1478_00001ORDINANCENO.1478
AN ORDINANCE REPEALINGCITY OF MOSES LAKEORDINANCE NO.1458 ANDGRANTINGAFRANCHISETOSAMMONSCOMMUNICATIONSOFWASHINGTON,INC.,ADELAWARECORPORATION,ITSSUCCESSORSOR ASSIGNS,TOOWNANDOPERATEANDMAINTAINACABLETELEVISIONSYSTEMINTHECITYOFMOSESLAKE,STATE
OF WASHINGTON,SETTINGFORTH CONDITIONSACCOMPANYINGTHEGRANT OFFRANCHISE;AND PROVIDINGFORTHEREGULATIONAND USEOF SAID SYSTEM
THE CITYCOUNCILOFTHE CITYOF MOSESLAKE,WASHINGTONDOORDAINASFOLLOWS:
Section 1.Repealer.OrdinanceNo.1458 is repealed In its entirety.
Section2.ShortTitle.Thisordinanceshallbe known and may be citedas the "SammonsCommunicationsofWashington,Inc.FranchiseOrdinance."
Section 3.Definitions.For the purpose ofthis ordinance the following terms,phrases,words,and theirderivationsshallhavethemeaninggivenherein.Whennot inconsistent withthe context,words used inthepresenttenseincludethefuture,words in the plural number include the singular number and words in thesingularnumberincludethepluralnumber.Theword"shall"is always mandatoly and not merely directory.
A."City"shall mean the Cityof Moses Lakeinthe State of Washington.
B."Company"is the grantee of rights under this ordinance awarding a franchise,being SammonsCommunicationsofWashington,Inc.
C."Person"isany person,firm,partnership,association,corporation,company,ororganizationof anykind.
D."CableTelevisionSystent or"System"shallmeana systemofantennae,cables,wires,lines,towers,waveguides or other conductors,converters,equipment,or facilitiesdesigned and constructed forthepurposeofproducing,receiving,amplifying,and distributingaudio,video,and other forms ofelectronicorelectricalsignalslocatedinthecity.
E."GrossSubscriberRevenues"shallmeanthe revenues derivedbythe company fromitssubscribers'monthlyservicefees in the city.
F."Basic Subscriber"shallmean a resident of the citywho is subscribingto company's lowesttierofservicereceivedbyallsubscriberstocompany's system.
Section 4.Franchise Term.The franchise granted the companyherein shallterminateDecember 31,2001.In considerationof such term,the companyagrees that itshall implement addressable technology in itscablesystemoperatinginMosesLake,Washington byJuly 1,1992.Further,in the eventfuture technologi-cal developments are proven and are implementedInat least 50%of the cable televisionsystemsownedbySammonsCommunications,Inc.and Itssubsidiaries,the company shallimplementand InstallthesametechnologicaldevelopmentsforthesystemsservingtheCityofMosesLake.In the event the companydeterminessuchimplementationisnoteconomicallyfeasibleinlightofthebalanceofthetermofthecabletelevisionfranchiseatthetimesuchimplementationisscheduled,the cityshallgrant a reasonableextensiontothetermofsuchfranchise.In determiningthe length ofthe extension,the cityand the company shallobjectivelyreviewthemagnitudeoftheimprovement(s)to the system.
Section 5.Payments to the Çity.The companyshall,duringits operation underthis franchise,pay to thecityanyandallapplicabletaxes,fees,orthe likeas established by the city,such as but not limited to,theutilityoccupationaltaxassetforthinMosesLakeMunicipalCodeChapter3.30.Payments shallbe madeasrequiredbyapplicablecityordinances.
Section6.Recgrdsand Reports.Thecompanyshallkeepfull,true,accurate,and currentbooks ofaccountreflectingitsinvestmentanditsoperationsunderthisfranchise,whichbooks and records shallbe madeavailableforinspectingandcopyingbytheFinanceDirectororhisauthorizedrepresentativeatallreasonabletimes.The companywil supplya certified annual statement of revenues received withinthe citylimitsofMosesLakeandexpendituresattributedtothecompany's operation inside the corporate limits ofthecity.
Sectlen 7.Bateg.Attached hereto and made a part of thisfranchise as Exhibit A is a schedule of currentratesforbasiccabletelevisionservice.
SectionS.Local Office;ComplaintProcedures.Duringthe termof thisfranchise,and any renewal thereof,the company shall maintainwithinthe citya localbusiness officeor agent for thepurpose ofreceivingandresolvingaicomplaintsregardingthequalityofservice,equipmentmalfunctions,and similarmatters.ThelocalofficeshallbeopentoreceiveinquiriesorcomplaintsfromsubscribersduringnormalbusinesshoursMondaythroughFriday.Any servicecomplaints from subscribers shallbe investigated andacted upon assoonaspossible.The companyshall keep a maintenanceservicelogwhich willindicatethe nature ofeachservicecomplaintandthetimeanddatethereof.This log shall be made availablefor periodicinspectionbythecity.
Section 9.Liabilityand Indemnification.The company shall pay,and by its acceptance of this franchise
the company expressly agrees that it will pay,all damages and penaltieswhich the city may legally be
required to pay as a resultofthe company's negligencein theinstallation,operation,or malntenance ofthe
cable televisionsystem authorized herein.The cityshallnotifythe company's representativewithin fifteen
(15)days afterthe presentationofany claimordemandto the city,either bysuitor otherwise,madeagainst
the city on account ofany negligenceor contract as aforesaidon the part of the company.The companyfurtheragreesasfoHows:
A.Companyshall carry worker's compensationinsurance,with statutorylimits,and employer'sliability
insurance with Ilmits of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000),whichshai coveraHoperationstobeperformedbycompanyasaresultofthisordinance.
B.Company shall carry comprehensive general liability and comprehensive automobile liability
insurance withbodily injury limits of not less than one million dollars($1,000,000)per occurrence,and property damage limitsof not less than one million donars ($1,000,000).
C.Company agrees to furnishcitywith certificatesof insurance of said policies,which shall provide
that insurance shall not be cancelled unless ten (10)days'priorwritten notice shallfirst be given
to city.
D.It is expresslyagreed and understood that the company is an independent contractor and in no
event shallcompany's employees be deemed to be employeesofthe city.
Section 10.System Construction,Maintenance,and Procedures.
A.Upon grant of this franchise to construct and maintaina communitytelevisionsystem in the city,
the company may enter into contracts withlight,gas,and water divisionsof the city,any public
utility companies,or any other owner or lessee of any poles located within or withoutthe cityto
whatever extent such contract orcontracts may be expedientand of advantage to the company for
use of poles and posts necessary for proper Installation ofthe system,obtain right-of-way permits
from appropriate state,county,and federalofficials necessary to cross highways or roads under
their respective jurisdictionsto supply main trunk linesfrom the company's receMng antennae,
obtain permissionfrom the FederalAviationAuthorityto erect and maintainantennae suitableto the
needs ofthe system and its subscribers and obtainwhateverotherpermits a city,county,state,orfederalagencymayrequire.In the construction,Installation,and maintenance of its system,the
companywill use steel,cable,and electronicdevices,all of specialized and advanced design and
type.In the operation of its system,the company willemploypersonnel with training,sklu,and
experience inelectronicsand communications.Neither materialnor personnel ofthis sort willbe
availableto the companyfor its system inthe eventofa war or other similarnational emergency.
B.The company's system,poles,wires,andappurtenances shall be located,erected,andmaintained
so that none ofits facilitiesshallendanger or interfere withthe lives of persons,or Interfere withanyimprovementsthecitymaydeempropertomake,or unnecessarilyhinder or obstruct the free useofthestreets,alleys,bridges,easements,or publicproperty.
C.Extension ofserviceshall not be required into an area which does not meet the requirements setforthinSection10ofthisfranchise.
D.AIItransmissionand distributionstructures,lines,and equipment erected bythe company within the
cityshallbe so located as to cause minimuminterference with the proper use of streets,alleys,and
other publicways and places,and to cause minimumInterference with the rights or reasonable
convenienceof propertyownerswho adjoinany of the said streets,alleys,or other public ways and
places.
E.Incase ofanydisturbance of pavement,sidewalk,driveway,or other surfacing,the companyshall,
at its owncost and expense and in a manner approved by the city,replace and restore aHpaving,
sidewalk,driveway,or surface of any street or alleydisturbed in as good conditionas before said
workwas commenced.
F.In the event that at any timeduring the perlodof thisfranchise the city shalllawfullyelect to alter
orchange the grade of any street,aney,or other publicway,thecompany,upon reasonable notice
by the city,shall remove,relay,and relocate its poles,wires,cables,underground conduits,
manholes,and other fixtures at its own expense.
G.The company shall not place poles or other fixtures where the same wlli Interfere with any gas,electric ortelephone fixture,water hydrantor main,and all such poles or other fixtures placed in
any street shall be placed at the outer edge ofthe sidewalkand inside the curb line,and those
placed inalleysshall be placed close to the line of the lot abuttingon said aney,and then in such
manner as not to interferewith the usual traffic on said streets,alleys,and public ways.
H.The company shau,on the request ofanyperson holding a buildingmoving permit,Issued by the
city,temporarilyraise or lower itswiresto permit the movingof buildings.The expense of such
temporary removal,raising,or loweringof wires shall be pald bythe person requesting the same,
2
and thecompany shallhavethe authorityto requiresuch payment Inadvance.The companyshallbegivennotlessthanseventy-two (72)hoursadvance notice to arrange for such temporarywirechanges.
I.The companyshaHhavethe authorityto trimtreesuponand overhangingstreets,alleys,sidewalks,and publicplaces ofthe cityso as to preventthe branches ofsuchtrees fromcoming in contactwiththewiresandcablesofthecompany.
Section 11.Line Extengiens.To provide for a reasonable and nondiscriminatory policy governingextensionsofcableseivicewithinthecity,the company shall extend service to new subscribers,at thenormalinstallationchargeandmonthlyrateforcustomersofthatclassification,under the following termsandconditions.
A.The company shall extend service to areas annexed into the city within one (1)year after theadoptionofthecityordinanceannexingpropertyintothecityaccordingtosubsectionsB,C,andD.
B.Wherethe newsubscriber,or nearest subscriberofa group of newsubscribersis located withinfivehundredfeet(500')of existingtrunkcable.
C.Wherethe numberof homes to be passed by such new extensioncable plantexceeds or equalsthirtydive(35)homes per mile ofsuch newextensioncable plant.
D.In the event the requirements of subsections B.and C.are not met,the installation cost persubscribershallbedeterminedassetforthinExhibitBattachedhereto.
Section 12.Compliancewith Standards.Allfacilities and equipmentof company shallbe constructed andmaintainedInaccordancewiththerequirementsandspecificationsoftheNationalElectricalSafetyCodeandsuchapplicableordinancesandregulationssetforthbythecityand/or anyotherlocal,state,or federalagencies.
Section 13.Company Rulesand Requiations.The company shan have the authorityto promulgate suchrules,regulations,terms,and conditions governingthe conduct of its business as shallbe reasonablynecessarytoenablethecompanytoexerciseitsrightsandperformitsobligationsunderthisfranchise,andtoassureanuninterruptedservicetoeachandallofitscustomers.However,such rules,regulations,terms,and conditionsshall not be in conRictwith the provisionshereof or offederal and state laws.
Section 14 Procedurçç.The company shall be a party to any renewal proceedings and any otherproceedingsinwhichItsrights,privileges,or interestswould be affectednd shall be fully entitledto suchdueprocessrightsasmaybeavailableunderapplicablelaws,ordinances,rules,or regulations.
Section 15.Approval of Transfer.The companyshallnot sellortransferits system to another,nortransferanyrightsunderthisfranchisetoanotherwithoutwrittenapprovalbythecity,providedthat such approvalshallnotbeunreasonablywithheld.
Section 10.Compliancewith FCCRules andRequiationç.Thecompany shall,at alltimes,complywiththerulesandregulationsgovemingCATVoperationspromulgatedbytheFCC.This shallincludeadherencebythecompanytoFCCrulesregardingtechnicalandengineeringspecificationsinvolvedintheconstructionoftheCATVsystemandsignalcarriagetherein.
Section 17.Me lificationof FÇÇRules.Any modificationof FCCRules resulting from amendment theretobytheFCCshall,to the extentapplicable,be consideredas a part of thisfranchiseas of the effectivedateoftheamendmentmadebytheFCCandshallbeincorporatedinthisfranchisebyspecificamendmentstheretobythelawfulactionofthecitywithinone(1)year fromthe effectivedate of the FCC'samendmentoratthetimeofrenewalofthisfranchise,whicheveroccurs first.
Section 111.Publication Ceets.The company shall assume the costs ofthe publicationofthisfranchiseassuchpublicationisrequiredbylaw.Abillfor publicationcosts shall be presented to the company by theappropriatecityolficialsuponthecompany's filingof its acceptanceof this franchise and the saidpublicationcostsshallbepaidatthattimebythecompany.
Section 19.ActivitiesProhlbited.
A.The companyshallnot allowitscable or other operations to interfere withtelevisionreception ofpersonsnotservedbythecompany,nor shall the system interfere with,obstruct,or hinder inanymannertheoperationofthevariousutilitiesservingtheresidentsofthecity.
B.The company shall not,as to rates,charges,service facilities,rules,regulations,or in any otherrespectmakeorgrantanypreferenceoradvantagetoanyperson,nor subject anyperson to anyprejudiceordisadvantage,providedthat nothing inthisfranchise shall be deemed to prohibittheestablishmentofagraduatedscaleofchargesandclassifiedrateschedulestowhichanycustomercomingwithinsuchclassificationwouldbeentitled.
3
Section20.Requiation.Inthe event the cityis giventhe authorityto regulate rates or any operationofthe
company,such as but not limited to,programming and the Ilke,nothing in this franchise shall be deemed
to prohibit the cityfrom doing so.
Section 21.Severability.
A.Ifany section,subsection,sentence,clause,phrase or portionof this ordinance is for any reasonheldinvalidorunconstitutionalbyanycourtofcompetentjurisdiction,such portionshallbe deemed
a separate,distinct,and independent provisionand such holdingshallnot affectthe validityoftheremainingportionshereof.
B.Shouldany provision of this franchise be inconsistentor at variance with any rule,regulation,orpolicy,in wholeor in part,ofthe FCCor any other agency having jurisdiction,such provisionshall
be invalid,but the remaining provisionshereofshall not be affected thereby.
Section22.This ordinance shalltake effectand be in force five (5)days afterits passage and publication
as providedby law.
Adopted by the CityCounciland signed by its Mayor on May 14,1991.
ATTEST:19tayor
Pinance Director >
A D AS O
dityAttorney
e
O
4