[Ord. No. 606 § 1]
The Borough hereby grants to Comcast Cablevision of Hopewell
Valley, Inc. renewal of its nonexclusive municipal consent to place
in, upon, across, above, over and under highways, streets, alleys,
sidewalks, easements, public ways and public places in the Borough,
poles, wires, cables, underground conduits, manholes and other television
conductors, fixtures, apparatus and equipment as may be necessary
for the construction, operation and maintenance in the Borough of
a cable television and communications system.
[Ord. No. 606 § 2]
For the purpose of this Ordinance, the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. Such
meaning or definition of terms is supplemental to those definitions
of the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") rules and regulations,
47 C.F.R. subsection 76.1 et seq., and the Cable Communications Policy
Act, 47 U.S.C. Section 521 et seq., as amended, and the Cable Television
Act, N.J.S.A. 48:5A-1 et seq., and shall in no way be construed to
broaden, alter or conflict with the Federal and State definitions:
a.
MUNICIPALITY OR BOROUGH - Shall mean the Borough of Hopewell, County
of Mercer, State of New Jersey.
b.
COMPANY - Shall mean the grantee of rights under this Ordinance and
is known as Comcast Cablevision of Hopewell Valley, Inc.
c.
ACT OR CABLE TELEVISION ACT - Shall mean Chapter 186 of the General
Laws of New Jersey, and subsequent amendments thereto, N.J.S.A. 48:5A-1,
et seq.
d.
FCC - Shall mean the Federal Communications Commission.
e.
BOARD OR BPU - Shall mean the Board of Public Utilities, State of
New Jersey.
f.
OFFICE OR OCTV - Shall mean the Office of Cable Television of the
Board.
g.
BASIC CABLE SERVICE - Shall mean any service tier, which includes
the retransmission of local television broadcast signals as defined
by the FCC.
[Ord. No. 606 § 3]
Public hearings conducted by the Borough, concerning the renewal
of municipal consent herein granted to the Company were held after
proper public notice pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Act
and the regulations of the Board adopted pursuant thereto. Said hearings,
having been fully open to the public, and the Borough, having received
at said public hearings all comments regarding the qualifications
of the Company to receive this renewal of municipal consent, the Borough
hereby finds that the Company possesses the necessary legal, technical,
character, financial and other qualifications and that the Company's
operating and construction arrangements are adequate and feasible.
[Ord. No. 606 § 4]
The nonexclusive municipal consent granted herein shall expire
15 years from the date of expiration of the previous Certificate of
Approval issued by the Board.
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 48:5A-19, the term of the franchise
is automatically renewed for an additional 10 years subject to either
(1) construction of a return from the municipal center at 4-6 Columbia
Avenue to Hopewell Elementary School at Princeton Avenue or (2) provision
of a one-time grant in the amount of $12,500 to the Borough. Either
option may be elected by the Governing Body via the adoption of a
resolution six months prior to the expiration of the Renewal Certificate
of Approval. With Comcast's concurrence, the Governing Body may
elect by resolution to have said construction occur at an earlier
date. Said action shall be deemed an automatic renewal of the franchise.
In either case, the Company shall have 12 months from the date of
the aforementioned resolution to comply.
Six months prior to the expiration of the initial fifteen-year
term Comcast shall notify the Borough in writing of its right to review
its compliance with this Ordinance. In the event that the Municipality
shall at any time find that the Company has not substantially complied
with the material terms and conditions of this Ordinance, the Municipality
shall have the right to petition the OCTV for appropriate action,
including modification and/or termination of the Certificate of Approval;
provided however, that the Municipality shall first have given the
Company written notice of all alleged instances of noncompliance and
an opportunity to cure same within 90 days of that notification.
[Ord. No. 606 § 5]
Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Act, the Company
shall, during each year of operation under the consent granted herein,
pay to the Borough 2% of the gross revenues from all recurring charges
in the nature of subscription fees paid by subscribers for cable television
reception service in the Borough or any higher amount permitted by
the Act or otherwise allowable by law, whichever is greater.
[Ord. No. 606 § 6]
The consent granted under this Ordinance to the renewal of the
franchise shall apply to the entirety of the Borough and any property
subsequently annexed hereto.
[Ord. No. 606 § 7]
The Company shall be required to proffer service along any public
right-of-way to any person's residence or business located in
all areas of the franchise territory as described herein, at tariffed
rates for standard and nonstandard installations.
[Ord. No. 606 § 8]
The Company has completed an upgrade of the cable television
distribution system serving the Borough. The upgraded system is a
hybrid fiber optic/coaxial cable system following a "fiber to the
node" architecture. The upgraded system provides improved picture
quality, enhanced signal reliability and increased channel capacity.
The upgrade has been completed following the Company's
engineering guidelines for hybrid fiber/coaxial ("HFC") plant design,
which meets or exceeds all applicable State and Federal regulations
as well as voluntary cable television industry standards and follows
commonly accepted industry practices.
[Ord. No. 606 § 9]
In the event that the Company or its agents shall disturb any
pavement, street surfaces, sidewalks, driveways, or other surface
in the nature topography, the Company shall, at its sole expense,
restore and replace such places or things so disturbed in as good
a condition as existed prior to the commencement of said work.
[Ord. No. 606 § 9]
If at any time during the period of this consent, the Municipality
shall alter or change the grade of any street, alley or other way
or place, the Company, upon reasonable notice by the Municipality,
shall remove, re-lay or relocate its equipment, at the expense of
the Company.
[Ord. No. 606 § 9]
The Company shall, upon request of the Municipality at the Company's
expense, temporarily raise, lower, or remove its lines in order to
facilitate the moving of buildings or machinery or in other like circumstances.
Whenever the request is made by, for, or on behalf of private
parties, the cost will be borne by those same parties.
[Ord. No. 606 § 9]
During the exercise of its rights and privileges under this
franchise, the Company shall have the authority to trim trees upon
and overhanging streets, alleys, sidewalks or other public places
of the municipality so as to prevent the branches of such trees from
coming in contact with the wires and cable of the Company. Such trimming
shall be only to the extent necessary to maintain proper clearance
of the Company's wire and cables.
[Ord. No. 606 § 10]
In providing services to its customers, the Company shall comply
with N.J.A.C. 14:18-1, et seq. and all applicable State and Federal
statutes and regulations. The Company shall strive to meet or exceed
all voluntary company and industry standards in the delivery of customer
service and shall be prepared to report on it to the community upon
written request of the Borough Manager or Clerk.
a.
The Company shall comply fully with all applicable State and Federal
Statutes and regulations regarding credits for outages, the reporting
of same to regulatory agencies and notification of same to customers.
b.
The Company shall comply fully with all applicable State and Federal
statutes and regulations regarding the availability of devices for
the hearing impaired and the notification of same to customers.
c.
The Company shall use every effort to meet or exceed voluntary standards
for telephone accessibility developed by the National Cable Television
Association (NCTA). Those standards shall include, but not be limited
to, the goal of answering 80% of incoming telephone calls within 30
seconds.
d.
Nothing herein shall impair the right of any subscriber or the Municipality
to express any comment with respect to telephone accessibility to
the Complaint Officer, or impair the right of the Complaint Officer
to take any action that is appropriate under law.
e.
The Company is permitted, but is not required, to charge a late fee
consistent with applicable State and Federal statutes and regulations.
[Ord. No. 606 § 11]
The Office of Cable Television is hereby designated as the Complaint
Officer for the Municipality pursuant to N.J.S.A. 48:5A-26(b). All
complaints shall be received and processed in accordance with N.J.A.C.
14:17-6.5. The Municipality shall have the right to request copies
of records and reports pertaining to complaints by Borough customers
from the OCTV.
[Ord. No. 606 § 11]
During the term of this franchise, and any renewal thereof,
the Company shall maintain a local business office or agent for the
purpose of receiving, investigating and resolving all complaints regarding
the quality of service, equipment malfunctions and similar matters.
Such local business office shall be open during normal business hours
and in no event less than 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Telephone access and response for such purposes as mentioned herein
will be provided by the Company's employees, representatives
or agents 24 hours per day.
The telephone number and address of the local office shall be
listed in applicable telephone directories and in correspondence from
the Company to the customer. The telephone number for the local office
shall utilize an exchange that is a non-toll call for Borough residents.
[Ord. No. 606 § 12]
During the life of the franchise the Company shall give to the
Municipality a bond in the amount of $25,000. Such bond shall be to
insure the faithful performance of all undertakings of the Company
as represented in its application for municipal consent incorporated
herein.
[Ord. No. 606 § 13]
The rates of the Company shall be subject to regulation as permitted
by Federal and State law.
[Ord. No. 606 § 14]
a.
Within 12 months of the issuance of a Certificate of Approval (COA)
by the OCTV the Company shall provide a dedicated access channel that
will be available on a twenty-four-hour basis to the Hopewell Valley
Regional High School. The channel will originate at the Hopewell Valley
Regional High School and will be viewable by all Comcast of Mercer
County customers residing within the sending district of the High
School.
b.
The Company will provide and maintain the cable, modulators, and
equipment necessary for the Hopewell Valley High School channel to
send a signal to the Company, and to receive the return feed of signal.
The Company will not be responsible for the maintenance of any studio
equipment used for the access channel, including but not limited to
cameras, editing decks, monitors, character generators, etc. Shared
use of the channel shall be governed by mutual agreement among the
Boroughs of Hopewell and Pennington, the Township of Hopewell, and
the Hopewell Valley Regional School District.
c.
Within 12 months of the issuance of a Certificate of Approval by
the OCTV, the Company shall provide a $50,000 access support grant
to Hopewell Valley High School. The grant shall be made in the name
of the Boroughs of Hopewell and Pennington.
d.
The Company shall continue to provide system-wide leased or commercial
access channel opportunities on a channel maintained by the Company
for the purpose of cablecasting commercial access programming in conformance
with the Company's guideline and applicable State and Federal
statutes and regulations.
e.
The Company shall take any steps that are necessary to ensure that
the signals originated on the access channels are carried without
material degradation, and with a signal whose quality is equal to
that of the other channels that the Company transmits.
f.
If during the term of this Ordinance, the Borough produces 30 hours
or more per week of original, nonduplicative video programming for
a period of six months, the Company will provide the Borough its own
dedicated access channel. Only programming produced by the Borough
and not by the Hopewell Valley Regional School District will be considered
in calculating whether the Borough is producing 30 hours of programming
per week. This dedicated access channel will replace the Hopewell
Valley Regional School District on the channel lineup of customers
residing in the Borough only when the Borough transmits its own programming.
[Ord. No. 606 § 15]
a.
Company representatives shall appear at least once annually, upon
reasonable written request of the Borough, at a public hearing of
the Governing Body or before the Borough's Cable Television Advisory
Committee, to discuss matters pertaining to the provision of cable
service to residents of the Borough and other related issues as the
Borough and Company may see fit.
b.
The Company shall make every effort to deploy new or advanced technology
and/or services in the Borough that are commercially available, economically
practicable, and technically feasible. That technology shall include
but not be limited to: video-on-demand; digital video compression;
advanced or high definition television, digital audio services; digital
television, high-speed Internet service via cable modem; and interactive
program guides.
c.
Within 12 months of the issuance of a Certificate of Approval by
the OCTV, the Company shall provide a free standard cable television
drop and free basic service to each classroom and instructional space
in the Borough's elementary school, will provide two drops and
free basic service to the municipal building (including any such building
or buildings as shall be constructed in the future), and will continue
to provide one drop and free basic service to each fire department,
first aid squad, library, and public works building that is located
in or may be constructed within the Borough.
d.
The Company shall provide free basic Internet service and standard
installation via high-speed cable modem, to one non-networked personal
computer in each school and public library in the Borough.
e.
Within 12 months of the issuance of a Certificate of Approval (COA)
by the OCTV, the Company shall provide to the Borough the choice of
either a grant in the amount of $10,000 or an equipment package consisting
of the following items or their equivalent:
AG-19U CCD Camcorder; Bogen Tripod Model #3126; Electro Voice
Hand Held Microphone; Two AG-1980 S-VHS Decks; Two CT-1384Y 13" Monitors;
AM-FM Stereo Cassette Receiver; AG-A96 Multi-level Editing Controller;
Audio Cables; Character Generator Computer, software, installation
and training.
f.
Upon reasonable written request, the Company shall provide training
and technical support to access channel volunteers.
[Ord. No. 606 § 16]
In the event that the Borough determines that it is necessary
and feasible for it to contract with the Company for the purpose of
providing two-way or interconnection services, the Company shall be
required to apply to the BPU for approval to enter into and establish
the terms and conditions of such contract. All costs for such application
to the BPU shall be borne by the Borough.
[Ord. No. 606 § 17]
The Company shall be required to fully comply with all applicable
Federal and State statutes, rules and regulations governing the implementation,
operation, and testing of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).
The Company shall in no way be held liable for any injury suffered
by the Municipality or any other person, during an emergency, if for
any reason the Municipality is unable to make full use of the cable
television system as contemplated herein.
[Ord. No. 606 § 18]
The Company shall at all times maintain a comprehensive general
liability insurance policy with a single limit amount of $1,000,000
covering liability for any death, personal injury, property damages
or other liability arising out of its construction and operation of
the cable television system, and an excess liability (or "umbrella")
policy in the amount of $3,000,000.
[Ord. No. 606 § 19]
All of the commitments and statements contained in the application
and any amendment thereto submitted in writing to the Municipality
by the Company, except as modified herein, are binding upon the Company
as terms and conditions of this municipal consent. The application
and any other relevant writings submitted by the Company shall be
considered a part of this Ordinance and made a part hereof by reference
as long as it does not conflict with State or Federal law. All ordinances
or parts of ordinances or other agreements between the Borough and
the Company that are in conflict with the provisions of this agreement
are hereby declared invalid and superseded.
[Ord. No. 606 § 20]
Should the Borough grant a franchise to construct, operate and
maintain a cable television system to any other person, corporation
or entity on terms materially less burdensome or more favorable than
the terms contained herein, the Company may substitute such language
that is more favorable or less burdensome for the comparable provision
of this Ordinance subject to the provisions of N.J.A.C. 14:17-6.7.
[Ord. No. 606 § 21]
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion
of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional
by any court or Federal or State agency of competent jurisdiction,
such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent
provision, and its validity or unconstitutionality shall not affect
the validity of the remaining portions of the Ordinance.
[Ord. No. 606 § 22]
This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon issuance of
a Renewal Certificate of Approval from the BPU.
