(a)
The City as franchising authority hereby grants to the grantee a nonexclusive franchise which authorizes the grantee to construct, and operate, maintain, reconstruct, rebuild and upgrade a cable system in, along, among, upon, across, above, over, under, or in any manner connected with public ways within the franchise area, for the purpose of providing cable service subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this franchise and in any prior utility use agreements entered into with regard to individual property. This franchise shall constitute both a right and an obligation to provide the cable services required by, and to fulfill the obligations set forth in, the provisions of this franchise.
(b)
Nothing in this franchise shall be deemed to waive the lawful requirements of any generally applicable City ordinance or Charter provision existing as of the effective date, as defined in Section 2.3(a).
(c)
Each and every term, provision or condition herein is subject to applicable State, federal and City law, and the ordinances and regulations enacted pursuant thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the City may not unilaterally alter the material rights and obligations of grantee under this franchise.
(d)
This franchise shall not be interpreted to prevent the City from imposing additional lawful conditions, including additional compensation conditions for use of the rights-of-way, should grantee provide service other than cable service.
(e)
Grantee promises and guarantees, as a condition of exercising the privileges granted by this franchise, that any person who is a cable operator of this cable system in the franchise area, or directly involved in the management or operation of the cable system in the franchise area, will also comply with the terms and conditions of this franchise.
(f)
No rights shall pass to grantee by implication. Without limiting the foregoing, by way of example and not limitation, this franchise shall not include or be a substitute for:
(1)
Any other permit or authorization required for the privilege of transacting and carrying on a business within the City that may be required by the ordinances and laws of the City;
(2)
Any permit, agreement, or authorization required by the City for right-of-way users in connection with operations on or in rights-of-way or public property including, by way of example and not limitation, street cut permits; or
(3)
Any permits or agreements for occupying any other property of the City or private entities to which access is not specifically granted by this franchise including, without limitation, permits and agreements for placing devices on poles, in conduits or in or on other structures.
(g)
This franchise is intended to convey limited rights and interests only as to those rights-of-way in which the City has an actual interest. It is not a warranty of title or interest in any right-of-way; it does not provide the grantee with any interest in any particular location within the right-of-way; and it does not confer rights other than as expressly provided in the grant hereof.
(h)
This franchise does not authorize or prohibit grantee to provide telecommunications service, or to construct, operate or maintain telecommunications facilities. This franchise is not a bar to imposition of any lawful conditions on grantee with respect to telecommunications, whether similar, different or the same as the conditions specified herein. This franchise does not relieve grantee of any obligation it may have to obtain from the City an authorization to provide telecommunications services, or to construct, operate or maintain telecommunications facilities, or relieve grantee of its obligation to comply with any such authorizations that may be lawfully required.