The purpose of this subtitle is to:
A. 
Establish a local policy concerning Cable Systems that use the Public Rights-of-Way;
B. 
Establish a policy that promotes the availability of diverse, multimedia information resources to the community; provides for enhancing educational opportunities throughout the community and building a stronger community; while ensuring that the City has the authority to act to protect the public, safety, and welfare in the face of a rapidly-changing industry that is placing increasing demand on public resources;
C. 
Minimize unnecessary local regulation of providers and services;
D. 
Encourage the provision of advanced and competitive Cable Services or Open Video System services on the widest possible basis to the businesses, institutions, and residents of the City;
E. 
Secure fair, reasonable, and lawful compensation to the City and the residents of the City, in a non-discriminatory manner, for permitting use of the Public Rights-of-Way;
F. 
To encourage economic development, while preserving aesthetic and other community values, and preventing proliferation of above-ground facilities;
G. 
Ensure that all Persons providing Cable Services or open video facilities or services within the City comply with the ordinances, rules, and regulations of the City;
H. 
Ensure the ability of the City to obtain sufficient information from Persons subject to its jurisdiction to enable effective decisions regarding their access to City Public Rights-of-Way and effective management of activity in the Public Rights-of-Way;
I. 
Ensure that the City can continue to fairly and responsibly protect the public health, safety, and welfare; and
J. 
Enable the City to discharge its public trust consistent with rapidly evolving federal and state regulatory policies, industry competition, and technological development.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
The administration of this subtitle shall be governed by the following video programming policy guidelines:
A. 
The City of Tacoma supports efforts to establish an open, competitive marketplace for video programming services. The City promotes and encourages competition for video and video programming services that make the latest and best technology available and keep service prices affordable for all City residents and businesses. An integral component of this open marketplace is the consistent application of regulations to all video programming providers and the preservation of local authority over matters of local impact.
B. 
The following policy guidelines express the commitment of the City to support video programming services and to manage its Public Rights-of-Way proactively, while balancing the interests and needs of the community:
1. 
The City will manage access to its Public Rights-of-Way for video programming purposes in a non-discriminatory, competitively neutral, and non-exclusive way to the extent required by applicable law and, to the extent allowed by applicable law, to receive fair compensation. The public interest will be protected by collecting fair, reasonable, and lawful compensation, associated fees, taxes, administrative costs, and construction costs for use of the Public Rights-of-Way.
2. 
Investments by video programming providers will be encouraged in order to enhance economic development programs and provide jobs, opportunities, and choices for its citizens.
3. 
Universal access to video programming services is encouraged for all residents and businesses.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
For the purposes of this Subtitle 16A, the following terms, phrases, words, and abbreviations shall have the meanings given herein unless otherwise expressly stated. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future tense, words in the plural number include the singular number, words in the singular number, include the plural number; and the masculine gender includes the feminine gender. The words “shall” and “will” are mandatory, and “may” is permissive. Unless otherwise expressly stated, words not defined in Title 16 shall be construed consistent with Title 47 of the United States Code, and, if not defined therein, their common and ordinary meaning. References to governmental entities (whether Persons or entities) refer to those entities or their successors in authority. If specific provisions of law referred to herein are renumbered, then the reference shall be read to refer to the renumbered provision. References to laws, ordinances, or regulations shall be interpreted broadly to cover government actions, however nominated, and include laws, ordinances, and regulations now in force or hereinafter enacted or amended.
A. 
16A.01.030.A.
“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.
“Application fee”
means the charge specified in Section 16A.01.050C.1 and designed to recover the City’s actual costs in processing applications for Franchises, including applications for the Transfer thereof.
B. 
16A.01.030.B.
“Basic cable service”
means any Service Tier that includes the retransmission of local television broadcast signals.
C. 
16A.01.030.C.
“Cable Act”
means the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, 47 U.S.C. §§ 521 et seq., as amended by the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, as further amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, as further amended from time to time.
“Cable operator”
means any Person or group of Persons: (1) who provides Cable Service over a Cable System and directly or through one or more Affiliates owns a significant interest in such Cable System; or (2) who otherwise controls or is responsible for, through any arrangement, the management and operation of such a Cable System.
“Cable service”
means:
1. 
The one-way transmission to Subscribers of (a) video programming, or (b) 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.
“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 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 Rights-of-Way;
3. 
A facility of a common carrier which is subject, in whole or in part, to the provisions of Title II (Common Carriers) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, except that such facility shall be considered a Cable System (other than for purposes of 47 U.S.C. § 541(c)) to the extent such facility is used in the transmission of video programming directly to Subscribers, unless the extent of such use is solely to provide interactive on-demand services;
4. 
An Open Video System that complies with 47 U.S.C. § 573; or
5. 
Any facilities of any electric utility used solely for operating its electric utility systems.
“City”
means the City of Tacoma and all departments, divisions, and agencies thereof, including the Department of Public Utilities.
“City Manager”
means the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee.
D. 
16A.01.030.D.
E. 
16A.01.030.E.
F. 
16A.01.030.F.
“Franchise”
refers to the authorization granted by the City to an Operator of a Cable System, or an Open Video System under this subtitle giving the Operator the non-exclusive right to occupy the space, or use facilities upon, across, beneath, or over any Public Rights-of-Way in the City, to provide a Cable Service within a Franchise Area. Any Franchise shall be issued in the form of an ordinance, and must be accepted by the Franchisee to become effective in the time and manner specified in the City Charter, Tacoma Municipal Code, or the Franchise ordinance. Such 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 required by the ordinances and laws of the City;
2. 
Any permit, agreement, or authorization required in connection with operations on or in public streets or 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 the Franchise including, without limitation, permits and agreements for placing devices on or in poles, conduits, other structures, or railroad easements, whether owned by the City, including the Department of Public Utilities, or a private entity.
By way of example, and without limiting the foregoing, this subtitle shall not be read to diminish, or in any way affect, the authority of the Department of Utilities to control and charge for the use of the Light, Water, and Belt Line Divisions’ real estate, fixtures, or personal property. Therefore, any Person who desires to use such property must obtain additional approvals, Franchises, or agreements for that purpose, as may be required by the City.
“Franchise area”
means the area of the City that a Franchisee is authorized to serve by the terms of its Franchise or by operation of law.
“Franchisee”
refers to a Person holding a Franchise granted by City ordinance.
“FCC”
means the Federal Communications Commission or its successor.
G. 
16A.01.030.G.
H. 
16A.01.030.H.
I. 
16A.01.030.I.
J. 
16A.01.030.J.
K. 
16A.01.030.K.
L. 
16A.01.030.L.
M. 
16A.01.030.M.
N. 
16A.01.030.N.
O. 
16A.01.030.O.
“Open video system” or “OVS”
refers to a facility consisting of a set of transmission paths and associated signal generation, reception, and control equipment that is designed to provide Cable Service, which is provided to multiple Subscribers within a community, and which the FCC or its successor has certified as compliant with Part 76 of its rules, 47 C.F.R., Part 76, as amended from time to time. For purposes of Subtitle 16A, and Open Video System shall be considered the same as a Cable System, and all regulations contained in this subtitle governing Cable Systems shall apply equally to Open Video Systems to the extent consistent with applicable law.
“Operator”
means a Cable Operator.
“Overhead facilities”
refers to electric utility and communications facilities located above the surface of the ground, including the underground supports and foundations for such facilities.
P. 
16A.01.030.P.
“Person”
includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint stock company, trust, or any other legal entity, but not the City.
“Programmer”
refers to any Person, other than the Cable Operator, who provides video programming to Subscribers over a Cable System or an Open Video System, excluding video programming delivered not for a charge over a public, educational, or governmental (“PEG”) channel.
“Public rights-of-way”
mean the public streets and easements which, under the City Charter, the Tacoma Municipal Code, City ordinances, and applicable laws the City has authority to grant Franchises, permits, or licenses for use thereof or has regulatory authority thereover, and as may be more specifically defined in the Franchise, license, or permit granting any right to or use thereof, excluding railroad rights-of-Way, airport, and harbor areas. Public Rights-of-Way, for the purpose of this subtitle, do not include buildings, parks, poles, or similar facilities or property owned by or leased to the City, including, by way of example and not limitation, structures in the Public Rights-of-Way such as utility poles and light poles.
Q. 
16A.01.030.Q.
R. 
16A.01.030.R.
S. 
16A.01.030.S.
“Service tier”
means a package of two or more Cable Services for which a separate charge is made by the Franchisee, other than a package of premium and pay-per-view services that is not subject to rate regulation under the Cable Act and applicable FCC regulations because those services are also sold on a true à la carte basis.
“Subscriber”
means the City, any government entity, or any Person who legally receives any Cable Service from a Cable Operator delivered over that Cable Operator’s Cable System.
“Subtitle”
when used in the context of referring to this subtitle of the Tacoma Municipal Code, shall mean this Subtitle 16A of the Tacoma Municipal Code and Chapters 16A.01 through 16A.04 hereof.
T. 
16A.01.030.T.
“Telecommunications service”
means the transmission for hire of information in electronic or optical form, including, but not limited to, voice, video, or data, whether or not the transmission medium is owned by the provider itself. Telecommunications Service includes telephone service, but does not include Cable Service or over-the-air broadcasts to the public-at-large from facilities licensed by the FCC or any successor thereto.
“Telecommunications system”
means a tangible facility that is used to provide one or more Telecommunications Services, any portion of which occupies Public Rights-of-Way. The term Telecommunications System, by way of example, and not limitation, includes wires, equipment cabinets, guys, conduit, radio transmitting towers, poles, other supporting structures, and associated and appurtenant facilities used to transmit telecommunications signals. The term Telecommunications System includes all devices mounted on light poles in the Public Rights-of-Way through which Telecommunications Services are originated or terminated. An Open Video System is not a Telecommunications System to the extent that it provides only video services; a Cable System is not a Telecommunications System to the extent that it provides only Cable Service.
“Transfer”
means any transaction in which:
1. 
All or a portion of the Cable System is sold or assigned (except a sale or assignment that results in removal of a particular portion of the facility from the Public Rights-of-Way);
2. 
There is any change, acquisition, or direct or indirect Transfer of control of the Franchisee;
3. 
The rights and/or obligations held by the Franchisee under the Franchise are transferred, sold, assigned, or leased, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, to another party; or
4. 
The transfer of stock in a corporation so as to create a new controlling interest constitutes a Transfer. The term “controlling interest” is not limited to majority stock ownership, but includes actual working control in whatever manner exercised.
In succeeding provisions of this subtitle, all these activities are referred to as Franchise Transfers.
U. 
16A.01.030.U.
V. 
16A.01.030.V.
W. 
16A.01.030.W.
X. 
16A.01.030.X.
Y. 
16A.01.030.Y.
Z. 
16A.01.030.Z.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
A. 
Purpose and characteristics. In order to enable the City to treat Persons providing similar services similarly, as may be appropriate to comply with applicable law and considering differences in circumstances, and to comply with requirements of federal law, which may require the City to separate its authority over Cable Systems from its authority over other providers of Telecommunications Services, the City requires individual franchises for the provision of particular services. The revocation of a franchise for one particular service in and of itself will not affect the authority of a Franchise holder to continue to occupy the Public Rights-of-Way to provide services for which it holds other franchises. No Franchise shall be exclusive. The issuance of a Franchise shall not affect the City’s right to itself construct, operate, or repair any communications facility, with or without a Franchise.
B. 
Franchise requirement. An Operator of a Cable System must obtain a Franchise prior to providing Cable Service; an Operator of an Open Video System must obtain a Franchise before providing services via an Open Video System. No Franchise shall become effective without the Franchisee signing an acceptance of the ordinance which grants it the Franchise. The fact that a particular franchised communications facility may be used for multiple purposes does not obviate the need to obtain a franchise for other purposes. By way of illustration and not limitation, a Cable Operator of a Cable System must obtain a cable Franchise and, should it intend to provide Telecommunications Services over the same facilities, must also obtain a telecommunications Franchise. No Franchise shall become effective without the Franchisee signing an acceptance of the ordinance which grants it the Franchise.
C. 
Nature of grant. A Franchise shall not convey title, equitable or legal, in the Public Rights-of-Way. The right granted is only the right to occupy those portions of the Public Rights-of-Way to which the City has the right to grant access, for the purposes and for the period stated in the Franchise, and, subject to the limitations in this section and elsewhere in this subtitle, the right may not be subdivided or subleased. Every Franchise shall be:
1. 
Interpreted in a manner that conforms to the requirements of Article VIII of the Tacoma City Charter;
2. 
Deemed to include all the provisions that are required to be in a Franchise under that article, as if fully set forth in the Franchise;
3. 
Deemed to provide for forfeiture under the circumstances set forth in the Charter, as well as under the provisions of this subtitle and any Franchise ordinance thereunder; and
4. 
Drafted to specify the specific easements granted by City for Operator’s use of the Public Rights-of-Way.
D. 
No reference herein, or in any Franchise, to a Public Rights-of-Way shall be deemed to be a representation or guarantee by the City that its interest or other right to control the use of such property is sufficient to permit its use for such purposes, and a Franchise shall be deemed to grant no more than those rights which the City may have the undisputed right and power to give.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
A. 
Purpose. To ensure that the City, as far as possible, is compensated for the rights granted and receives fair, reasonable, and lawful compensation for use of Public Rights-of-Way over which it exercises control, or which is held in public trust; and in order that the City is compensated for reasonable and lawful expenses arising from the use of those Public Rights-of-Way, the City shall, pursuant to this subtitle, require Persons using its Public Rights-of-Way to provide Cable Service to pay compensation as may be permitted under applicable law.
B. 
Compensation for use. Every Operator of a Cable System shall pay a Franchise fee as required by this subtitle, except as provided in Section 16A.01.050D. Every Operator that is subject to the exceptions in Section 16A.01.050D and every Programmer or OVS Operator that uses the rights-of-way is subject to the condition that, should the exception ever be eliminated or modified, the Operator or reseller or Programmer shall be obligated to pay such compensation that would otherwise be required in the absence of the exception.
C. 
Payments required. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this subtitle, every Cable Operator must:
1. 
Pay an Application Fee for the consideration of an application for issuance of a Franchise, pursuant to Section 16A.02.030A. The City Manager, at any time, may require the applicant to deposit additional sums if it appears that the initial deposit or subsequent deposits will be exhausted prior to the final action by the City relating to the consideration by the City of an application for issuance of a Franchise. The applicant will not be entitled to further consideration by the City of its requested action until such time as the additional deposit required by the City Manager has been deposited with the City. In the event the amount of the deposit of an applicant is in excess of the amount of the administrative expenses of the City related to the action requested, then the applicant shall be entitled to a return of any such excess amount; and
2. 
Pay the fees required by Sections 12.02.050 and 12.02.060 of Title 12 of this code.
D. 
Exceptions. The Franchise fees required under this subtitle need not be paid if state law or the City Charter requires otherwise, or during any transition period as described in Section 16A.01.190 for a current Franchise holder. This exception shall be read narrowly; an Operator that is engaged in one line of business that is subject to this exception, shall not be excused from paying the Franchise fee for its other lines of business. In cases subject to this exception, the highest permissible fee shall be paid.
E. 
Application to Persons that provide different types of services. The fact that a fee is paid on one type of service provided over a Cable System, does not excuse an Operator from its duty to pay fees on other types of services provided over that facility as required by Title 16. As an example, and not as a limitation of the foregoing, the operator of a Telecommunications System must pay a franchise fee under Subtitle 16B to the extent it provides Cable Services to Subscribers via a Cable System.
F. 
General rules for payment of fees and assessments.
1. 
Unless otherwise specified in a Franchise, Franchise fees shall be paid to the City monthly, and not later than 25 days after the end of the month for which the fee or assessment is owed.
2. 
No acceptance by the City of any Franchise fee shall be construed as an accord that the amount paid is in fact the correct amount, nor shall such acceptance of such Franchise fee payment be construed as a release of any claim the City may have for additional sums payable.
3. 
The Franchise fee payment is not a payment in lieu of any tax, fee, or other assessment, except as specifically provided in this subtitle or as required by applicable law. By way of example, and not limitation, permit fees and business license taxes are not waived and remain applicable.
4. 
If payments are late, in addition to paying any applicable penalties or damages, the Person that owes the fee shall pay interest on the amount owed at the rate of 1 percent per month or fraction thereof compounded monthly.
5. 
The City may, from time to time and upon reasonable advance written notice, inspect and audit any and all books and records reasonably necessary to determine whether fees have been accurately computed and paid. The Operator must make available the books and records, or copies thereof, to the City, as provided in the Franchise agreement.
6. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Person that is obligated to pay a fee ceases to provide service for any reason (including as a result of a Transfer), such Person shall make a final payment of any amounts owed to the City within ten calendar days of the date its operations in the City cease, and shall provide a statement of gross revenues for the calendar year through the date operations ceased, which statement shall contain the information and certification required by Section 16A.01.050.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
A. 
Indemnification. Unless otherwise approved by the City’s Risk Manager, no Franchise or other authorization to use the Public Rights-of-Way issued to a Cable Operator shall be valid or effective until and unless the City obtains an adequate indemnity from such Operator. The indemnity must at least:
1. 
Release the City from and against any and all liability and responsibility in or arising out of the construction, operation, or maintenance of the facilities. Each Cable Operator must further agree not to sue or seek any money or damages from the City in connection with the above-mentioned matters;
2. 
Indemnify and hold harmless the City, its trustees, elected and appointed officers, agents, and employees, from and against any and all claims, demands, or causes of action of whatsoever kind or nature, and the resulting losses, costs, expenses, reasonable attorneys’ fees, liabilities, damages, orders, judgments, or decrees, sustained by the City or any third party arising out of, or by reason of, or resulting from or of the acts, errors, or omissions of the Cable Operator, or its agents, independent contractors, or employees related to or in any way arising out of the construction, operation, or repair of the Cable System.
3. 
Provide that the covenants and representations relating to the indemnification provision shall survive the term of any Franchise or other authorization and continue in full force and effect as to the party’s responsibility to indemnify.
B. 
Insurance. Unless otherwise approved by the City’s Risk Manager, no Franchise or other authorization to use the Public Rights-of-Way issued to a Cable Operator shall be valid or effective until and unless the City obtains assurance that such Operator (and those acting on its behalf) has adequate insurance. At a minimum, the following requirements must be satisfied:
1. 
A Cable Operator shall not commence construction or operation of the facility without obtaining all insurance required under this paragraph and approval of such insurance by the Risk Manager of the City, nor shall a Cable Operator allow any contractor or subcontractor to commence work on its contract or subcontract until all similar such insurance required of the same has been obtained and approved. The required insurance must be obtained and maintained for the entire period the Cable Operator has facilities in the Public Rights-of-Way, and for a period thereafter as specified in the minimum coverages described below. If the Operator, its contractors, or subcontractors do not have the required insurance, the City may order such entities to stop operations until the insurance is obtained and approved.
2. 
Certificates of insurance, reflecting evidence of the required insurance and naming the City as an additional insured for both ongoing and completed operations, as provided below, shall be filed with the City’s Risk Manager. For entities that are entering the market, the certificates shall be filed prior to the commencement of construction and once a year thereafter, and, as provided below, in the event of a lapse in coverage. For entities that have facilities in the Public Rights-of-Way as of the effective date of this subtitle, the certificate shall be filed within 60 days of the effective date of this subtitle, annually thereafter, and as provided below in the event of a lapse in coverage, unless a pre-existing Franchise provides for filing of certificates in a different manner.
These certificates shall contain a provision that coverages afforded under these policies will not be canceled until at least 30 days’ prior written notice has been given to the City. Policies shall be issued by companies authorized to do business under the laws of the state of Washington (or issued as a surplus line by a Washington Surplus lines broker). Financial Ratings must be no less than “(A-)VII” in the latest edition of “Bests Key Rating Guide,” published by A.M. Best Guide.
In the event that the insurance certificate provided indicates that the insurance shall terminate or lapse during the period of the Franchise, then, in that event, the Cable Operator shall furnish, at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the date of such insurance, a renewed certificate of insurance as proof that equal and like coverage has been or will be obtained prior to any such lapse or termination during the balance of the period of the Franchise under which the Cable System operates.
3. 
A Cable System owner or Operator, and its contractors or subcontractors engaged in work on the Operator’s behalf in, on, under, or over Public Rights-of-Way, shall maintain the following minimum insurance. The City shall be named as an additional insured for both ongoing and completed operations on the general liability and additional insured on the automotive policies.
Comprehensive general liability insurance to cover bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage. Exposures to be covered are: premises, operations, products/completed operations, and contractual liability. Coverage must be written on an occurrence basis, with the following limits of liability:
(a) 
Bodily injury and property damage.
(1) 
Each occurrence $1,000,000.00.
(2) 
Annual aggregate $2,000,000.00.
(b) 
Personal injury and advertising injury.
(1) 
$1,000,000 any one person or organization.
(2) 
Annual aggregate $2,000,000.00.
(c) 
Completed operations and products liability shall be maintained for three years after the termination of the Franchise (in the case of the Cable Operator) or completion of the work for the Cable Operator (in the case of a contractor or subcontractor).
(d) 
Property damage liability insurance shall include coverage for the following hazards: X - explosion, C - collapse, U - underground.
(e) 
The foregoing limits may be met through any combination of primary and umbrella and/or excess policies.
4. 
Workers’ compensation insurance shall be maintained during the life of any franchise to comply with statutory limits for all employees, and, in the case any work is sublet, each Cable Operator shall require the subcontractors similarly to provide workers’ compensation insurance for all the latter’s employees unless such employees are covered by the protection afforded by each Cable Operator. Each Cable Operator and its contractors and subcontractors shall maintain employer’s liability insurance and commercial auto liability insurance for the duration of the Franchise and for three years after the termination of the Franchise (in the case of the Cable Operator) or completion of the work for the Cable Operator (in the case of a contractor or subcontractor). The following minimum limits must be maintained:
(a) 
Workers’ Compensation Statutory.
(b) 
Employer’s Liability $1,000,000.00 per occurrence.
(c) 
Comprehensive Auto Liability.
(d) 
Bodily Injury and Property Damage.
(1) 
Each accident $1,000,000.00.
(2) 
Annual aggregate $2,000,000.00.
Coverage shall include owned (if any), hired, and non-owned vehicles.
5. 
Excess or umbrella liability providing coverage in excess of the above required commercial general liability, commercial auto liability, and employer’s liability with limits not less than $5,000,000 each occurrence and $5,000,000 aggregate.
6. 
Each Cable Operator shall hold the City, its agents, and employees, harmless on account of claims for damages to persons, property or premises arising out of its construction, operation or repair of its Cable System and name the City as an additional insured, for both ongoing and completed operations on the General Liability and additional insured on the automobile liability, as provided above.
7. 
In every Franchise agreement, the City shall reserve the right to require any other insurance coverage it deems necessary depending upon the exposures.
8. 
The insurance shall include a waiver of subrogation rights to the extent that any liability for costs, losses, and damages resulting from any personal injury, death, and/or property damage may be covered by the proceeds of such insurance policies, and include an endorsement that such policy is primary and noncontributing.
C. 
Security fund. Unless reduced as provided hereinbelow, every Cable Operator shall establish a cash security fund or provide the City an irrevocable letter of credit in an amount no less than $50,000.00, to secure the payment of fees owed, to secure any other performance promised in a Franchise, and to pay any taxes, fees, or liens owed to the City. The letter of credit shall be in a form and with an institution acceptable to the City’s Director of Finance and in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. Should the City draw upon the cash security fund or letter of credit, it shall promptly notify the Cable Operator, and the Cable Operator shall promptly restore the fund or the letter of credit to the full required amount. This security fund/letter of credit may be waived or reduced by the City, pursuant to the terms of the Franchise agreement.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, City 2009-02-24; Ord. 28409 Ex. A, 2017-02-14)
The City Manager is responsible for enforcing and administering Subtitle 16A and the City Manager is authorized to give any notice required by law or under any Franchise, including, by way of example and not limitation, a notice required under 47 U.S.C. § 546. The City Manager is also authorized to seek information from any Cable Operator, to establish forms for submission of applications and other information, and to take all other actions necessary or appropriate to the administration of this subtitle or any Franchise. Franchises may only be denied, issued, or revoked by action of the City Council.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
A. 
In addition to satisfying the other applicable requirements of this chapter, every Franchise for a Cable System shall contain the following provisions:
1. 
The Franchise shall provide that neither the granting of any Franchise, or any provision thereof, shall constitute a waiver or bar to the exercise of any governmental right or power, police power, or regulatory power of the City as may exist at the time the Franchise is issued or thereafter be obtained.
2. 
The Franchise shall only authorize occupancy of the Public Rights-of-Way to provide the services and for the purposes described in the Franchise.
3. 
A Franchise shall be a privilege that is held in the public trust and personal to the original Franchisee. The Franchise shall ensure that no Transfer of the Franchise may occur, directly or indirectly, without the prior consent of the City; except as contemplated by Section 16A.03.060F, or as otherwise expressly provided in this subtitle.
4. 
The Franchise shall ensure that any Person placing a Cable System in the Public Rights-of-Way will not unlawfully discriminate in hiring, in contracting, or in the provision of services.
5. 
The Franchise shall be for a specified term set forth in the Franchise. No Franchise issued under this subtitle shall be for a term of longer than ten years, unless the Council determines that a longer period would be in the City’s interest.
6. 
Such other terms as are required by the City Charter.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
Any Person found to have violated any of the provisions of this subtitle shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000.00 or by imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that any such violation of this Subtitle 16A continues shall constitute a separate offense. Notwithstanding the forgoing, nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting any judicial remedies that the City may have, at law or in equity, for enforcement of this subtitle.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
A. 
Revocation. In addition to all other rights of the City under a cable Franchise, the City shall have the right to revoke the Franchise: (1) for violations of material provisions of this subtitle or of a Cable Operator’s Franchise agreement; (2) for defrauding or attempting to defraud the City or Subscribers; (3) if the Franchisee abandons the Cable System, or willfully refuses to provide service to the City or any part of the City in accordance with its Franchise; (4) for failure to complete any system upgrade required by its Franchise by the prescribed date so that at least 75 percent of all plant miles are rebuilt and are serving Subscribers from the upgraded system will result in the automatic forfeiture of the Franchise if: (a) the City has provided the Franchisee with notice that the upgrade must be completed, and (b) the upgrade is not completed within 90 days after the date on which the City provides notice so that at least 75 percent of all plant miles are rebuilt and are serving Subscribers.
B. 
Reduction of term. Where, after notice and providing the Franchisee an opportunity to be heard (if such opportunity is timely requested by a Franchisee), the City finds that any conditions exist that would support Franchise revocation, the City may make an appropriate reduction in the remaining term of the Franchise or revoke the Franchise. The City Manager is authorized to establish and conduct a proceeding that complies with the requirements of this Section 16A.01.110B, and to issue a recommended decision, but any such decision may be appealed to the City Council. Any appeal must be filed within 30 days of the decision of the City Manager or it shall be deemed waived. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Franchise may only be revoked if the Franchisee: (1) was given notice of the default; and (2) was given 30 days to cure the default; and (3) the Franchisee failed to cure the default, or to propose a schedule for curing the default acceptable to the City where it is impossible to cure the default in 30 days. The required notice may be given before the City conducts the proceeding required by this paragraph. No opportunity to cure is allowed for fraud which shall be deemed incurable.
C. 
Forfeiture of franchise. Notwithstanding the foregoing Section 16A.01.110B, the City may declare a Franchise forfeited without opportunity to cure or the notice required by Section 16A.01.110B where the Franchisee: (1) fails to begin to exercise its rights under the Franchise within a period specified in the Franchise; (2) stops providing service it is required to provide in the Franchise; (3) without the prior consent of the City, Transfers the Franchise; (4) fails to pay any undisputed annual occupancy fees or Franchise fees owed hereunder; or (5) defrauds or attempts to defraud the City or the Operator’s customers. However, a Franchisee shall have the right to receive 30 days’ prior notice of an intent to declare a Franchise forfeited, and shall have the opportunity to show cause why the Franchise should not be forfeited.
D. 
Bankruptcy. Notwithstanding the foregoing Sections 16A.01.110B and C, a Franchise will automatically terminate by force of law 120 calendar days after an assignment for the benefit of creditors or the appointment of a receiver or trustee to take over the business of the Franchisee, whether in a receivership, reorganization, bankruptcy assignment for the benefit of creditors, or other action or proceeding, unless such termination would be prohibited by applicable law. However, the Franchise may be reinstated within that 120-day period, if: (1) such assignment, receivership, or trusteeship has been vacated; or (2) such assignee, receiver, or trustee has fully complied with the terms and conditions of this subtitle and the Franchise and has executed an agreement, approved by any court having jurisdiction, assuming and agreeing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this subtitle and the Franchise. However, in the event of foreclosure or other judicial sale of any of the facilities, equipment or property of a Franchisee or licensee, the City may revoke the Franchise, following a public hearing before the City Council, by serving notice upon the Franchisee and the successful bidder at the sale, in which event the Franchise and all rights and privileges of the Franchise will be revoked and will terminate 30 calendar days after serving such notice, unless the City has approved the Transfer of the Franchise to the successful bidder, and the successful bidder has covenanted and agreed with the City to assume and be bound by the terms and conditions of the Franchise and this Subtitle 16A.
E. 
Relation to insurance and indemnity requirements. Recovery by the City of any amounts under insurance, the construction/performance bond, the letter of credit, or otherwise does not limit the Franchisee’s duty to indemnify the City in any way; nor shall such recovery relieve the Franchisee of its obligations under the Franchise, limit the amounts owed to the City, or in any respect prevent the City from exercising any other right or remedy it may have.
F. 
Effect of termination or forfeiture. Upon termination or forfeiture of a Franchise, whether by action of the City as provided above or by passage of time, the Franchisee shall be obligated to cease using the Cable System for the purposes authorized by the Franchise. The City may either take possession of some or all of the Franchisee’s facilities in the Public Rights-of-Way or require the Franchisee or its bonding company to remove some or all of the Franchisee’s facilities from the Public Rights-of-Way and restore the Public Rights-of-Way to the condition specified in Title 10 of the Tacoma Municipal Code. Should the Franchisee neglect, refuse, or fail to remove such facility, the City may remove the facility at the expense of the Franchisee. The obligation of the Franchisee to remove shall survive the termination of the Franchise for a period of two years; provided, that this provision does not permit the City to take possession of, or require the Franchisee to remove, any facilities that are used to provide another service for which the Franchisee holds a valid Franchise issued by the City.
G. 
Remedies cumulative. All remedies under this Subtitle 16A and any Franchise are cumulative unless otherwise expressly stated. The exercise of one remedy shall not foreclose use of another, nor shall the exercise of a remedy or the payment of liquidated damages or penalties relieve a Cable Operator of its obligations to comply with its Franchise. Remedies may be used singly or in combination; in addition, the City may exercise any rights it has at law or equity. Recovery by the City of any amounts under insurance, the performance bond, the security fund or letter of credit, or otherwise, does not limit a Cable Operator’s duty to indemnify the City in any way; nor shall such recovery relieve a Cable Operator of its obligations under a Franchise, limit the amounts owed to the City, or in any respect prevent the City from exercising any other right or remedy it may have.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
A. 
Each Cable Operator shall provide the City reasonable access to all books and records related to the City’s oversight and enforcement authority pursuant to any Franchise, this Code, or any other applicable law, in accordance with the provisions of a Franchise agreement. The City may inspect any books and records and copy non-confidential books and records. The Operator’s obligation includes the obligation to reasonably produce all books and records related to revenues derived from the operation of the Cable System to the extent that system revenues affect the fees or taxes charged or burdens imposed on the Operator under a Franchise. An Operator is responsible for obtaining or maintaining the necessary possession or control of all such books and records related to the construction, operation, or repair of the Cable System, so that it can produce the documents upon request. Books and records must be maintained for a period of five years, except that: (1) any record that is a public record must be maintained for no less than the period required by state law; and (2) a Franchise may specify a shorter period for certain categories of voluminous books and records where the information contained therein can be derived simply from other materials.
B. 
For purposes of this subtitle, the terms “books and records” shall be read expansively to include information in whatever format stored. Books and records requested shall be produced to the City in accordance with the provisions of a Franchise agreement.
C. 
Without limiting the foregoing, the Operator of a Cable System shall make available to the City the following within ten days of their receipt or (in the case of documents created by the Operator or its Affiliate) filing:
1. 
Notices of deficiency or forfeiture related to the operation of the Cable System; and
2. 
Copies of any request for protection under bankruptcy laws, or any judgment related to a declaration of bankruptcy by the Franchisee or by any partnership or corporation that owns or controls the Franchisee, directly or indirectly.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
Each Cable Operator shall take all reasonable steps required, if any, to ensure that it is able to provide the City all information which must be provided or may be requested under this subtitle, a Franchise, or applicable law, including by providing appropriate Subscriber privacy notices. Each Operator shall be responsible for redacting any data that applicable law prevents it from providing to the City. Nothing in this section shall be read to require an Operator to violate state or federal law protecting Subscriber privacy.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
The City Manager may require Operators of a Cable System to maintain records and to prepare reports relevant to determining the compliance of the Cable Operator with the terms and conditions of this subtitle and their Franchises. Operators shall maintain such records and provide such reports additionally as are specifically required by Chapters 16A.01, 16A.02, 16A.03, and 16A.04 of this subtitle.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
Each Franchisee shall comply with all applicable laws related to use of the Public Rights-of-Way and all other applicable laws heretofore and hereafter adopted or established during the entire term of its Franchise.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
The failure of the City to insist on timely performance or compliance by any Person holding a Franchise shall not constitute a waiver of the City’s right to later insist on timely performance or compliance by that Person or any other Person holding such a Franchise.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
The City expressly reserves the right to amend this subtitle from time-to-time in the exercise of its lawful powers. The provisions of this subtitle shall not be construed to create or to be a contract.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
A. 
Persons operating without a franchise. The Operator of any facility, the operation of which is required to be Franchised under this subtitle, shall have three months from the effective date of this Subtitle 16A to file an application for a Franchise under this ordinance. Any Cable Operator timely filing such an application shall not be subject to a penalty under Section 16A.01.100 hereof for failure to have such a Franchise, as long as said application remains pending; provided, however, nothing herein shall relieve any Cable System Operator of any liability for its failure to obtain any Franchise, permit, or other authorization required under other provisions of the Tacoma Municipal Code, and nothing herein shall prevent the City from requiring removal of any facilities installed in violation of the Tacoma Municipal Code.
B. 
Persons holding franchises. Any Person holding an outstanding Franchise from the City for a Cable System may continue to operate under the existing Franchise to the conclusion of its present term (but not any renewal or extension thereof) with respect to those activities expressly authorized by the Franchise; provided, however, that such Franchisee may elect at any time to apply for a superseding Franchise under this subtitle and must seek additional Franchises to provide other services; and, provided further, that, such Person shall be subject to the other provisions of this subtitle to the extent permitted by law.
C. 
Persons with pending applications. Pending applications shall be subject to this subtitle. A Person with a pending application shall be provided 30 days from the effective date of this subtitle to submit additional information to comply with the requirements of this subtitle governing applications.
D. 
Transitional rules to be narrowly interpreted. It is the intent of the City to apply the provisions of this subtitle to Cable System Operators, including local exchange carriers that now occupy or may in the future occupy Public Rights-of-Way, except to the extent federal or state law prevents it from doing so.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
Nothing herein requires the City to enforce this subtitle against other governmental agencies providing Cable Services in the City if the City is prevented from doing so as a matter of law. The City is authorized to enter into agreements with other governmental agencies to facilitate the City’s use and management of its Public Rights-of-Way, and such agreements shall be enforceable according to their respective terms.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)
The failure of the City to enforce any provision of this subtitle on any occasion shall not operate as a waiver or estoppel of this right to enforce any provision of this subtitle on any other occasion, nor shall the failure to enforce any prior ordinance or City Charter provisions affecting Cable Systems or Cable Operators act as a waiver or estoppel against application of this subtitle or any other provision of applicable law.
(Ord. 27787 Ex. A, 2009-02-24)