For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. Words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular number, and words in the singular number include the plural number. Words not defined shall be given their common and ordinary meaning.
"Basic cable service"means any service tier which includes the transmission of local television broadcast signals.
"Cable television system," "system" or "cable system"means a facility consisting of a set of closed transmission paths and associated signal generation, reception and control equipment that is designed to provide cable service, which includes video programming, FM radio service and other communications services, and which is provided to multiple subscribers within a community, but such term does not include:
1. A facility that serves only to retransmit the television signals of one or more television broadcast stations;
2. A facility that serves subscribers without using any public right-of-way;
3. A facility of a common carrier which is subject to Title I of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, as amended, except that such facility shall be considered a cable system (other than for purposes of Section 621(c) (47 U.S.C.
541(b))) to the extent such a facility is used in the transmission of video programming directly to subscribers; or
4. Any facilities of any electric utility used solely for operating its electric utility system.
"Cable service"means the total of the following:
1. The one-way transmission to subscribers of video programming or other programming service; and
2. Subscriber interaction, if any, which is required for the selection or use of such video programming or other programming service.
"Channel" or "cable channel"means a portion of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum which is used in a cable system and which is capable of delivering a television channel as defined by the Federal Communications Commission.
"Council"means the city council of the city of Waterford.
"Franchise"means an initial authorization, or renewal thereof, issued by the city council, whether such authorization is designated as a franchise, permit, license, resolution, contract, certificate, agreement or otherwise, which authorizes the construction or operation of a cable system.
"Franchise agreement"means a franchise grant ordinance or a contractual agreement, containing the specific provisions of the franchise granted, including references, specifications, requirements and other related matters.
"Franchise fee"means any tax, fee or assessment of any kind imposed by a franchising authority or other governmental entity on a grantee or cable subscriber, or both, solely because of their status as such. The term "franchise fee" does not include:
1. Any tax, fee or assessment of general applicability (including any such tax, fee or assessment imposed on both utilities and cable operators or their services, but not including a tax, fee or assessment which is unduly discriminatory against cable operators or cable subscribers);
2. Capital costs which are required by the franchise to be incurred by grantee for public, educational or governmental access facilities;
3. Requirements or charges incidental to the awarding or enforcing of the franchise, including payments for bonds, letters of credit, insurance, indemnification, penalties or liquidated damages; or
4. Any fee imposed under Title
17, United States Code.
"Grantee"means any "person" receiving a franchise pursuant to this chapter and under the granting franchise ordinance or agreement, and its lawful successor, transferee or assignee.
"Grantor" or "city"means the city of Waterford as represented by the council or any delegate acting within the scope of its jurisdiction.
"Gross annual receipts"means the annual gross receipts received by a grantee during the calendar year from all sources of operations of the cable television system within the city utilizing the public streets and rights-of-way for which a franchise is required in order to deliver such cable service, excluding franchise fees, copyright fees, refundable deposits, amounts paid by subscribers into an escrow account, late or bad check fees, rebates or credits, and any sales, excise or other taxes or charges collected for direct payment or pass-through to local, state or federal government.
"Initial service area"means the area of the city which will receive service initially, as set forth in the franchise agreement.
"Installation"means the connection of the system to subscribers' terminals and the provision of service.
"Person"means an individual, partnership, association, joint stock company, trust, corporation or governmental entity.
"Sections"means any section, subsection or provision of this chapter.
"Service area" or "franchise area"means an entire geographic area within the city as it is now constituted or may in the future be constituted, unless otherwise specified in the agreement.
"Service tier"means a category of cable service or other services provided by a grantee and for which a separate rate is charged by the grantee.
"State"means the state of California.
"Street"means each of the following which have been dedicated to the public or are hereafter dedicated to the public and maintained under public authority or by others and located within the city limits: Streets, roadways, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, sidewalks, easements, rights-of-way and similar public property and areas that the grantor shall permit to be included within the definition of "street" from time to time.
"Subscriber"means any person who or which elects to subscribe to, for any purpose, a service provided by the grantee by means of or in connection with cable system.
(Ord. 96-08 §2, 1996)