[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of
the Town of Standish 4-9-2002 by Order No. 20-02.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This order also repealed former
Ch. 115, Cable Television Systems, adopted 12-9-1982, as amended.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Town of Standish CATV Franchising Ordinance."
For the purpose of this chapter and any franchise
granted hereunder, the following terms, phrases and words and their
derivations shall have the meaning specified herein. When not inconsistent
with the context, words used in the present tense include the future
and words in the singular number include words in the plural number.
All revenues received by the licensee, its affiliates, subsidiaries
or lessees from and in connection with the provision of basic service
to subscribers over the broadband telecommunications system in the
Town of Standish, Maine. It shall include revenues from all sources,
including, without limitation, revenues from advertising, channel
leasing, data transmission and per-program charges, in addition to
the subscribers' regular monthly payments for basic service.
Any system of cables, optical, electrical or electronic equipment,
including cable television, used for the purpose of transmission of
electrical impulses of television, radio and other intelligences,
either analog or digital, for sale or use by the inhabitants of the
Town.
The present governing body of the Town of Standish or any
legally appointed or elected successor or agency constituting the
governing body of the Town.
Include all charges imposed for a franchise whether the object
be regulation, revenue or one-time reimbursement of costs incurred
by the Town in the award of a franchise.
All basic services and additional services to be offered
by the licensee.
All persons, including, but not limited to, subsidiaries,
parent or affiliate companies, associations or organizations having
any rights, powers, privileges, duties, liabilities or obligations,
under this chapter, and under the broadband telecommunications system
franchise, collectively called the "franchise," and also includes
all persons having or claiming any title to or interest in the system,
whether by reason of the franchise itself directly or by interest
in a subsidiary, parent or affiliate company, association or organization
or by any subcontract, transfer, assignment, mortgage security agreement,
management agreement or operating agreement, or whether otherwise
arising or created.
Is permissive.
Messenger strand as measured from pole to pole without taking
into consideration sag or downguys, and for underground and buried
plant, actual trench feet.
That geographical area within the incorporated limits of
the Town.
Each is mandatory and not merely directory.
The State of Maine.
Any person, firm, company, municipality, corporation or association
receiving either basic service or additional service from the licensee
under the schedule of charges filed with and/or approved by the Town.
Operation will be considered substantially completed when
sufficient distribution facilities have been installed and activated
so as to permit the offering of full service to at least 90% of the
dwelling units in the service area.
The Town of Standish, its Council, officials, boards, commissions,
agents and employees, unless otherwise specifically designated, the
area within the territorial Town limits of the Town of Standish and
such territory presently outside of the Town limits over which the
Town may assume jurisdiction or control by virtue of annexation.
A.
Franchise required. No person, firm, company, corporation
or association shall construct, install, maintain or operate within
any public street in the Town, or within any other public property
of the Town, or within any privately owned area within the corporate
limits of the Town, any equipment or facilities for the distribution
of television signals, or radio signals or other intelligences either
analog or digital over a broadband telecommunications system to any
subscriber unless a franchise authorizing the use of the streets or
properties or areas has first been obtained pursuant to the provisions
of this chapter, and unless such franchise is in full force and effect.
B.
Review of qualifications. Specific permission to operate
a CATV system under the provisions of this chapter may be granted
by the Council to any licensee after a review of the licensee's legal,
character, financial and technical qualifications and the adequacy
and feasibility of the licensee's construction arrangements and approval
of the licensee's qualifications as a part of a public proceeding
affording due process.
C.
Duration of franchise. Upon filing by the licensee
of the proper acceptance, the bond and the required insurance, a franchise
shall take effect as provided therein and shall continue in full force
and effect for a maximum term of 15 years.
[Amended 9-10-2013 by Order No. 67-13]
Applications for a franchise shall be filed
with the Town in accordance with the filing instructions promulgated
by the Town and shall contain the following written information and
provisions:
A.
Proposal bond and filing fee. Provision of the proposal
bond as required in § 14-206(a) and payment of a nonrefundable
filing fee to the Town in the amount of $25, which sum shall be due
and payable concurrently with the request for application information.
B.
Name and address of applicant. The name and business
address of the applicant, date of application and signature of applicant
or appropriate corporate officer(s).
C.
Description of proposed operation. A general description
of the applicant's proposed operation, including but not limited to
business hours; operating staff; maintenance procedures beyond those
required in this chapter; management and marketing staff complement
and procedures; and its proposed technical reporting policy commensurate
with applicable FCC rules and regulations.
D.
Signal carriage. A statement of all the television
and radio services to be provided, including both off-the-air and
locally originated signals.
E.
Special services. A statement setting forth a description
of the automated services proposed as well as a description of the
production facilities and capital funding to be made available by
the licensee for the public, municipal and educational channels required
to be made available by the provisions of this chapter and the Federal
Communications Commission.
F.
Programming assistance. A statement establishing any additional revenues beyond those required in § 115-6 herein to be designated for the programming or programming assistance for the public, educational and government access channels.
[Amended 10-12-2004 by Ord. No. 134-04]
G.
Schedule of charges. A statement of the applicant's
proposed schedule of charges.
H.
Corporate organization. A statement detailing the
corporate organization of the applicant, if any, including the names
and addresses of its officers and directors and the number of shares
held by each officer and director.
I.
Stockholders. A statement identifying the number of
authorized and outstanding shares of applicant's stock, including
a current list of the names and current addresses of its shareholders
holding 10% or more of applicant's outstanding stock.
J.
Intracompany relationships. A statement describing
all intracompany relationships of the applicant, including parent,
subsidiary or affiliated companies.
K.
Agreements and understandings. A statement setting
forth all agreements and understandings, whether written or oral,
existing between the applicant and any other person, firm, group or
corporation with respect to any franchise awarded and the conduct
of the operation thereof existing at the time of proposal submittal.
L.
Financial statement. If applicant is a corporation,
audited financial statements for the two previous fiscal years. If
applicant is a partnership, copies of the "US Partnership Return of
Income" (IRS Form 1065) for the two previous fiscal years. If applicant
is a sole proprietorship, copies of personal financial statements
for the two previous fiscal years.
M.
Financial projection. An estimated ten-year operations
pro forma which shall include the initial and continuing plant investment,
annual profit and loss statements detailing projected income and expenses,
annual balance sheets, and annual levels of subscriber penetration.
The pro forma shall also state the average return on investment anticipated
by the applicant for the ten-year operations period and shall state
the method of computation thereof. Costs anticipated for voluntary
services or contributions shall, if presented, be incorporated in
the pro forma as required in this chapter, but shall be separately
identified in the pro forma.
N.
Financial support. A corporate board resolution or
statement from a qualified officer of the applicant shall be supplied
authorizing the securing and expenditure of such funds as are required
to construct and operate the CATV system proposed herein. The applicant
shall identify any external financing sources anticipated and shall
explain the nature and extent of participation by such external financing
sources. If external financing shall be accomplished through lines
of credit with a lending institution, the applicant shall identify
the available, uncommitted balance of such line of credit.
O.
Technical description. A technical description of
the type of communications system proposed by the applicant, including
but not limited to system configuration (i.e., hubs, nodes, etc.),
system capacity, two-way capability, data intranets and the proposed
dates of commencement of construction and operation of said system.
P.
Engineering statement. A statement from a registered
professional engineer advising that he has reviewed the technical
description provided above and that the planned system and operation
thereof meets all the technical standards set forth in Section 76.605
of the FCC's Third Report and Order, and any amendments thereto.
Q.
Existing franchises. A disclosure of existing State
of Maine franchises held by the applicant indicating when the franchises
were issued and when the systems were constructed in each respected
government unit, together with the name and address and phone number
of a responsible governmental official knowledgeable of the applicant.
R.
Convictions. A statement as to whether the applicant
or any of its officers or directors or holders of 10% or more of its
voting stock has in the past 10 years been convicted of any crime
other than a routine traffic offense and the disposition of each such
case.
S.
Operating experience. A statement detailing the prior
operational experience of the applicant, including that of the applicant's
officers, management and staff to be associated with the proposed
operation.
T.
Franchise renewal information. If an application is for renewal of a franchise, the proposal must include, in addition to the information required in Subsections A through S above:
(1)
A summary of the technical, financial and programming
history of the system since the granting of the original franchise.
(2)
A statement and timetable that outlines all proposed
changes, expansion or improvements in the system as to services, programming
or technical specifications during the renewal period.
U.
Additional requirements. The application for franchise shall respond specifically, and in sequence, to Subsections A through S of this section and shall be bound separately from any additional information proffered by the applicant. Five copies of the application shall be supplied to the Town. Supplementary, additional or other information that the applicant deems reasonable for considerations may be submitted at the same time as its application, but must be separately bound and submitted in the above number of copies. The Town may, at its discretion, consider such additional information as part of the application.
V.
Supplementation to applications. The Town reserves
the right to require such supplementary, additional or other information
that the Town deems reasonably necessary for its determinations. Such
modifications, deletions, additions or amendments to applications
shall be considered only if specifically requested by the Town.
W.
Grandfather clause. Applications submitted prior to
June 22, 1998, and all amendments thereto, shall be deemed to be in
conformity to this section.
A.
Annual financial reports required. The licensee shall
furnish the Town, no later than 120 days after the end of licensee's
fiscal year, two copies of:
(1)
The report to its stockholders.
(2)
A sworn statement of its gross annual revenues pertaining
to the Town of Standish.
(3)
An income statement identifying expenses and income
applicable to its operations under said franchise during the fiscal
year or fraction thereof.
(4)
A financial balance sheet and statement of ownership
for the its operations within the Town of Standish, which shall be
open for public inspection. Said statements and balance sheet shall
be sworn to by the person preparing same and by licensee or an officer
of licensee.
(5)
A report containing the number of subscribers within
the Town of Standish, as of December 31, and the number of connections
and disconnections made during the reporting year.
(6)
A listing of its properties devoted to system operations
under the franchise, together with an itemization of its investment
in each of such properties. This report, along with the other reports
listed above and any other such reasonable information as the Town
may request, shall be certified by a certified public accountant.
(7)
Any other reports required by state and/or federal
law.
B.
Annual facilities report required. The licensee shall file annually with the Town, not later than 120 days after the end of its fiscal year and within 120 days after the end of each subsequent fiscal year, two copies of a total facilities report setting forth the total physical miles of plant installed or in operation during the fiscal year. Such report shall also contain any revisions to the system "as built" maps filed with the Town under the provisions of Subsection D herein. In addition, the licensee shall file quarterly construction reports with the Town during the initial build or subsequent rebuild of the system as required by the franchise.
C.
Line extension reports required. During the first
year after the commencement of this franchise agreement, licensee
shall file with the issuing authorities quarterly reports detailing
the areas in the towns in which the cable system has been extended
during said reporting period, the dates of said extensions and the
number of households capable of receiving cable service(s). In succeeding
years, licensee shall file said report on an annual basis. This report
shall also contain details of any and all line extension requests
that have been made during the reporting period, the status of any
such line extension requests, and all pending line extensions not
yet completed.
D.
Customer service complaint reports. Every three months,
beginning from the effective date of the franchise agreement, licensee
shall notify the Town, on forms approved by the Town, a list of complaints
of subscribers received during the reporting period and the manner
in which the complaints have been met, including the time required
to make any necessary repairs or adjustments.
E.
System maps required. The licensee shall file with
the Town, not later than three months after the system is substantially
completed, a set of system "as built" maps, drawn to scale, showing
all of the CATV system facilities installed in the Town. Subscriber
service drop facilities need not be shown.
F.
Certificate of performance. The licensee shall file
with the Town, not later than three months after the system is substantially
completed and within three months after the end of its fiscal year
during which a franchise was accepted and within three months after
the end of each subsequent fiscal year, two copies of the following
supplemental information:
(1)
If a nonprofit corporation, a list of all current
bondholders both of record or beneficial. If a public corporation,
a list of all shareholders who individually or as a concerted group
hold 10% or more of the voting stock of the corporation.
(2)
A current list of all licensee's officers and directors,
including addresses and telephone numbers.
(3)
Copies of all pertinent agreements or contracts, including
pole-use agreements, entered into by the licensee during the fiscal
year in the conduct of its business under a franchise granted.
(4)
The names and both business and residential addresses
and phone numbers of the broadband telecommunications system resident
manager and engineer.
(5)
If the licensee is a subsidiary, a copy of the annual
report of the parent firm.
G.
Public availability of reports. Such reports as required
under this chapter must be available to the public in the office of
the Town Clerk, during normal business hours. Subscribers shall be
notified of the availability of such reports by the inclusion of such
notice in the subscriber agreement, if used. Other methods of notification,
if required, shall be approved by the broadband telecommunications
regulatory board.
H.
Correspondence. The licensee shall simultaneously
file with the Town a copy of each petition, application, report and
communication transmitted by the licensee to, or received by the licensee
from, any federal, state or other regulatory commissions or agencies
having competent jurisdiction to regulate and pertaining to the operations
of any broadband telecommunications system authorized hereafter.
I.
Town's access to records. The Town shall have access
during all normal business hours and upon the giving of reasonable
notice to the licensee's contracts, engineering plans, accounting,
financial data and service records relating to the property and the
operations of the licensee and to all other records required to be
maintained according to said franchise. Records of subscriber lists
and statistical data shall be made available only upon showing to
the licensee by the Town that such records are material to the Town's
regulatory program.
J.
Subscriber agreement. The form of licensee's agreements
with its subscribers shall be subject to the approval of the Council.
A.
Annual franchise payment. A licensee of a franchise
shall pay to the Town a quarterly fee in the amount established in
the franchise. This payment shall be based upon the licensee's quarterly
gross subscriber revenues, as defined herein, and shall be in addition
to any other payment owed to the Town by the licensee and shall not
be construed as payment in lieu of municipal property taxes or other
state, county or local taxes.
B.
Method of computation; interest.
(1)
Sales taxes or other taxes levied directly on a per-subscription basis and collected by the licensee shall be deducted from the local quarterly gross subscriber revenues before computation of sums due the Town is made. Payments due the Town under the provisions of Subsection A above shall be computed quarterly for the preceding quarter and shall be paid on the first day of January, April, July and October at the office of the Town Clerk during its regular business hours. The first payment period shall commence as of the effective date of the franchise. The Town shall be furnished a statement with each payment, by a certified public accountant, reflecting the total amounts of quarterly gross subscriber revenues, and the above charges, deductions and computations for the quarterly payment period covered by the payment.
(2)
In the event that any statement or payment is not
furnished as required, interest on the amount due, as determined from
the quarterly gross subscriber revenues as computed by a certified
public accountant, selected by the Town, shall accrue from the date
of the required submittal at a rate of interest of 1 1/2% per
month.
C.
Rights of recomputation. No acceptance of any payment
by the Town shall be construed as a release or as an accord and satisfaction
of any claim the Town may have for further or additional sums payable
as a franchise fee under this chapter or for the performance of any
other obligation of the licensee.
A.
Proposal bond. Each applicant for a franchise shall submit a proposal bond in a form acceptable to the Town or a certified check on a bank that is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, payable to the order of the Town in an amount of $15,000. The licensee's proposal bond shall be returned upon provision of the performance bond as required in Subsection B below.
B.
Performance bond. The licensee shall maintain, and
by its acceptance of any franchise agrees that it will maintain, through
the term of the franchise, any renewal or extension thereof, or during
the restoration of property following franchise termination or revocation,
a faithful performance bond running to the six towns comprising the
Saco River Area, namely, Standish, Buxton, Hollis, Limington, Limerick
and Waterboro, with a corporate surety licensed to do business in
the State of Maine and approved by the Town in the penal sum total
of $500,000 conditioned upon the faithful performance of the licensee
and upon further condition that in the event the licensee shall fail
to comply with any law, ordinance or regulation governing the franchise,
there shall be recoverable jointly and severally from the principal
and surety of the bond any damages or loss suffered by the Town as
a result, including the full amount of any compensation, indemnification
or cost of removal or abandonment of any property of the licensee,
plus a reasonable allowance for attorney's fees and costs, up to the
full amount of the bond. Upon completion of the system rebuild, the
amount of said bond shall be reduced to the sum of $100,000. The bond
shall contain the following endorsement:
|
"It is hereby understood and agreed that this
bond may not be cancelled nor the intention not to renew be stated
until 30 days after receipt by the Town of Standish, Maine by registered
mail of one copy of a written notice of such intent to cancel or not
renew."
|
C.
Return of proposal bond. Proposal bonds or certified
checks received in lieu hereof from applicants whose proposals are
not accepted by the Town shall be returned to the applicant as soon
as the proposal is rejected.
D.
Bond evidence to be filed with Town. The performance
bond and written evidence of payment of required premium shall be
filed and maintained with the Town during the term of any franchise
granted hereafter, or any renewal thereof.
A.
Complaints. Complaints, disputes and disagreements
which are not resolved by the licensee to the subscriber's satisfaction
may be filed with the Town, provided such filing complies with the
time limits prescribed below.
B.
Any complaint, dispute or disagreement may be filed
with the Town, provided it falls within the time limits set forth
below:
C.
Investigation and report. Within 10 days after receiving
notice of such complaint,dispute or disagreement, the Town Manager
shall request an investigation of the same to be made by the Town
representative to the Saco River Cable Committee. After completion
of the investigation, the Town Manager shall issue a report either
dismissing the complaint or directing the licensee to take appropriate
action to remedy the complaint, dispute or disagreement, and shall
cause a copy of such report to be forwarded to each party. The report
of the Town Manager shall be final.
D.
Notice to parties. The Saco River Cable Committee
shall provide reasonable advance notice of the time and place of any
hearing to the parties.
The mission of the Saco River Cable Committee
is to provide general supervision and oversight of the member municipalities'
respective cable T.V. franchises with Adelphia Communication Corporation,
its successors and assigns. The Committee shall supervise Adelphia's
operations, specifically in the area of complaint procedures, billing
methods, remote broadcast facilities, extension policy and financial
reporting and such other matters as are set out in the respective
franchise agreements and as the Committee may determine.
A.
Town Representative to Saco River Cable Committee appointed. There is hereby established a Town Representative and an alternate member to the Saco River Cable Committee hereinafter referred to as the "Committee." (Reference Article XIV, § 3-51A.)
[Amended 10-12-2004 by Ord. No. 134-04]
B.
Representation. The Council shall appoint two members
of the public to serve on the Saco River Cable Committee, one primary
member and one alternate member.
C.
Duties of the members. The duties of the members shall
be to:
(1)
Review appeals taken pursuant to § 115-8 of this chapter. Its decisions or findings shall be reported to the Town Manager.
(2)
Review and audit reports submitted to the Town as required in § 115-5 herein, and such other correspondence as may be submitted to the Town concerning the operation of the broadband telecommunications system so as to insure that the necessary reports are completed and fulfilled pursuant to the terms of the article.
(3)
Work with the public and the media to assure that
all records, reports, rules and charges pertinent to the broadband
telecommunications system in the Town of Standish are made available
for inspection at reasonable hours upon reasonable notice.
(4)
Confer with the licensee and advise on the interconnection
of the Town's telecommunications system with systems serving other
governmental or educational entities.
(5)
Solicit, review and provide recommendations to the
Council for selection of applicants for franchise.
(6)
Assist with development and oversight of a regional
community television access center to provide the citizens of the
Town of Standish and other Saco River Area Towns with the training
and equipment to produce local community television.
(7)
Monitor the procedural aspects and operations of the
local community television channels. Make recommendations to the operators
of those channels if requested.
(8)
Coordinate and advise the educational, governmental
and public users of the CATV system access channels in their programming
efforts.
(9)
Perform such duties and functions relative to coordination
with committees of other towns to assure the mutually satisfactory
interchange of information between the towns on the Saco River System.
(10)
If requested by Council, assist in the preparation
of an annual budget to the Council for the administration and operation
of the Committee.
(11)
Undertake such other duties as the Council may assign
from time to time and as may be required by the bylaws of the Committee.
The licensee shall at all times comply with
all applicable federal, state and Town laws, ordinances and regulations.
If any section, subdivision, sentence, clause,
phrase or portion of this chapter is for any reason held invalid or
unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction or by any
federal regulatory agency, such portion shall be deemed a separate,
distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect
the validity of the remaining portions hereof.
