[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Sanford 7-7-1992; amended 12-21-1992. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Town of Sanford Cable Television Franchising Ordinance."
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 privately owned area within the corporate limits of the Town, any equipment of facilities for the distribution of television signals or radio signals or other intelligences, either analog or digital, over a broadband telecommunications network to any subscriber unless a franchise authorizing the use of the streets or properties of areas has first been obtained pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and unless such franchise agreement is in full force and effect; provided that a cable television company holding a valid cable television franchise from an adjoining Maine municipality may serve up to and including 11 subscribers without the necessity of obtaining a franchise from the Town.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 226, § 226-13, Use of public ways for cable television systems.
B. 
Review of qualifications. Specific permission to operate a cable television system under the provisions of this chapter may be granted by the Town Council to any applicant ("grantee") after satisfactory review of its legal, character, financial and technical qualifications and the adequacy and feasibility of the grantee's construction arrangements, all demonstrated by the grantee to be adequate to protect the general public health, safety and welfare, and approval of the grantee's qualifications as part of a public proceeding affording due process.[2]
[2]
Editor’s Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
C. 
Duration of franchise. Upon filing by the grantee of a proper acceptance and such other bond and insurance as the Town Council may reasonably require, the franchise shall take effect as provided herein and shall continue in full force and effect for a maximum term of 10 years.[3]
[3]
Editor’s Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Applications for a franchise or renewal shall be filed with the Town Clerk for referral to the Town Council for action. Any such application for a franchise or a franchise renewal shall contain the following information:
A. 
Filing fee of $25.
B. 
Name and address of the applicant.
C. 
Description of proposed operation, including but not limited to hours of operation, operating staff, maintenance procedures and its proposed rules or operation for public access.
D. 
A statement of all television and radio services to be provided.
E. 
A statement setting forth a description of any special services to be made available to the public, including municipal and educational channels.
F. 
A statement detailing the corporation organization of the applicant, identifying the number of stockholders of the company and any intra-company relationships with parent or subsidiary companies, and a statement setting forth in writing any and all understandings between the applicant and any other person, firm, or organization.
G. 
A statement detailing the applicant's financial statement for the two previous fiscal years.
H. 
A written statement detailing the type of network proposed by the applicant, including but not limited to network configuration, network capacity, two-way capability and proposed dates of commencement of construction and operation of said network.
I. 
A written statement as to whether the applicant or any of its officers, directors or holders of 10% or more of its voting stock have in the past 10 years been convicted of any crime other than a routine traffic offense and the disposition of each such case.
[1]
Editor’s Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Before the Town solicits cable television franchise proposals or entertains applications for renewals, the following procedures shall be required:
A. 
The Town Council shall provide public notice and hold a public hearing to determine special local needs or interest in cable television programming and services and shall provide for a period of public comment on the same;
B. 
Any and all franchise applications and renewal applications and related documents shall be public records, and the Town Council shall provide reasonable notice to the public that such records are available and open to inspection at Town offices during normal business hours;
C. 
Prior to granting any franchise or franchise renewal, the Town Council shall provide for a public hearing on the same; and
D. 
The Town Council shall assess such fees as are reasonably necessary to defray costs of public notice, advertising and other expenses incurred by the Town in acting upon franchise applications.
[1]
Editor’s Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
The holder of any cable television franchise shall file annually with the Town, not later than three months after the end of its fiscal year, two copies of its report to stockholders and an income statement identifying expenses and income applicable to its operations and the franchise fee required by its franchise agreement.
The cable operator shall maintain during the term of the franchise agreement a faithful performance bond running in favor of the Town with a corporate surety licensed to do business in the State of Maine conditioned upon the faithful performance of the cable company and providing for recovery jointly and severally from the principal and surety of the bond for any damages suffered by the Town as a result of any cost incurred by the Town for the removal or abandonment of any property of the cable television company plus a reasonable allowance for attorney fees and costs in prosecuting the same. The amount of the bond shall not be less than $5,000, and written evidence of the same shall be filed with the Town.
The cable operator shall at all times comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations.