(a) This
chapter is designed to regulate video service providers holding state
video franchises and operating within the city. As of January 1, 2007,
the state of California has the sole authority to grant state video
franchises pursuant to the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition
Act of 2006 (DIVCA) . Pursuant to DIVCA, the city of Placentia may
receive a franchise fee and may receive a fee for public, educational
and governmental access (defined in this chapter as "PEG"
or "PEG access channels") from all state video franchise
holders operating within the city. Additionally, although DIVCA grants
all authority to adopt customer service standards to the state, the
city has the responsibility to establish and enforce penalties, consistent
with state law, against all state video franchise holders operating
within the city for violations of such customer service standards.
(b) It
is the purpose of this chapter to implement within the city the provisions
of DIVCA and the rules the California Public Utilities Commission
promulgated thereunder that are applicable to a "local franchising
entity" or a "local entity" as defined in DIVCA.
Consistent with that purpose, the provisions of this chapter are to
be construed in a manner that is consistent with DIVCA and the applicable
rules of the commission promulgated thereunder.
(Ord. O-2008-04 § 1, 2008)
Terms used in this chapter shall have the same meaning as established
in (1) DIVCA, and, if not defined therein, (2) Commission rules implementing
DIVCA, and, if not defined therein, (3) Subchapter V-A of Chapter
5 of Title 47 of the United States Code, and, if not defined therein,
(4) their common and ordinary meaning. References to governmental
entities (whether persons or entities) shall refer to those entities
or their successors in authority. If a specific provision of law referred
to in this chapter should be renumbered, then the reference shall
be read to refer to the renumbered provision. References to any law
shall be interpreted broadly to cover government actions, however
nominated, including any law now in force or subsequently enacted
or amended.
(Ord. O-2008-04 § 1, 2008)
(a) Except
as the city council may authorize by resolution, no person may construct,
operate, maintain or repair a cable system or video service provider's
network in the city without first obtaining a state franchise therefor.
(b) A
state franchise shall not convey rights other than as specified in
this chapter or in DIVCA or other applicable law; no rights shall
pass by implication.
(c) Except
as otherwise provided by DIVCA, a state franchise shall not include,
or be a substitute for:
(1) Compliance with generally applicable requirements for the privilege
of transacting and carrying on a business within the city, including,
but not limited to, compliance with the conditions that the city may
establish before facilities may be constructed for, or providing non-video
services;
(2) Any permit or authorization, other than a state franchise, required
in connection with operations on or in public rights-of-way or public
property; and
(3) Any permit, agreement or authorization for occupying any other property
of the city or private persons to which access is not specifically
granted by the state franchise.
(d) Except
as otherwise provided in DIVCA, a state franchise shall not relieve
a franchisee of its duty to comply with all laws, including laws of
the city, and every state franchisee shall comply with the same. The
city reserves its rights to the lawful exercise of police and other
powers the city now has or may later obtain.
(e) The
city reserves the right to construct, operate, maintain or repair
its own cable system or video service provider network.
(Ord. O-2008-04 § 1, 2008)
(a) The
city may from time to time adopt rules and regulations to implement
the provisions of this chapter consistent with DIVCA.
(b) The
city administrator, or his/her designee, is authorized to administer
this chapter and to provide or cause to be provided any notices (including
noncompliance notices) and to take any action on behalf of the city
that may be required under this chapter, DIVCA, or under applicable
law.
(c) The
failure of the city, upon one or more occasions, to exercise a right
or to require compliance or performance under this chapter or any
other applicable law shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of
such right or a waiver of compliance or performance, unless such right
has been specifically waived in writing or its exercise by the city
is not permitted by DIVCA.
(d) The
city may designate one or more entities, including itself, to control
and manage the use of PEG access channels, and any PEG facilities
and equipment owned, controlled or used by the city or the designated
entity or entities.
(Ord. O-2008-04 § 1, 2008)
A state video franchise holder operating in the city shall pay
to the city a franchise fee that is equal to 5% of the gross revenues
of that state video franchise holder. The term "gross revenues"
shall be defined as set forth in
Public Utilities Code Section 5860.
(Ord. O-2008-04 § 1, 2008)
In addition to the franchise fee required pursuant to Section
6.48.050, a state video franchise holder operating in the city shall pay to the city a fee that is equal to 1% of the gross revenues of that state video franchise holder which fee shall be used to support PEG channel facilities. The term "gross revenues" shall be defined as set forth in
Public Utilities Code Section 5860.
(Ord. O-2008-04 § 1, 2008)
(a) The
franchise fee and PEG fee shall be remitted to the city on a quarterly
basis within 45 days after the end of each quarter for that calendar
year. Each payment shall be accompanied by a detailed summary explaining
the basis for the calculation of the franchise fee and PEG fee.
(b) If
a state video franchise holder fails to pay the fees when due, or
underpays the proper amounts due, the state video franchise holder
shall pay a late payment charge at the annual interest rate equal
to the highest prime lending rate during the period of delinquency,
plus 1%. If the state video franchise holder has overpaid the fees,
it may deduct the overpayment from its next quarterly payment.
(c) Not
more than once annually, the city may examine the business records
of a state video franchise holder to ensure compliance with all applicable
statutes and regulations related to the computation and payment of
franchise fees.
(Ord. O-2008-04 § 1, 2008)
(a) The
holder of a state video franchise shall comply with California Government
Code Sections 53055, 53055.1, 53055.2 and 53088.2; the FCC customer
service and notice standards set forth in 47 C.F.R. Sections 76.309,
76.1602, 76.1603 and 76.1619; California
Penal Code Section 637.5;
the privacy standards of 47 U.S.C. Section 551; and all other applicable
state and federal customer service and consumer protection standards
pertaining to the provision of video service, including any such standards
hereafter adopted. In case of a conflict, the stricter standard shall
apply. All customer service and consumer protection standards under
this section shall be interpreted and applied to accommodate newer
or different technologies while meeting or exceeding the goals of
the standards.
(b) The
city shall monitor state video franchise holder's compliance
with state and federal customer service and protection standards.
The city will provide to the state video franchise holder written
notice of any material breaches of applicable customer service and
protection standards, and will allow the state video franchise holder
30 days from receipt of the notice to remedy the specified material
breach. Material breaches not remedied within the 30 day time period
are subject to the following monetary penalties to be imposed by the
city in accordance with state law:
(1) For the first occurrence of a violation, a monetary penalty of $500
shall be imposed for each day the violation remains in effect, not
to exceed $1,500 for each violation.
(2) For a second violation of the same nature within a 12 month period,
a monetary penalty of $1,000 shall be imposed for each day the violation
remains in effect, not to exceed $3,000 for each such violation.
(3) For a third or further violation of the same nature within a 12 month
period, a monetary penalty of $2,500 shall be imposed for each day
the violation remains in effect, not to exceed $7,500 for each such
violation.
(c) A
state video franchise holder may appeal to the city council, or a
hearing officer as the city council may appoint, a monetary penalty
assessed by the city within 60 days after notice of the assessment.
After relevant evidence and testimony as may be received, and staff
reports as may be submitted, the city council may uphold, vacate,
or modify the monetary penalty consistent with the evidence presented.
The decision of the city council, or hearing officer, on the imposition
of a monetary penalty shall be final.
(Ord. O-2008-04 § 1, 2008)
(a) Applicants
for state video franchises within the boundaries of the city must
concurrently provide to the city complete copies of any application
or amendments to applications filed with the California Public Utilities
Commission. One complete copy must be provided to the city clerk.
(b) The
city may provide any appropriate comments to the California Public
Utilities Commission regarding an application or an amendment to an
application for a state video franchise.
(Ord. O-2008-04 § 1, 2008)
(a) A
state video franchise holder shall designate sufficient capacity on
its network to enable the carriage of at least three PEG access channels.
PEG access channels shall be for the exclusive use of the city or
its designees to provide public, educational, or governmental programming.
(b) A
state video franchise holder shall provide additional PEG channels
when the standards set forth in
Public Utilities Code Section 5870
are satisfied by the city or any entity designated by the city to
be responsible for PEG access.
(Ord. O-2008-04 § 1, 2008)
A state video franchise holder must comply with the emergency
alert system requirements of the Federal Communications Commission
so that emergency messages may be distributed over its network.
(Ord. O-2008-04 § 1, 2008)