as defined by the FCC.
The Board of Public Utilities, State of New Jersey.
The grantee of rights under this ordinance and is known as
Comcast of Garden State, L.P.
The Federal Communications Commission.
The Office of Cable Television of the Board.
Consists of the area of the municipality currently served
with existing plant as set forth in the map annexed to the company's
application for municipal consent.
The Township of Gloucester, County of Camden, State of New
Jersey.
Public hearings conducted by the Township, concerning the renewal
of municipal consent herein granted to the company were held after
proper public notice pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Act
and the regulations of the Board adopted pursuant thereto. Said hearings,
having been fully open to the public, and the municipality, having
received at said public hearings all comments regarding the qualifications
of the company to receive this renewal of municipal consent, the municipality
hereby finds that the company possesses the necessary legal, technical,
character, financial and other qualifications and that the company's
operating and construction arrangements are adequate and feasible.
A.
The nonexclusive municipal consent granted herein shall expire 15
years from the date of expiration of the previous certificate of approval
issued by the Board of Public Utilities with an automatic renewal
term of 10 years as provided by N.J.S.A. 48:5A-19 and 48:5A-25 and
N.J.A.C. 14:18-13.6 et seq.
B.
In the event that the Township shall find that the company has not
substantially complied with the material terms and conditions of this
ordinance, the Township shall have the right to petition the OCTV,
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 48:5A-47, for appropriate action, including modification
and/or termination of the certificate of approval; provided however,
that the Township shall first have given the company written notice
of all alleged instances of noncompliance and an opportunity to cure
same within 90 days of that notification.
Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Act, the company
shall, during each year of operation under the consent granted herein,
pay to the Township 2% of the gross revenues from all recurring charges
in the nature of subscription fees paid by subscribers for cable television
reception service in the Township or any higher amount permitted by
the Act or otherwise allowable by law, whichever is greater.
The consent granted under this ordinance to the renewal of the
franchise shall apply to the entirety of the Township and any property
subsequently annexed hereto.
The company shall be required to proffer service to any residence
or business along any public right-of-way in the primary service area,
as set forth in the company's application. Any extension of plant
beyond the primary service area shall be governed by the company's
line extension policy, as set forth in the company's application.
A.
Restoration. In the event that the company or its agents shall disturb
any pavement, street surfaces, sidewalks, driveways, or other surface
in the natural topography, the company shall, at its sole expense,
restore and replace such places or things so disturbed in as good
condition as existed prior to the commencement of said work.
B.
Relocation. If at any time during the period of this consent, the
Township shall alter or change the grade of any street, alley or other
way or place the company, upon reasonable notice by the Township,
shall remove, re-lay or relocate its equipment, at the expense of
the company.
C.
Removal or trimming of trees. During the exercise of its rights and
privileges under this franchise, the company shall have the authority
to trim trees upon the overhanging streets, alleys, sidewalks or other
public places of the Township so as to prevent the branches of such
trees from coming in contact with the wires and cable of the company.
Such trimming shall be only to the extent necessary to maintain proper
clearance of the company's wire and cables.
In providing services to its customers, the Company shall comply
with N.J.A.C. 14:18-1 et seq. and all applicable state and federal
statutes and regulations. The company shall strive to meet or exceed
all voluntary company and industry standards in the delivery of customer
service and shall be prepared to report on it to the Township upon
written request of the Township Administrator or Clerk.
A.
The company shall continue to comply fully with all applicable state
and federal statutes and regulations regarding credit for outages,
the reporting of same to regulatory agencies and notification of same
to customers.
B.
The company shall continue to fully comply with all applicable state
and federal statutes and regulations regarding the availability of
devices for the hearing impaired and the notification of same to customers.
C.
The company shall use every reasonable effort to meet or exceed voluntary
standards for telephone accessibility developed by the National Cable
Television Association (NCTA).
D.
Nothing herein shall impair the right of any subscriber or the Township
to express any comment with respect to telephone accessibility to
the complaint officer, or impair the right of the complaint officer
to take any action that is permitted under law.
The Office of Cable Television is hereby designed as the Complaint
Officer for the Township pursuant to N.J.S.A. 48:5A-26(b). All complaints
shall be received and processed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 14:17-6.5.
The Township shall have the right to request copies of records and
reports pertaining to complaints by Township customers from the OCTV.
During the term of this franchise, and any renewal thereof,
the company shall maintain a business office or agent in accordance
with N.J.A.C. 14:18-5.1 for the purpose of receiving, investigating
and resolving all local complaints regarding the quality of service,
equipment malfunctions, and similar matters. Such a business office
shall have a publicly listed toll-free telephone number and be open
during standard business hours, and in no event (excepting emergent
circumstances) less than 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
During the life of the franchise the company shall give to the
Township a bond in the amount of $25,000. Such bond shall be to insure
the faithful performance of all undertakings of the company as represented
in its application for municipal consent incorporated herein.
The rates of the company shall be subject to regulation as permitted
by federal and state law.
A.
The company shall provide total preferred cable television service
on one outlet at no cost to each school in the Township, public and
private, elementary, intermediate and secondary, provided the school
is within 175 feet of active cable distribution plant. Each additional
outlet installed, if any, shall be paid for on a materials plus labor
basis by the school requesting service. Monthly service charges shall
be waived on all additional outlets.
B.
The company shall provide total preferred cable television service
at no cost on one outlet to each police, fire, emergency management
facility and public library in the Township, provided the facility
is located within 175 feet of active cable distribution plant. Each
additional outlet installed, if any, shall be paid for on a materials
plus labor basis by the Township. Monthly service charges shall be
waived on all additional outlets.
C.
The company shall provide free basic Internet service, via high-speed
cable and modem, to one non-networked personal computer in each qualified
existing and future school in the Township, public and private, elementary,
intermediate and secondary, at no charge, provided the facility is
located within 175 feet of active cable distribution plant. The Internet
service shall be installed on a personal computer that is accessible
to the students and not for administrative use only.
D.
The company shall provide free basic Internet access via high-speed
cable and modem on one non-networked personal computer in each qualified
existing and future public library at no charge, provided the facility
is located within 175 feet of active cable distribution plant. The
Internet shall be installed on a personal computer that is accessible
to library patrons and not for administrative use only.
E.
Within 12 months of receipt of a renewal certificate of approval,
the company shall provide the Township with a one-time technology
grant in the amount of $160,000 for the Township's cable and technology
related needs.
A.
The company will continue to provide one channel for educational
and governmental ("EG") access for the shared use by the residents
of Gloucester Township, Runnemede Borough, and Bellmawr Borough (collectively,
"municipalities"). The governing bodies of Gloucester Township, Runnemede
Borough and Bellmawr Borough or a designated educational institution
shall provide educational access video programming. The governing
bodies of Gloucester Township, Runnemede Borough and Bellmawr Borough
shall provide government video programming. Unused capacity may be
utilized by the company subject to the provisions for "fallow time"
below.
B.
The company does not relinquish its ownership of or ultimate right
of control over a channel by designating it for EG use. An EG access
user, whether an educational or government user, acquires no property
or other interest by virtue of the use of a channel so designated,
and may not rely on the continued use of a particular channel number,
no matter how long the same channel may have been designated for such
use.
C.
The company shall not exercise editorial control over any educational
or governmental use of channel capacity, except the company may refuse
to transmit any educational or governmental access program or portion
of an educational or governmental access program that contains obscenity,
indecency, or nudity.
D.
The governing bodies of Gloucester Township, Runnemede Borough and
Bellmawr Borough shall be responsible for developing, implementing,
and enforcing rules for EG Access Channel use which shall ensure that
the EG Access Channel and the EG Access Equipment, which shall be
provided by the municipalities, will be available on a first-come,
first served, non-discriminatory basis.
E.
Educational access. "Educational access" shall mean noncommercial
use by educational institutions such as public or private schools,
but no "home schools," community colleges, and universities.
F.
Government access. "Government access" shall mean noncommercial use
by the governing bodies of Gloucester Township, Runnemede Borough,
and Bellmawr Borough, for showing the public local government at work.
G.
Company use of fallow time. Because blank or under utilized EG channels
are not in the public interest, in the event the municipalities or
other EG access users elect not to fully program their EG access channel,
company may program unused time on those channels (at its discretion
and for any purpose), subject to reclamation by the municipality upon
no less than 60 days' written notice.
H.
Indemnification. The municipalities shall indemnify the company for
any liability, loss or damage it may suffer due to violation of the
intellectual property rights of third parties on the EG channel and
from claims arising out of the municipalities' rules for or administration
of access.
A.
The company will comply with the Emergency Alert System ("EAS") rules
in accordance with applicable state and federal statutes and regulations.
B.
The company shall in no way be held liable for any injury suffered
by the Township or any other person, during an emergency, if for any
reason the Township is unable to make full us of the cable television
system as contemplated herein.
The company shall at all times maintain a comprehensive general
liability insurance policy with a single limit amount of $1,000,000
covering liability for any death, personal injury, property damages
or other liability arising out of its construction and operation of
the cable television system, and an excess liability (or "umbrella")
policy in the amount of $5,000,000.
All of the statements and commitments contained in the application
or annexed thereto and incorporated therein, 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 annexed hereto and made a part hereof
by reference, provided same do not conflict with applicable state
or federal law.
Should the Township grant a franchise to construct, operate
and maintain a cable television system to any other person, corporation
or entity on terms materially less burdensome or more favorable than
the terms contained herein, the company may substitute such language
that is more favorable or less burdensome for the comparable provision
of this ordinance subject to the provisions of N.J.A.C. 14:17-6.7.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion
of this ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional
by any court or federal or state agency of competent jurisdiction,
such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent
provision, and its validity or unconstitutionality shall not affect
the validity of the remaining portions of the ordinance.
Nothing in this franchise or in any prior agreement is or was
intended to confer third-party beneficiary status on any member of
the public to enforce the terms of such agreements or franchise.
This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon issuance of
a renewal certificate of approval from the BPU.
