A.
Talbot County finds that the development of cable
television and communications systems has the potential of having
great benefit and impact upon the citizens of the County. Because
of the complex and rapidly changing technology associated with cable
television, the County further finds that the public convenience,
safety and general welfare can best be served by establishing regulatory
powers to be vested in the County. It is the intent of this chapter
to specify the means to attain the best possible public interest and
public purpose in these matters.
B.
Further, it is recognized that cable communications
systems have the capacity to provide not only entertainment and information
services to the County's residents, but can provide a variety of broadband,
interactive communications services to institutions and individuals.
Many of these services may involve County agencies and other public
institutions by providing governmental, educational or health care
communications.
The following goals underlie the regulations
contained herein:
A.
Communications services should be provided to the
maximum number of County residents.
B.
The system should be capable of accommodating both
the present and reasonably foreseeable future communications needs
of the County.
C.
The system should be improved and upgraded during
the franchise term so that the new facilities necessary for the operation
of the system shall be integrated to the maximum extent possible with
existing facilities.
D.
The communications system authorized by this chapter
shall be responsive to the needs and interests of the local community,
and shall provide the widest possible diversity of information sources
and services to the public.
