[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Borough of Baden 2-23-1994
by Ord. No. 819. Amendments noted where applicable.]
No person shall construct, operate or continue to operate a private
communications system which occupies the streets, public ways and public places
within the Borough of Baden without having been issued a license or licenses
by the Baden Borough Secretary.
The purpose of this chapter is to:
A.
Regulate the erection, construction, reconstruction,
installation, operation, maintenance, dismantling, testing, repair and use
of a private communications system in, upon, along, across, above, over, under
or in any manner connected with the streets, public ways or public places
within the geographic limits of the Borough of Baden, as now or in the future
may exist.
B.
Provide the Borough of Baden with compensation for occupation
and use of the Borough's rights-of-way for a private communications system.
C.
Provide the Borough with compensation for acquisition
and maintenance of the Borough's rights-of-way when used for commercial
purposes.
D.
Provide the Borough with compensation for the cost of
regulation imposed by this chapter on a private communications system.
For the purposes of this chapter and any license in accordance herewith,
the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meaning
given herein unless otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise or unless such meaning would be inconsistent
with the manifest intent of Council:
The Bureau of Cable Communications.
A nonbroadcast facility consisting of a set of transmission paths
with associated signal generation, reception and control equipment, under
common ownership and control, which distributes or is designed to distribute
to subscribers the signals of one or more television broadcast stations and
is franchised by the Borough of Baden in accordance with the Baden Borough
Code.
A person who for a charge or payment of a fee receives, sends or
uses any signal or service provided, collected or distributed by a private
communications system licensed by the Borough.
The Federal Communications Commission or its legally appointed successor.
The privilege granted by the Borough by which the Borough authorizes
a person to erect, construct, reconstruct, operate, dismantle, test, use and
maintain a private communications system that occupies the streets, public
ways or public places within the Borough. Any license issued in accordance
herewith shall be a nonexclusive license.
The person or its legal successor in interest who is issued a license
or licenses in accordance with the provisions of this chapter for the erection,
construction, reconstruction, operation, maintenance, dismantling, testing,
repair and use of a private communications system in the Borough.
That geographic area and communications system in which the Borough
of Baden is located and in which Bell of Pennsylvania is authorized by the
Public Utilities Commission of Pennsylvania to provide local exchange access
telecommunications services.
Any communications equipment or facilities, not part of the LATA
or part of a cable communications system franchised by the Borough, that in
any manner is connected with the streets, public ways or public places within
the geographic limits of the Borough, as now or in the future may exist.
Any area established for vehicular or public access use or the entire
width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any
part thereof is open for public purposes. "Street" includes, but is not limited
to, highway, avenue, road, alley, right-of-way, lane, boulevard, concourse,
bridge, tunnel, parks, parkways, waterways, docks, overheads, wharves and
piers.
All cash, credits or property of any kind or nature reported as revenue
items on licensees' audited income statements arising from or attributable
to the sale or exchange of private communications services by the licensee
within the Borough or in any way derived from the operation of its private
communications system, including but not limited to any interconnection between
its system in the Borough and any system whatsoever. This sum shall be the
basis for computing the fee imposed pursuant to this chapter. Such sums shall
not include any bad debts, deposits, promotional or vendor discounts or credits,
nor sales, service, occupation or other excise tax to the extent that such
taxes are charged separately from normal service charges and are remitted
by the licensee directly to the taxing authority.
All notices required to be given to the Borough under any provision
of this chapter shall be deemed served when delivered by hand, in writing,
to the Secretary of the Borough of Baden or to any adult person in charge
of the Borough office during normal business hours.
This chapter shall not be construed to create or hold the Borough of
Baden responsible or liable for any damage to persons or property by reason
of any inspection or reinspection authorized herein or failure to inspect
or reinspect, nor shall the issuance of any license nor the approval or disapproval
of any installation authorized herein constitute any representation, guaranty
or warranty of any kind by nor create any liability upon the Borough of Baden
or any official, agent or employee thereof.
A.
Any annual license issued by the Borough in accordance
herewith shall be a nonexclusive license for the use of the streets, public
ways or places within the Borough as specified in the license for the erection,
construction, reconstruction, operation, maintenance, dismantling, testing
and use of a private communications system.
B.
Any license issued by the Borough is renewable annually
upon establishment by the licensee to the satisfaction of the Borough that
the license is in compliance with this chapter and all applicable federal,
state and local ordinances and regulations, and the space occupied is not
needed for a public purpose.
A.
Any license issued for a private communications system
in accordance herewith shall apply only to the location or locations stated
on the license or licenses.
B.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as a representation,
promise or guaranty by the Borough that any permit or other authorization
required under any Borough ordinance for the construction or installation
of a private communications system shall be issued.
All technical standards governing construction, reconstruction, installation,
operation, testing, use, maintenance and dismantling of a private communications
system provided for herein shall be in accordance with all applicable FCC
and other federal, state and local laws and regulations, including but not
limited to the most recent editions of the National Electrical Code and the
National Electrical Safety Code.
The Chairman of Public Works shall have the following powers and duties:
A.
Receive and review applications for licenses for any
private communications system.
B.
Review and audit all reports and filings submitted by
the licensee to the Borough pursuant to this chapter.
C.
Submit regulations regarding the construction, reconstruction,
operation, maintenance, dismantling, testing or use of any private communications
system established by license in accordance herewith to the Town Council of
the Borough of Baden.
A.
All persons submitting a request for a license to construct
a private communications system in accordance herewith shall file with their
request bonds solely for the protection of the Borough with a surety company
or trust company or companies as surety or sureties in an amount determined
by the Council to protect the Borough from any and all damages or costs suffered
or incurred by the costs of any action or proceeding, and including the full
amount of compensation, indemnification, cost of removal or abandonment of
any property or other costs which may be in default up to the full principal
amount of such bond, and the condition shall be a continuing obligation during
the entire term of any license issued in accordance herewith and thereafter
until the licensee shall have satisfied in full any and all obligations to
the Borough which arise out of or pertain to the license for a private communications
system.
B.
None of the provisions of this section nor any bond accepted
by the Borough pursuant hereto nor any damages recovered by the Borough thereunder
shall be construed to excuse the faithful performance by or limit the liability
of the licensee under this chapter or any license issued in accordance herewith
or for damages either to the full amount of such bond or otherwise.
It shall be a term and condition of any license issued in accordance
herewith that, as a part of the consideration supporting the issuance of such
license and the Borough's permission thereby to occupy and use the streets
of the Borough, the licensee shall pay each year to the Borough the following
compensation and license fees:
A.
Any private communications system which serves no customers
other than itself shall pay compensation and license fees in the amount of
$1 per linear foot for each diameter inch or less of underground conduit of
wire or each 0.250 diameter inch or less of aerial wire per annum. In no event
shall the fee be less than $250 per annum.
B.
Any private communications system that serves customers
within the Borough shall pay annually 5% of the annual total local gross revenues
derived from transmissions that bypass the LATA. Revenues derived from transmissions
that enter a private communications system through the LATA shall not be part
of the total local gross revenues for purposes of calculating compensation
and license fees.
A.
The annual compensation and license fee shall be payable
annually on or before February 1 of each calendar year.
B.
The annual compensation and license fee shall be assessed
quarterly for the preceding quarter, as of March 31, June 30, September 30
and December 31 of each year.
(1)
Each quarterly payment shall be payable and reportable
no less than 30 days after the relevant assessment date.
(2)
Each payment shall be accompanied by a report from the
licensee in a form approved by the Chairman of Public Works and the Finance
Chairman showing the basis for the computation and such other relevant data
as may be required by the Chairman of Public Works or the Finance Chairman.
(3)
Each of such reports shall contain a notarized verification
by the chief financial officer of the licensee, and such reports shall be
verified annually, within 90 days of the close of business of the last day
of the calendar year, by a certified public accountant selected by the Borough
at the expense of the licensee.
(4)
Failure to comply strictly with this section shall be
deemed to be a violation of this chapter and shall subject the licensee to
all penalties and remedies, both legal and equitable, which are available
to the Borough of Baden.
C.
The acceptance of any payment required hereunder by the
Borough shall not be construed as an acknowledgment that the amount paid is
the correct amount due, nor shall such acceptance of payment be construed
as a release of any claim which the Borough may have for additional sums due
and payable.
(1)
All fee payments shall be subject to audit by the Borough
Council and assessment or refund if payment is found to be in error.
(2)
In the event that such audit results in an assessment
by and an additional payment to the Borough, such additional payment shall
be subject to interest at the rate of 6% per year and to a penalty of 6% per
year, which shall be due and payable immediately.
D.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the
liability of the licensee for all applicable federal, state and local taxes.
A.
The Borough shall not at any time be liable for any injury
or damage occurring to any person or property from any cause whatsoever, including
damages from the Borough's negligent omissions, if any, arising from
the use, operation or condition of the licensee's private communications
system.
B.
The licensee shall indemnify, save and hold harmless
and defend the Borough from all liens; charges; claims, including but not
limited to libel, slander, invasion of privacy and unauthorized use of any
trademark, trade name or service mark; demands; suits; actions; fines; penalties;
losses; costs, including but not limited to reasonable legal fees and court
costs; judgments; injuries; and liabilities or damages, in law or equity,
of any and every kind and nature whatsoever, including damages caused by or
arising out of any act of negligent omission of the Borough, its officers,
servants, agents, employees or contractors or otherwise arising out of or
in any way connected with the installation, operation, maintenance or condition
of the licensee's private communications system.
C.
The Chairman of Public Works, in consultation with the
Borough Solicitor, shall set the type and coverage of insurance required.
In setting the amount, the Chairman of Public Works shall take into consideration
the size and location of the private communications system, the financial
resources of the licensee and the risk involved to the Borough and to the
general public, as well as other salient factors.
Nothing in this chapter or in any license issued in accordance herewith
shall be construed as an abrogation by the Borough of any of its police powers.
A.
Before commencing construction of its private communications
system in, above, over, under, across, through or in any way connected with
the streets, public ways or public places of the Borough, the licensee shall
first obtain the written approval of all appropriate Borough agencies, including
but not limited to the Public Works Committee. Applications for such approval
shall be made in the form prescribed by the Public Works Committee.
B.
Upon obtaining such written approval, the licensee shall
give the Public Works Committee and the appropriate Borough agency written
notice within a reasonable time of proposed construction, but in no event
shall such notice be given less than 10 days before such commencement.
C.
Any person who submits a request for a license in accordance
herewith shall include therein proposed agreements for the use of existing
utility poles and conduits, if applicable, with the owner(s) of such facilities
to be used or affected by the construction of the proposed private communications
system, which agreements shall become effective on the date of execution of
the license issued in accordance herewith in the event that such person is
issued a license.
D.
It shall be unlawful for the licensee or any other person to open or otherwise disturb the surface of any street, sidewalk, driveway, public way or other public place for any purpose whatsoever without obtaining approval to do so after proceeding in the manner prescribed in Subsections A and B hereof. Violation of this subsection shall subject the licensee to all penalties and remedies prescribed therein and to all other remedies, legal or equitable, which are available to the Borough of Baden.
E.
The licensee shall restore any street or sidewalk it
has disturbed, at its own cost and expense, restore and replace any other
property disturbed, damaged or in any way injured by or on account of its
activities to as good as the condition such property was in immediately prior
to the disturbance, damage or injury, or pay the fair market value of such
property to its owner.
F.
The licensee shall, at its own cost and expense, protect,
support, temporarily disconnect, relocate in the same street or other public
place or remove from such street or other public place any of its property
when required to do so by the Borough because of street or other public excavation,
construction, repair, regrading or grading; traffic conditions; installation
of sewers, drains, water pipes, Borough-owned power or signal lines or tracks;
vacation or relocation of streets; or any other type of structure or improvement
of a public agency; or any other type of improvement necessary for the public
health, safety or welfare.
G.
Nothing in this chapter or any license issued in accordance
herewith shall be construed as authorizing the licensee to erect and maintain
new poles in an area serviced by existing poles. The licensee shall obtain
written approval from the Public Works Committee and other appropriate Borough
agencies before erecting any new poles or underground conduits where none
exist.
H.
The licensee shall maintain all wires, conduits, cables
and other real and personal property and facilities in good condition, order
and repair.
I.
The licensee shall keep accurate, complete and current
maps and records of its system and facilities which occupy the streets, public
ways and public places within the Borough and shall furnish, as soon as they
are available, two complete copies of such maps and records to the Public
Works Committee and Baden Borough Council.
J.
The licensee shall comply with all rules and regulations
issued by the Public Works Committee governing the construction and installation
of private communications systems. In addition:
(1)
All aerial cables and wires shall be installed parallel
with existing telephone and electric utility wires.
(2)
Multiple aerial configurations shall be in parallel arrangement
and bundled in accordance with engineering and safety considerations.
(3)
All underground installations shall be in the appropriate
size and type conduit or other enclosures approved by the Public Works Committee.
(4)
All installations shall be underground in those areas
of the Borough where both telephone and electric utilities' facilities
are underground at the time of the installation of the licensee's private
communications system.
(a)
In areas where both telephone and electric utilities'
facilities are above ground at the time of the installation of the licensee's
private communications system, the licensee may install its system above ground
on existing utility poles only, upon the condition that at such time as those
facilities are placed underground by the telephone and electric utility companies,
the licensee shall likewise place its facilities underground at its sole cost
and expense.
(5)
The licensee, upon reasonable notice by the Borough,
shall temporarily or permanently remove, adjust, raise or lower its facilities
within the right-of-way when the Borough determines that such action is needed
for public use of the right-of-way, including but not limited to the passage
of nonstandard vehicles.
(6)
The licensee shall obtain the written permission of the
owner, including the Borough, of any tree or other vegetation before it trims
or prunes the same.
A.
The licensee shall not transfer or assign its interest
in any license issued in accordance herewith without the prior written authorization
of the Chairman of the Public Works Committee. For purposes of this section,
a merger or consolidation shall be deemed a transfer or assignment.
B.
Nothing in any approval by the Chairman of the Public
Works Committee authorizing any transfer or assignment of any license issued
in accordance herewith shall be construed to waive or release any rights of
the Borough in and to the streets, public ways and public places of the Borough
or as a release of any of the Borough's police powers.
