Definitions.
The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, have the
meanings in this section unless, from the context, a different meaning
is intended or specifically defined:
"Aboveground facilities"
means utility poles, wires, utility facilities and telecommunications
facilities located above the surface of the ground, including the
underground supports and foundations for such facilities.
"Affiliate"
means a person that (directly or indirectly) owns or controls,
is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control
with another person.
"Cable act"
means the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, 47 U.S.C.
Section 532, et seq., as now and hereafter amended.
"Cable operator"
means a telecommunications carrier providing or offering
to provide cable service within the City as that term is defined in
the cable act.
"Cable service"
for the purpose of this chapter has the same meaning provided
by the Cable Act.
"City property"
means and includes all real property owned by the City, other
than public streets and utility easements as those terms are defined
herein, and all property held in a proprietary capacity by the City,
which are not subject to right-of-way licensing and franchising as
provided in this chapter.
"Excess capacity"
means the volume or capacity in any existing or future duct,
conduit, manhole, handhole or other utility facility within the public
way that is or will be available for use for additional telecommunications
facilities.
"Grantee"
means a licensee or franchisee granted a license or franchise
under this chapter.
"Other ways"
means the highways, streets, alleys, utility easements or
other right-of-way within the City, but under the jurisdiction and
control of a governmental entity other than the City.
"Person"
means and includes corporations, companies, associations,
joint stock companies or associations, firms, partnerships, limited
liability companies and individuals and includes their lessors, trustees
and receivers.
"Public street"
means any highway, street, alley or other public right-of-way
for motor vehicle travel under the jurisdiction and control of the
City which has been acquired, established, dedicated or devoted to
highway purposes not inconsistent with telecommunications facilities.
"Public way"
means and includes all public streets and utility easements,
as those terms are defined herein, now and hereafter owned by the
City, but only to the extent of the City's right, title, interest,
or authority to grant a license or franchise to occupy and use such
streets and easements for telecommunications facilities.
"PUC" or "public utilities commission"
means the California Public Utilities Commission or the state
administrative agency, or lawful successor, authorized to regulate
and oversee telecommunications carriers, services and providers in
the State of California.
"State"
means the State of California.
"Surplus space"
means that portion of the usable space on a utility pole
which has the necessary clearance from other pole users, as required
by the orders and regulations of the PUC, to allow its use by a telecommunications
carrier or a pole attachment.
"Telecommunications carrier"
means and includes every person that directly or indirectly
owns, controls, operates or manages plant, equipment or property within
the City, used or to be used for the purpose of offering telecommunications
service.
"Telecommunications facilities"
means the plant, equipment and property, including but not
limited to, cables, wires, conduits, ducts, pedestals, antennae, electronics
and other appurtenances used or to be used to transmit, receive, distribute,
provide or offer telecommunications services.
"Telecommunications provider"
means and includes every person who provides telecommunications
service over telecommunications facilities without any ownership or
management control of the facilities.
"Telecommunications service"
means the providing or offering for rent, sale or lease,
or in exchange for other value received, of the transmittal of voice,
data, image, graphic and video programming information between or
among points by wire, cable, fiber optics, laser, microwave, radio,
satellite or similar facilities, with or without benefit of any closed
transmission medium.
"Telephone company"
means any telephone or telegraph corporation as defined by
Sections 234—236 of the California
Public Utilities Code (or
any successor sections) which has obtained a certificate of public
convenience and necessity from the PUC.
"Underground facilities"
means utility and telecommunications facilities located under
the surface of the ground, excluding the underground foundations or
supports for aboveground facilities.
"Usable space"
means that total distance between the top of a utility pole
and the lowest possible attachment point that provides the minimum
allowable vertical clearance as specified in the orders and regulations
of the PUC.
"Utility easement"
means any easement owned by the City and acquired, established,
dedicated or devoted for public utility purposes not inconsistent
with telecommunications facilities.
"Utility facilities"
means the plant, equipment and property, including, but not
limited to, the poles, pipes, mains, conduits, ducts, cables, wires,
plant and equipment located under, on or above the surface of the
ground within the public ways of the City and used or to be used for
the purpose of providing utility or telecommunications services.