HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd. No. 1991-916ORDINANCE NO. 916
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA GRANTING A
FRANCHISE TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY ANTENNA
TELEVISION SYSTEM FRANCHISE TO JONES
INTERCABLE OF SAN DIEGO, INC_
WHEREAS, the City of Lake Elsinore, hereinafter "City" has
adopted Chapter 5.40 of its Municipal Code governing the grant of
franchises to operate a community antenna television system within the
corporate boundaries of the City; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the aforesaid Chapter 5.40, Jones
Intercable of San Diego, Inc., a Colorado corporation, hereinafter
called "Grantee", has made application to the City for a franchise to
provide a community antenna television system; and
WHEREAS, King Video Systems, Inc., is currently the Grantee of a
franchise to provide community antenna television system within the
City's corporate boundaries, and is presently doing so; and
WHEREAS, after duly notice public hearing, the City Council
determined pursuant to Government Code Section 53066, et seq. to not
grant a second franchise to Grantee; and
WHEREAS, in a case filed in the United States District Court,
Central District of California, Case Number SACV 90-636-GET (RWRx),
the Court issued a Memorandum Order for Permanent Injunction, entered
April 8, 1991, compelling said City to issue a franchise for the
operation of a community antenna television. system to Grantee on or
before May 8, 1991.; and
WHEREAS, City now desires to issue to Grantee a franchise for
the operation of a community antenna television system pursuant to
Municipal Code Chapter 5.40;
NOW,, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED AS FOLLOWS:
I 1. That the foregoing recitals are true and correct.
2. Jones Intercable of San Diego, Inc., is hereby granted a
Franchise to provide a community antenna television system,
said Franchise attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and
incorporated by reference herein.
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THIS ORDINANCE SHALL TAKE EFFECT AS PROVIDED BY LAW.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED UPON FIRST READING this 14th day of
May 1991, upon the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BUCK, DDMINGUEZ, STARKEY, WINKLER
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: WASHBURN
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NDNE°
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED UPON SECOND READING this 28th
day of May, 1991, upon the following roll call vote:
AYES: couNCILMEMBERS: BUCK, DDMINGUEZ, STARKEY, WINKLER
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: WASHBURN
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ATTEST:
VICKI L. KASAD, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM & LEGALITY:
~~
JOHN R. HARPE , C TY ATTORNEY
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) SS:
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE )
I, Vicki 'Lynne Kasad, City Clerk of the City of Lake Elsinore,
DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance had its first reading
on May 14, 1991, and had its second reading on May 28, 1991,
and was passed by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BUCK, DOMINGUEZ, STARKEY,
WINKLER
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: WASHBURN
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
VICKI LYNNE SAD, CITY CLERK
CITY OF LAKE LSINORE
(SEAL)
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) SS:
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE)
I, Vicki Lynne Kasad, City Clerk of the City of Lake Elsinore,
DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is a full, true and
correct copy of Ordinance No. .916 of said Council, and that the
same has not been amended or repealed.
D: May 30, 1991
VICKI LYNNE ~ASAD, CITY CLERK
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE
(SEAL)
FRANCHISE FOR COMMUNITY ANTENNA TELEVISION SYSTEMS
DF!`TTTT.C
WHEREAS, the City of Lake Elsinore, hereinafter "City" has
adopted Chapter 5.40 of its Municipal Code governing the grant
of franchises to operate a community antenna television system
within the corporate boundaries of the City; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the aforesaid Chapter 5.40, Jones
Intercable of San Diego, Inc., a Colorado corporation,
hereinafter called "Grantee", has made application to the City
for a franclAise to provide a community antenna television
system; and
WHEREAS, King Video Systems, Inc., is currently the
grantee of a franchise to provide community antenna television
system within said City's corporate boundaries, and is presently
doing so; and
WHEREAS, after duly noticed public hearing, the City
Council of said City determined pursuant to Government Code
Section 530G6, et se to not grant a second franchise to
Grantee; and
WHERP:AS, in a case filed in the United States District
Court, Central District of California, Case Number SACV
90-636-GLT (RWRx), the Court issued a Memorandum Order for
Permanent Injunction, entered April 8, 1991, compelling said
City to issue a franchise for the operation of a community
antenna television system to Grantee, a copy of which Memorandum
Order is attached hereto as Exhibit "A", and made a part hereof;
and
WHEREAS, City now desires to issue to Grantee a franchise for
the operation of a community antenna television system pursuant to
Municipal Code Chapter 5.40;
NOW, THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE does
hereby grant to Jones of San Diego, Inc., a franchise to operate a
community antenna television system as such is defined in Municipal
Code Chapter 5.40, subject the following requirements:
1. This grant of franchise and the Grantee thereof are bound
by the provisions of Lake Elsinore Municipal Code Chapter
5.40, as from time to time amended, with the following
exceptions:
(a) Section 5.40.060 U relating to broadcasting
frequencies.
(b) Section 5.40.060 V as to the compliance date only.
(c) Section 5.40.080 C shall be construed to mean all
services to which the existing franchisee presently
provides service; i.e. universal cable television
service.
(d) Section 5.40.190 relating to the application process.
(e) Section 5.40.200 relating to an application fee.
2. The duration of this franchise shall be Fifteen (15)
years commencing on the effective date of the Ordinance
granting the franchise. Lake Elsinore Municipal Code
Chapter 5.40, attached hereto as Exhibit "II", is
incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.
3. For the purposes of Section 5.40.080 (c), Franchisee shall be required
to provide "universal service" to all areas within the territorial
boundaries of the City of Lake Elsinore. "Universal Service" shall be
defined as service ava ilability to all areas being served by the existing
Franchisee, Kina Video, Inc. as of the date of the granting of this
Franchise.
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APR x;1991 i
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71C ( OF CA LIFURiJIA
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APR 4 1991 I ~
CLERK, U.S, DISTRICT COURT
S CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CAUFORN!P,
SAPJTA ANA OFFICE ~
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'~.__ DE. _;...
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
JONES INTERCABLE OF SAN. DIEGO,
INC.,
Plaintiff,
vs.
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE, GARY M.
WASHBURN, FRED DOMINGUEZ, BILL
STARKEY, JAY WINKLER, and WILL
BUCK,
Defendants
Case No. SACV 90-636-GLT (RWRx)
MEMORANDUM ORDER
FOR PERMANENT INJUNCTION
Plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment, heard January 14,
1991, raises issues on apparent first impression of the Constitutionally
permissible limits of additional-operator cable television franchise
regulation, and the appropriate construction of California Government
Code § 53066.3 on that subject. The Court holds that Plaintiff's motion
must be granted, and issues a permanent injunction.
I. BACKGROUND
Plaintiff, Jones Intercable, is a large Colorado-based cable
television service provider operating in over twenty states.
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Plaintiff's California branch, Jones Intercable of San Diego, applied
to the City of Lake Elsinore in 1989 for a franchise to provide cable
service within the City. Lake Elsinore is currently served by King
Video, which has operated the only city cable franchise for the last
fifteen years.
At a July 1990 hearing, the City Council denied Jones Intercable's
application based on the totality of the evidence presented. Although
plaintiff had complied with all application requirements, the City based
its denial on newly-enacted California Government Code § 53066.3,` which
lays out factors a municipality must consider at a public hearing if it
elects to grant an additional cable franchise where an existing operator
is already franchised.
Based on this denial, Jones Intercable brought this case, alleging
a violation of its first amendment and equal protection rights under
~ g 53066.3 provides, in part:
(a) If a city, county, or city and county elects to grant an
additional cable television franchise in an area where a franchise
has already been granted to a cable television operator, it shall
do so only after a public hearing noticed pursuant to Section 6066,
in a newspaper of general circulation as defined in Section 6000,
where all of the following have been considered:
(1) Whether there will be significant positive or negative impacts
on the community being served.
(2) Whether there will be an unreasonable adverse economic or
aesthetic impact upon public or private property within the area.
(3) Whether there will be an unreasonable disruption or
inconvenience to existing users or any adverse effect on future
use of utility poles, public easements, and the public rights of
way contrary to the intent of Section 767.5 of the Public Utilities
Code.
(4) Whether the franchise applicant has the technical and financial
ability to perform.
(5) Whether there is any impact on the franchising authority's
interest in having universal cable service.
(6) Whether other societal interests generally considered by
.franchising authorities will be met.
(7) whether the operation of an additional cable television system
in the community is economically feasible.
(8) Such other additional matters, both procedural and substantive,
as the franchising authority may determine to be relevant.
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1 42 U.S.C. § 1983, without further exhausting its administrative
2 remedies. Patsy v Board of Regents of the State of Florida, 457 U.S.
3 102 S. Ct. 2557, 73 L. Ed. 172 (1982). Plaintiff has filed this motion
4 for partial summary ;judgment on the issue of liability, and for a
5 preliminary injunction.Z Plaintiff contends that it has agreed to
6 abide by all reasonable conditions and regulations of the City, there
7 is sufficient physical capacity to accommodate both Plaintiff's cable
8 system and the existing cable operator, no other cable operators are
9 currently seeking access to the City, and a substantial portion of the
10 City is undergoing new construction where there will be sufficient
11 capacity to accommodate both Plaintiff and the existing operator. It
12 argues .that, with no showing of lack of physical capacity, and with
13 plaintiff's willingness to comply with all the City's financial and i
14 technical requirements, the City was required to grant the plaintiff's
15 application for a cable franchise.
16 Defendants respond that the factors on which they based their
17 denial are (1) negative impacts on the community, (2) unreasonable
18 adverse aesthetic impacts on public and/or private property, (3) unmet
19 societal interests generally considered by franchising authorities, and
20 (4) lack of economic feasibility of an additional cable system.
21 Defendant's points and authorities, at 2.
22 The City has produced some evidence of potential physical
2.3 disruption of the public domain and aesthetic or economic impact on
24 private property in providing statutorily-mandated universal
25 service.'
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2 The preliminary injunction was granted on January 14.
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' See 53066.3 (d) regarding mandated universal service. The
'L8 admissibility of this evidence is in doubt. Defendant's evidence
to support the physical disruption argument was in documents
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However, the great weight of evidence from the City shows the
paramount reason the City denied the plaintiff's application was that
it felt an additional cable franchise might impact negatively on the
current cable franchise. See transcript, City Council Hearing at 383,
387, 389, 391. Defendant states: "amon g the purposes of the public
hearing is the .protection of an existing franchise holder who has
expended substantial sums in installing and undergrounding the initial
service, including acquisition of the right of way and undergrounding,
the cost of providing initial transmission equipment and the cost of
meeting other requirements of the City Franchise Ordinance, including
universal cable services, the providing of numerous community services
including the tele-casting of City Council, Planning Commission and
School District Meetings." Defendant's Opposition Memo at Page 12.
Defendant maintains that plaintiff is only interested in providing
service to the new outlying areas; that "clearly the playing field is
not equal if the second or subsequent franchisee is allowed to place
conduit in open trenches in conjunction with new construction, while the
existing franchise operator is required to bear the costs of maintaining
and updating an existing underground and overhead system." Id.' at
II 12-13.
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submitted to the city council by King Video. The City did not
produce affidavits or other admissible evidence at the hearing on
this motion to create a genuine issue of material fact on this
issue. However, for purposes of this motion, the Court will assume
that the City could produce admissible declarations stating this
information.
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1 IZ. DISCUSSION
2 1. Summary iudgment standard.
3 On a motion for summary judgment, the non-moving party bears the
4 burden of proof with respect to elements essential to its case, and
5 summary judgment is appropriate if that party fails to make a sufficient
6 showing to establish a genuine issue of fact with respect to the ',
7 existence of the element. California Architectural Bldg. Products v.
8 Franciscan Ceramics, 818 F.2d 1466, 1468, (9th Cir. 87), cert. denied,
9 108 S. Ct. 689 (1988), citing Celotex Corporation v. Catrett, 477 U.S.
10 317, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 2552, 2553, 91 L. Ed. 265 (1986). To withstand
11 a motion for summary judgment, the non-moving party must demonstrate
12 "genuine factual issues that properly can be resolved only by the finder
13 of fact because they may reasonably be resolved in favor of either
14 party." California Architectural at 1468, citing Anderson v. Liberty
15 Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 2424, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 91 L. Ed. 202 (19.86).
16 Since the subject franchise application process involves
17 restriction of First Amendment rights, the government bears the burden
18 of supporting the alleged speech infringing ordinance. N.A.A. C.P.
19 Western Re4ion v City of Richmond, 743 F.2d 1346, 1351 (9th Cir. 1984).
20 2. Deve~oping legal status of cable television.
21 Any business or enterprise which involves protected First Amendment
22 elements receives heightened protection under the law. Each media of,
23 expression "must be assessed for First Amendment purposes by standards
24 suited to it, for each may present its own problems.." Southeastern
25 Publications, Ltd. v. Conrad, 420 U.S. 546, 557, 95 S. Ct. 1239, 1246,
26 (1975). This has led to different standards for newspapers, see Miami
27 Herald v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241, 94 S. Ct. 2831 (1974), than for
28 broadca:~t. television, see F.C.C. v. League of Women Voters, 468 U.S.
5
1 364,381, 104 S. Ct. 3106, 3118 (1984).
2 In 1969, the Supreme Court ruled that broadcast television and
3 radio are subject to rules and regulations that would not be permitted
4 under the high First Amendment standard that generally applies where
5 media of expression are involved. Red Lion Broadcastino Cq, v. F.C.C.,
6 395 U.S: 367, 89 S. Ct. 1794 (1969). This higher degree of permitted
7 regulation, reflected in strict licensing, is justified udder what is
8 sometimes called the economic scarcity rationale: "the First Amendment
9 tolerates far more intrusive regulation of broadcasters than of other ~~
10 media precisely because of the inescapable physical limitations on the
11 number of voices that can simultaneously be carried over the
12 electromagnetic spectrum." Quincy Cable TV v. F.C.C., 7G8 F.2d 1434,
13 1448 (D.C. Cir. 1985). In the early days of cable television, this same
14 "economic scarcity" rationale was applied to the growing cable
15 industry, and was the reason the F.C.C. was allowed to promulgate and
16 enforce "must carry" rules mandating cable networks carry local
17 broadcast signals as programming. See Carter Mountain Transmission
18 Coro, 32 F.C.C. 459 (1962), aff'd 321 F.2d 359 (D.C. Cir.), cert.
19 denied, 3~i7 U.S. 951, 84 S. Ct., 442, 11 L. Ed. 312 (1963).
20 However, as the technology of cable television further developed,
21 the dissimilarities between it and the broadcast media made it apparent
22 that no such economic or physical scarcity rationale would justify,
23 .regulation. Cable is transmitted by wire and is not subject to
24 limitations based on a limited number of electronic frequencies
25 available. Any limitations are based on the grounds of actual physical
26 space, i.e. how many wires can be put underground or strung on a
27 telephone pole.
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1 As cable technology progressed, the differences between it and the
2 broadcast media led to an emerging different standard. In 1985, the
3 "must carry" cable regulations promulgated by the F.C.C.. were declared
4 unconstitutional in 9uincV Cable TV v. F.C.C., 768 F.2d 1434, 1453 (D.C.
5 Cir. 1985).
6 While the degree of permitted cable industry regulation remained
7 uncertain, most courts adopted as the test for such regulation the
8 standard set by the Supreme Court in 1968 for regulation of
9 non-communicative aspects of other forms of speech in United States v.
10 O'Brien: "[A] government regulation is sufficiently justified (1) if
11 it is within the constitutional power of the government; (2) if it
12 furthers an important or substantial government interest; (3) if the
13 governmental interest is unrelated to the. suppression of free
14 expression; and (4) if the incidental restriction 'on alleged First
15 Amendment freedoms is no greater than is essential to the furtherance
16 of that interest." 391 U.S. 367, 377, 88 S. Ct. 1673, 1679 (1968).
17 In 1986, the Supreme Court, in effect, invited lower courts to
18 formulate the constitutional limits of cable television regulation' in
19 City of Los Angeles v. Preferred Communications, Inc. 476 U.S. `488
20 (1986), 106 S. Ct. 2034, 90 L. Ed. 2d 480. Following Los Angeles'
21 refusal to grant a cable television franchise, the Supreme Court
22 affirmed the Ninth Circuit's holding that the cable television medium.
23 "plainly implicate[s] First Amendment interests." Id. at 494, citing
24 Preferred Communications v. City of Los Angeles, 754 F.Ld 1396, 1401
25 (9th Cir. 1985). However, the Court specifically declined to state what
26 form of regulation was constitutionally permissible without a more
27 thorough factual development of the record. Id. at 494. The decision
28 left open the question of "whether the characteristics of cable
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television make it sufficiently analogous to another medium to warrant
application of an already existing standard or whether those
characteristics require a new analysis." Id. at 496, Blackmun, J.,
concurring.
3. Current Ninth Circuit standards of permissible reaulation.
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Since the Preferred Communications decision, various circuits have
continued to frame their interpretation of constitutionally permissible
cable television exclusive franchise regulations.°
The district courts in the Ninth Circuit have settled on a
consensus of permissible cable television regulation, as reflected in
Century Federal Inc. v. City of Palo Alto. California 648 F. Supp. 1465
(N.D. Cal. 1986), Group W. Cable, Inc. v. City of Santa Cruz 669 F. Supp
954 (N.D. Cal. 1987) and Pacific West Cable Co. v. Citv of Sacramento,
California, 672 F. Supp. 1322 (E.D. Cal. 1987).5 This Court accepts the
° Other Circuits have examined the issue of exclusive cable
franchises since Preferred. See Nor West Cable Communications
Partnership v City of Saint Paul, _F.2d_, 1991 WL 5934 (8th Cir.
1991) (Where the evidence in the district court, reviewed under
the "clearly erroneous standard," indicated the plaintiff, a cable
company, never intended to complete the cable system, and could not
have competed financially with the existing cable company, the
second company lacked standing to pursue the grant of a second
franchise); and Central Telecommunications v. TCI Cablevision Inc.,
800 F.2d 711, 715 (8th Cir. 1986); (Grant of exclusive franchise
encourages competition in this specific instance). Also see
Communications Inc. v. City of Danville., 880 F.2d 887, 892, 14
Fed. R. Service 844 (6th Cir. 1989) (Court affirmed grant of only
one rion-exclusive franchise. at the present, on the grounds that
having two cable companies operating in the same market would be
detrimental to both companies, and thus to the availability of
cable in the city).
But see, 'international Broadcasting Corporation v. City of
Bismark, 697 F. Supp. 1094 (N.D. North Dakota 1987) (City of
Bismark could grant three franchises simultaneously and. exclusive
grant would have violated first amendment), and Warner Cable
ComUanV v. City of Niceville, 911 F.2d 634 (11th Cir. 1989)
(Company has no first amendment right to exclusive franchise).
5 In doing so, these courts followed the Ninth Circuit Court
of Appeals reasoning stated in Preferred Communications v. City of
Los Angeles, 754 F.2d 1396, 1405 (9th Cir. 1986), where the Court
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1 reasoning and statement of the law set out in those Ninth Circuit cases,
2 which may be summarized as follows:
3 a. A cable television operator is a "speaker" entitled to
4 First Amendment protection. The operation of cable television is more
5 analogous to traditional media than to broadcast media, and is thereby
6 entitled to greater First Amendment protection than broadcast media.
7 A government entity seeking to impose restrictions has the burden of
8 demonstrating that the unique characteristics of cable television
9 justify an exception to the rule prohibiting government intrusion into
10 the functioning of the media.
11 b. Certain regulations and franchise requirements for cable
12 television are within the constitutional power of government.
13 Government regulations are judged by the Supreme Court standards in
14 United States v. O'Brien 391 U.S. 367, 88 S. Ct. 1673, 20 L. Ed. 2d 672,
15 and, in particular, must be in furtherance of an important or
16 substantial governmental interest.
17 c. The fact that cable television may be a "natural
18 monopoly," with the service area arguably .able to support only one cable
19 operator, is immaterial under the First Amendment and cannot justify
20 regulation. Government regulations may not impose public access
21 requirements, such as dedication of public channels, equipment, or
22 facilities. Nor may the regulations impose technical requirements, such,
23 as a minimum number of channels, specific basic service, or a certain
24 programming mix.
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held allowing only single cable franchise to serve any given area
27 was an impermissible government response to the burden imposed by
cable on the public resources. While the Supreme Court affirmed
28 Preferred on narrower grounds, the reasoning by the 9th Circuit in
Preferred controls in this Circuit.
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1 d. However, government may impose reasonably time, place,
2 and manner restrictions to protect the public safety and maintain public
3 thoroughfares, and to minimize physical disruption of the public domain.
4 Accordingly, government may require an applicant to submit relevant
5 evidence of financial responsibility and operational competence, post
6 a reasonable performance bond, and obtain adequate insurance. Also,
7 government may charge an appropriate franchise fee as compensation for
8 fair value of occupying public },roperty, and a nominal administrative
9 fee to cover the clerical costs of issuing the franchise. Finally, if
10 a genuine lack of physical capacity to accommodate additional cable
11 installations within the government entity's infrastructure is
12 adequately shown, it may be the basis for limitation of cable access.
13 4. Application of Ninth Circuit law to the Present case.
14 Based upon this current status of the law in the Ninth Circuit, this
15 Court reaches the following conclusions under tare facts of this case:
16 a. Plaintiff is a First Amendment "speaker," entitled to a
17 high degree of Constitutional protection. Plaintiff has complied with
18 all the City's franchise application procedures.
19 b. The factor of potential negative impact on, and protection
20 of, the existing cable franchise operator is constitutionally irrelevant
21 to plaintiff's application. The "natural monopoly" theory has been
22 rejected by other Ninth Circuit authorities, and this Court adopts the,
23 reasoning and conclusion of those authorities.
24 c. Plaintiff has agreed to abide by all reasonable conditions
25 and regulations normally set by the City. Therefore, no triable issue
26 presently exists as to public access requirements, technical
27 / / / / / /
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1 requirements, evidence of financial responsibility and operational
2 competence, performance bond, insurance, fees, or any other installation
3 or operation matter.
4 d. The City may impose such reasonable time, place and manner
5 restriction as is necessary to protect the public's safety, maintain
6 public thoroughfares, and minimize physical disruption of the public
7 domain. Although the City has suggested that there will be physical
8 disruption of the public domain, there is insufficient showing to
9 suggest that plaintiff's franchise should be L-otally denied for this
10 reason. Reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions, together with
11 appropriate bond and insurance requirements, can remedy this potential
12 harm. Plaintiff has stated its agreement to such regulations.
13 e. Although there is the suggestion in the City's pleadings
14 of lack of physical capacity to accommodate aT~ additional operator, no
15 significant evidence. of such a condition has been presented.
16 5. Effect of 1990 California Statute.
17 California Government Code § 53066.3 (See text at Footnote 1) took
18 effect in 1990. In summary, it provides that, if a government entity
19 elects to grant an additional cable television franchise where a
20 franchise has already .been granted to another operator, it shall do so
21 only after a public hearing where all of eight factors are considered:
22 (1) positive or negative community impacts, (2) adverse economic or,
23 aesthetic impact on public or private property, (3) disruption of users
24 of the public domain, (4) applicant's technical and financial ability,
25 (5) impact on universal cable service, (6) "other societal interests,"
26 (7) economic feasibility of an additional system, and (II) "such other
27 additional matters" as the franchising authority deems relevant. The
28 City argues that it relied on a number of these factors in denying
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1 Plaintiff's application, and that this Court would have to find the
2 state statute unconstitutional in order to overturn that denial.
3 On first reading of § 53066.3, it might appear to be
4 unconstitutional on its face. The mandate in item (7) of the statute
5 to consider the economic feasibility of a new competing system is the
6 same "natural monopoly" theory that was considered and rejected as
7 unconstitutional in Century Federal Inc. v. City of Palo Alto, 648 F.
8 Supp. 1465 (N.D. Cal. 1986), and Group W Cable Inc. v. City of Santa
9 Cruz, 669 F. Supp. 954 (N.D. Cal. 1987). Other of the criteria are
10 arguably unconstitutionally vaqu=~, or are only grounds for "time, place
11 and manner" regulation rather than outright rejection.
12 However, it is a cardinal principle that the Court will first
13 determine whether a construction of a statute is fairly possible by
14 which the constitutional question may be avoided. Lorillard v. Pons,
15 434 U.S. 575, 577, 78 S. Ct. 866, 55 L. Ed. 2d 40 (1978); Campbell v.
16 United States, 809 F.2d 563, 571 (9th Cir. 1987).
17 Such a construction of this statute is possible and appropriate.
18 In enacting § 53066.3, the California legislature noted that "federal
19 and state. courts are examining the permissible scope of regulation of
20 cable television under the First Amendment..." Section 1 of Stats.
21 1989, chapter 700. Thereby, the legislature acknowledged that its
22 enactment would be construed in light of the newly-emerging,
23 constitutional limits on cable regulation set by the courts. It is
24 appropriate for franchising agencies and courts to read § 53066.3 as
25 modified in light of current constitutional decisions declaring those
26 limits. Therefore, the Court need not reach the question of the
27 constitutionality of the section.
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1 6. Equal Protection issue.
2 Plaintiff argues its equal protection rights are violated because
3 the existing cable company, King Video, is allowed to provide cable
4 services while the plaintiff is not. Thus, plaintiff argues, two
5 similar companies are improperly treated differently.
6 Since this motion is resolved in Plaintiff's favor on the First
7 Amendment theory, the Court does not reach or decide the Equal
8 Protection issue.
9 III. DISPOSI'PION
10 Based on the determinations stated in this order, Plaintiff's
11 motion for partial summary judgment is granted. Accordingly, it is
12 hereby. ordered as follows:
13 1. Defendants and their officers, agents, representatives,
14 employees, and all persons acting in concert or participation with them,
15 are permanently enjoined and directed to issue to Plaintiff within
16 thirty (30) days from the date of this order a franchise license, to the
17 extent provided for in City of Lake Elsinore Ordinance 855, dated April
18 26, 1989 (regarding the granting of cable television franchises), 'for
19 the construction and operation by Plaintiff of a cable television system
20 or system::; within the Defendants' jurisdiction.
21 2. PJothing contained in this injunction shall prevent enforcement
22 against Plaintiff of any law, code, or ordinance not inconsistent with•
23 this Memorandum Order.
24 3. 'Che Court reserves jurisdiction to hear the application of any
25 party for review of the terms and conditions of this injunction, as may
26 be appropriate.
27 4. 'Che Court reserves jurisdiction over any claim for damages,
28 costs, and attorney fees related to this action.
13
r
5. Upon this permanent injunction taking effect, the preliminary
injunction previously issued by this Court is dissolved and the-bond
posted in support of such preliminary injunction is exonerated.
DATED: ~ ~1 ~ I,l I~y~
r~ "( _I
GARY L. OR
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
14
r
5.32,0(10
LAKF. ELSINORE CODE
5.:3'L.060. Permit--Revocation. The Shcr-
il'I-s lk•partluent shall summarily revoke an},
pormil issued herrunder, and shall t'luse
anv such < arrival, circus, tent shrew, or cxhibi-
tiun authorized by such permit fur the
breach of and nl the cuntlitions sel Rath in
this chapter, ur fur the viulalion of any Taws
~!ul'thc State. (Amender) lAFi7; lh'fl. 344 4 (i,
1 A:r3 )
Chapter 5.40
COMMUNITY ANTENNA
TELEVISION SYSTEMS*
Sections:
5.40.010
6.40.020
5.40.030
5.40.040
5.40.050
5.40.060
5.40.070
5.40.080
5.40.090
5.40.100
5.40.110
5.40.120
5.40.130
5.40.140
5.40.150
riA0.1 fi0
5.40.170
5.40.180
5.40.790
5.40.200
5.40.210
Detnitions.
Franchise to operate.
Uses permitted by grantee.
Duration of franchise.
Franchise paytnents.
Limitation of franchise.
Rights reserved to the City.
Permits, installation end service.
Location of property of grantee.
Removal and abandonment by grantee.
Changes required by public improve-
ments.
Failure to perform street work.
Faithful pcrCvrmance bond.
Indemnification of City.
inspection of property and records.
Miscellaneous provisions.
Use oC utility poles and facilities; Agree
menu.
Adoption of rules and regulations by
the City Council.
Application for a franchise.
Application fee.
Acceptance and effective date oCfran-
chise.
'F'ur nr armory provisions on rummuniq• an U•nna teleeision
ssn'm franchises and license, see Gov. Cnde § 53066.
5.40.010
5.40.010 Definitions. For the purpose of
this chapter the following word or words
shall have the meaning given herein:
A. "City" shall mean the City oC Lake
Elsinore, California, a municipal corpo-
ration of the State of California, in its
present incorporated form or in any later
reorganized or enlarged form.
B. "Council" shall mean the present
governing body of the City or any future
board constituting the legislative body of
the City.
C. "Franchise" shall mean and include
any authorization granted hereunder in
terms of a franchise, permit, license or other-
wise to construct, operate and maintain a
CATV system in the City. Any such authori-
zation shall not mean and include any li-
cense or permit required for the privilege or
transacting or carrying on a business within
the City relating to the business license tax
of the City.
D. "Grantee" shall mean the person, firm
or corporation to whom a franchise is
granted by the Council under this chapter,
and the lawful successor, transferee or as-
signee of said person; firm or corporation.
E. "Street" shall mean the surface of and
the space above and below any public street,
road, highway, freeway, lane, alley, sidewalk,
parkway, driveway, public utility easement,
dedicated utility strip or right-of-way dedi-
cated Cor compatible uses now or hereafter'
existing as such within the City.
F. "Property of grantee" shall mean all
property owned, installed or used by grantee
in the conduct of a CATV business in the
City under the authority of a franchise
granted pursuant to this chapter.
G. "CATV" shall mean a community an-
tenna television system as hereinafter de-
fined.
536
$ev. Ord. Supp. 4/89
~,.,
r
_..,,,
E
5.40.0'?0 E3L'SINESS TAXES, LICENSES AND REGULATION
H. "Community Antenna Television Sys-
tem" shall mean a system of antenna,
coaxial cable, wires, wire guides, microwave
lengths, signal repeaters or other con-
ductors, equipment or facilities designed,
constructed or used for the purpose of
providing television or FM radio service by
cable or through its facilities. CATV shall
not mean or include the transmission of any
special or event for which a separate and
distinct charge is made to the subscriber
and which is commonly known as "pay tele-
visiai."
I. `:Subscriber" shall mean any person or
entity receiving the CATV service of a
grantee lawfully and with grantee's express
permission.
J. "Gross annual receipts" shall mean
any and all compensation and other con-
sideration in any form whatever and any
contributing grant or subsidy received direct-
ly or indirectly by grantee from subscribers
in payment for CATV service received within
the City, and that percentage of all fees or
income received by Grantee for advertising
or commercial messages carried over the
CATV System equal to the percentage of the
CATV System's subscribers who live within
the City of Lake Elsinore. Included in gross
annual receipts shall be installation and
line extension charges levied by the grantee
to subscribers.
K. "Franchise area" shall mean the entire
territory within the City and shall include
any enlargements thereof and additions
thereto.
(Ord. 498 ~ 1, 1971; Ord. 855 ~ 1, 1989).
5.40.020 Franchise to operate. A non-
exclusive franchise to construct, operate
and maintain a CATV system within the
entire territorial ]imit.s of the City may be
granted by the Council t:o any person, firm
or corporation, whether operating under an
5.40.040
existing franchise or not, who offers to
furnish and provide such system under and
pursuant to the terms and provisions of this
chapter. No provision of this chapter may
be deemed or construed as to require the
granting of a franchise when in the opinion
of the Council it is not in the public interest
to do so. No franchise shall be granted
pursuant to this chapter on terms and con-
ditions of any other franchise currently in
force and held by another grantee. (Ord.
498 ~ 2, 1971; Ord. 855 ~ 2, 1989).
5.40.030 Uses permitted by grantee.
Any franchise granted pursuant to the pro-
vision of this chapter shall authorize and
permit the grantee to engage in the business
of operating and providing a CATV system
in the City, and for that purpose to install,
construct, repair, replace, reconstruct, and
maintain in, on, over, under, upon, across
and along any public street, such wires,
cables, conductors, conduit, vaults, ampli-
fiers, appliances, and other property as may
be installed except where unusual circum-
stances exist and where express written
permission is provided by the City Council.
(Ord. 498 ~ 3, 1971; Ord. 855 ~ 2, 1989).
5.40.040 Duration of franchise. No fran-
chise granted by the Council under this
chapter shall be for a term longer than
twenty-five years following the date of accep-
tance of such franchise.
Any such franchise granted maybe termi-
nated prior to its date of expiration by the
Council in the event that said Council shall
have found, at a public hearing, after thirty
days' notice of any proposed termination
that:
537
Rec. Ord. Supp.4'RA
5.40.050
LAKE ELSINORE CODE
6.40.050 Franchise payments.
A. Acceptance fee. The grantee of any
franchise granted pursuant to this chapter
shall pay to the City upon acceptance of
such franchise a fee of two hundred fifty
dollars.
B. Annual franchise fee. The grantee of
any franchise shall pay annually to the City
luring the life of such franchise no more
han five percent of the gross receipts of the
grantee derived from subscribers within the
City. The City Council shall have the power
of seeing the amowrt of the annual fran-
chise fee at the time of the granting of any
such franchise. All annual franchise fees
shall be paid to the City Clerk of the City.
The grantee shall file with the City within
thirty days after the expiration of any
calendar year or 5scal year designated in
such franchise a statement prepared by a
certified public accountant, showing in
detail the gross annual receipts during the
preceding year. ft shall be the duty of the
grantee to pay to the City within ten days
after the time for filing of such statements
the sum hereinabove prescribed for the year
covered by such statements.
In the event the above payment is not
received by the City within the specified
-time, grantee shall pay to the City liquidated
lamages of two percent per month of the
inpaid balance in addition thereto. In any
year during which payments under this sec-
tion amount to less than three hundred
sixty dollars per year, grantee shall pay the
City as a minimum an amount equal to
three hundred sixty dollars per year. For
any portion of a year such minimum shall
be prorated at [he rate of thirty dollars
monthly.
The City shall have the right to inspect
the grantee's records showing the gross re-
ceipts from which its franchise payments
are computed. No acceptance of any fran-
chise tee payments shall be construed as a
5.40.060
release or as an accord and satisfaction of
any claim the City may have Cor further or
additional sums payable under this chapter
or for the performance of any other obliga-
tion hereunder.
In the event of any holding over after
expiration of any franchise granted here-
under, without the consent of the City, the
grantee shall pay to the City a reasonable
compensation and damages.
(Ord. 498 §~ 5A, 5B, 1971; Ord. 855 ~ 6,
1989).
5.40.060 Limitation of franchise.
A. Any franchise granted under this chap-
ter shall be nonexclusive.
B. No privilege shall be granted or con-
ferred by any franchise granted under this
chapter except those specifically prescribed
herein.
C. Any privilege claimed by the grantee
under a franchise in any street or other
public property shall be subordinate to any
prior lawful occupancy of the streets or
other public property.
D. All transmission and distribution struc-
ture shall be located so as to cause no
interference with the proper use of street,
alleys and other public places and to cause
no interference with the rights of reasonable
convenience oC property owners who adjoin
any of said streets, alleys or other public
places.
E. In case of any disturbances of pave-
ment or other surfacing by grantee, the
grantee shall at its own cost and in a
manner approved by the Director of Public
Works replace and restore all pavement and
surfacing in as good condition as before
said work was commenced and shall main-
tain the restoration. in an approved con-
dition for the duration of the franchise.
F. Whenever it is necessary to interrupt
service for making repairs or alterations,
grantee shall do so at such time as will
538
Rev. Ord. Supp. 4/89
.~
5.40.060 BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSES AND REGULATION 5.40.060
cause the least amount of inconvenience to
its customers.
G. Any such franchise shall be a privilege
to be held in personal trust by the grantee.
The franchise cannot be sold, transferred,
leased, assigned or disposed of in whole or
in part by forced or involuntary sale, merger,
consolidation, operation of law or otherwise
without the prior consent of the Council,
after public hearing, expressed by reso-
lution and then under such conditions as
may thereirrbe prescribed.
H. Time shall be of the essence of any
such franchise granted hereunder. Grantee
shall not be relieved of its obligation to
comply promptly with any of the provisions
of this chapter by any failure of the City to
enforce prompt compliance.
I. Any rights or power of the City shall
be subject to lawful delegation to any officer
or employee of the City.
J. Grantee shall have no recourse against
the City for any loss, cost, expense or
damage arising out of any provision of this
ordinance or any franchise issued in ac-
cordancewith this chapter or because of its
enforcement.
?{. Grantee shall be subject to all require-
ments of City ordinances, rules, regulations
and specifications heretofore or hereafter
enacted including but not limited to those
concerning the undergrounding of utilities,
street work, and relocation of property
within a street or public way.
L. Any franchise granted shall not re-
lieve the grantee of any obligation involved
in obtaining pole space for any utility compa-
ny, or from others maintaining poles in
streets.
M. Grantee shall at all times during the
life of this franchise comply with all pro-
visions of existing and future ordinances,
rules and regulations of the City, the State
of California and the United States of America.
\. If at any time during the period of the
franchise the City shall elect to alter or
change width or grade of any street, alley,
or other public way, then upon the first
such alteration of any street, the grantee
upon reasonable notice by the City shall
remove, relay and relocate its facilities at its
own expense. Upon any subsequent alter-
ation of the same street, the grantee upon
reasonable notice by the City shall remove,
relay and relocate its facilities at the City's
expense.
O. Any fixtures placed in any public way
by grantee shall be placed in a manner as
not. to interfere w~ittr the travel on said
public way or other use of said public way.
P. Grantee shall on the request of any
person holding a building moving permit
issued by the City, temporarily raise or
lower its wires to permit the moving of the
buildings. Said expense shall be borne by
the person making the request.
Q. Grantee shall have the authority to
trim trees along the streets, alleys, or other
public ways so as to prevent the branches of
the trees from coming in contact, with the
wires and cables of the grantee, except at
the option of the City such trimming maybe
done by it at the expense of the grantee.
R. In all sections of the City where the
cables, wires and other facilities of one or
more public utilities are placed under-
ground, the grantee shall place its cables,
wires or other like facilities underground.
S. It shall be unlawful for the owner of
any privately-owned area which includes a
proposed public street on any tentative sub-
division map approved by the City to fail to
grant access to streets to individual homes
or home sites, in such aprivately-owned
area to each franchisee under this chapter
on terms no less favorable than the terms
offered to any other utility or franchisee.
T. Grantee shall at all times during the
life of any franchise provide broadcast
quality equipment and necessary personnel
to maintain and operate live color coverage
of each meeting of the City of Lake Elsinore
539
Rec. ord. Supp. 4'R9
r
5.40.070
LAKE ELSINORE CODE
City Council from the City of Lake Elsinore
Council Chambers, and such other down-
to~vn location as may be requested by the
City of Lake Elsinore. This programming
will be made available to all residents served
by grantee.
U. Grantee's CATV System shall have a
band width of 50 mHz to no less than 450
mHz by December 31; 1993.
V. Grantee shall provide cable service to
'all public schools within the City of Lake
Elsinore by December 31, 1989.
(Ord. 498 § G, 1971; Ord. 855 ~ G, I989).
5.40.070 Rights reserved to the City.
A. Nothing herein shall be deemed or
construed to affect in any way the right of
the City to acquire the property of the
grantee either by purchase or through. the.
exercise of the right to eminent domain, at
a fair and just value, which shall not include
any arnount for the franchise itself.
B. There is reserved to the City every
right and power which is required to be
herein reserved or provided by any ordi-
nance of the City, and the grantee by its
acceptance of any franchise agrees to be
bound thereby and to comply with any
...action or requirements of the City in its
exercise of such rights and powers, hereto-
fore or hereafter enacted or established.
C. 'the granting of any franchise shall
not he construed as to prevent the City from
granting any similar franchise to any other
pet'son, firm or corporation within said City.
D. The City reserves the right to enter
into discussions and negotiate amendments
to c~rnst.ruction, operation or maintenance
standards. Before such modifications shall
become effective, all grantees hereunder
shall agree to any amendments that modify
a franchise prior to the expiration of the
franchise term.
E. The granting of any franchise shall
not constitute a waiver to the exercise of
r
5.50.080
any governmental right or power of the
City. The City Council is hereby authorized
and empowered to adjust, settle or compro-
mise any controversy between the grantee
and the City arising from the operations of
the grantee.
(Ord. 498 g 7, 1971; Ord. 855 >3 7, 1989).
5.40.080 Permits, installation and ser-
vice.
A. Within ninety days after acceptance
of any franchise the grantee shall proceed
with due diligence to obtain all necessary
permits which are required, including, but
not limited to, any utility joint use agree-
ments, microwave carrier licenses. and any
other permits, licenses and authorizations
to be granted by duly constituted regulatory
agencies having jurisdiction over the oper-
ation of CATV systems.
B. Within ninety days after obtaining al]
necessary permits and licenses as herein-
above provided, grantee shall commence
construction and .installation of the CATV
system.
C. Within a reasonable time but not ex-
ceeding one year after the commencement
of the construction and installation of the
system, grantee shall make service available
to subscribers in all areas designated on the
map accompanying the application for fran-
chise and to all public schools within the
City.
D. Failure to do any of the foregoing
shall be grounds for a termination of the
franchise.
E. The City Council may extend the time
for obtaining the necessary permits and
authorizations and for the beginning of con-
struction and installation in the event the
grantee acting in good faith experiences
delays by reason of circumstances beyond
its control.
(Ord. 498 ~ 8, 1971; Ord. 855 ~ 8, 1989).
540
Rev. Ord. Supp. 4/89
~~
5.40.090 BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSES AND REGULATION 5.40.130
.~
5.40.090 Location of property of grantee.
Any wires, cables, or other properties of the
grantee shall be so constructed or installed
at such locations and in such a manner as
shall be approved by the Director of Public
Works. (Ord. 498 § 9, 1971; Ord. 855 ~ 9,
1989.)
5.40.100 Removal and abandonment by
grantee.
A. In the event that the use of a sub-
stantial part of the CATV system is dis-
continued forany reasonable cause for con-
tinuous period of three months or the fran-
chise has been terminated, canceled or
expired, the grantee shall promptly, upon
being given sixty days notice, remove from
the streets or public places all such property
of such system. In the evept of such removal,
grantee shall promptly restore the streets
and other areas from which such property
has been removed to a condition satis-
factory to the Director of Public Works.
B. Any property of the grantee remain-
ing in place sixty days after the notice of
termination or expiration of the franchise
shall be considered permanently aban-
doned.
C. Upon permanent abandonment of the
property of the grantee, the property shall
become that of the City at its sole option
with or without an instrument in writing
transferring said property t.o the Cit}~.
(Ord. 498 ~ 10, 1971; Ord. 855 ~ 10, 1989).
5.40.110 Changes required by public im-
provements. The grantee shall, one time
during the term of its franchise, at its own
expense, protect, support, or relocate in the
same street or other public place any proper-
ty of the grantee when required by the
Director of Public Works by reason of traffic
.conditions, public safety, street vacation,
street construction, change or establish-
ment of grade, installation of sewers, drains,
water or sewer pipes or other type of struc-
tures or improvements by public agencies.
The costs of any subsequent actions re-
quired by the Director of Public Works to
protect, support or relocate the same proper-
ty of the grantee shall be borne by the City.
(Ord. 498 ~ 11, 1971; Ord. 855, >3 11, 1989).
5.40.120 Failure to perform street work.
Upon the failure of the grantee to com-
mence, pursue or complete any work re-
quired by law or by the provisions of this
chapter or by its franchise to be done in any
street, alley or other public place, within the
time prescribed and to the satisfaction of
the Director of Public Works, the Director of
Public Works, at its option, may cause such
work to be done and the grantee shall pay
to the City the cost thereof within ten days
after receipt of such itemized report. (Ord.
498 ~ 12, 1971; Ord. 855 ~ 12, 1989).
5.40.130 Faithful performance bond.
A. The grantee shall, with the filing of an
acceptance of award of any franchise cre-
ated under this chapter, file with the City
Clerk, and at all times hereafter maintain in
force and effect, at grantee's sole expense, a
corporate surety bond in a company and in
a form approved by the City Attorney, in the
amount fixed by the City Manager but not
to exceed five thousand dollars for the
faithful performance of grantee and upon
the further condition that in the event
grantee shall fail to comply with any of the
provisions of this chapter or any franchise
issued to grantee hereunder, there shall be
recoverable jointly and severally from the
principal and surety of such bond any
damages or loss suffered by the City, plus a
reasonable allowance for the attorneys' fees
and costs up to the full amount of the bond;
said condition to be a continuing obligation
541
Rev. Ord. Su pp. 4:'R9
5.40.140 LAKE ELSINORE CODE - 5.40.150
for the duration of the franchise. The bond
shall provide that thirty days prior written
notice of intention not to renew, cancel-
lation or material change, be given to the
City.
B. Neither provisions of this section nor
any bond accepted by the City, nor any
lamages recovered by the City hereunder
hall be construed to excuse faithful per-
.ormance by the grantee or limit the liability
of the grantee under any franchise issued
hereunder, or for damages, either to the full
amount of the bond or otherwise.
(Ord. 498 § 13, 1971; Ord. 855 ~ 13, 1989.)
5.40.140 Indemnification of City.
A. The grantee shall indemnify and hold
harmless the City, its officers, boards, com-
missions, agents and employees against and
from any and all claims, demands, actions,
suits, liabilities and judgments of any kind
and nature arising out of or relating to the
exercise or enjoyment. of the grantee's CATV
franchise, including claims, demands, ac-
bons, s{{its, liabilities and judgments based
upon any infringement or violation of any
copyright; and grantee shall reimburse the
City for any costs and expenses incurred by
'-City in defending against any such claim or
demand or action, including any attorneys'
fees, expert witness fees, court costs or
other expenses in connection therewith;
provided that City shall have first promptly
notified grantee of any such claim and
offered the grantee the opportunity to
appear in and defend the City. Nothing in
this provision shall be construed to impose
on the grantee a duty t.o indemnify or defend
the City against a claim that any exercise of
the City's police powers or governmental
authority is invalid for any reason. The
foregoing obligations shall exist and continue
without reference to or limitation by the
amount of any bond or policy of insurance.
B. Grantee shall, concurrently with the
filing of the acceptance of award of any
franchise. granted under this chapter, file
with the City Clerk, and at all tines during
the existence of any franchise granted here-
under,maintain in full force and effect at its
own cost and expense, a general compre-
hensive liability insurance policy, protecting
the City, its officers, boards, commissions,
agents and employees against liability for
loss or damage for personal injury, death
and property damage, occasioned by the
operations of grantee under such franchise.
Said policy shall have minimum liability
limits of one hundred thousand dollars for
personal injuries or death of any one person
and three hundred thousand. dollars for
personal injuries or death to two or more
persons in any one occurrence, and fifty
thousand dollars for damage to property
resulting from any one occurrence, and shall
be in a company approved by and in a form
acceptable to the City Attorney.
C. The policy mentioned in the foregoing
paragraph shall be primary insurance, shall
name the City, its officers, boards, com-
missions, agents and employees, as ad-
ditional insured and shall contain a pro-
vision that a written notice of cancellation,
reduction, or other material change in
coverage of said policy shall be delivered to
the City Clerk thirty days in advance of the
effective date thereof.
(Ord. 498 ~ 14, 1971; Ord. 855 g 14, 1989).
5.40.150 Inspection of property and
records.
A. The grantee agrees that the City may
review such of its books and records, during
normal business hours and on a nondis-
ruptive basis, as is reasonably necessary to
monitor compliance with the terms hereof.
Such records shall include, but shall not be
limited to, any public records required to be
542
Rev. Ord.Supp.4/89
r
~,
5.40.160 BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSES AND REGULATION 5.40.160
kept by the grantee pursuant to the rules
and regulations of the FCC. Notwithstand-
ing anything to the contrary set forth herein,
grantee shall not be required to disclose
in Cormativn which it reasonably deems to
be proprietary or confidential in nature.
The City agrees to treat any information
disclosed by the grantee to it on a con-
fidential basis, and only to disclose it to
employees, representatives, and agents there-
of that have a need to know, or in order to
enforce the provisions hereof.
B. Grantee shall prepare and furnish to
the City at all times and in the. manner
prescribed by the City such reports with
respect to its operations affairs, trans-
actions orproperty inconnection wriththefranchise
as required by this ordinance or the fran-
chise.
C. Grantee shall file with the Depart-
ment of Public Works on the first day of
March of each year two copies of current
maps, drawn to scale, showing all CATV
system equipment installed and in place in
streets or other public places of the City.
(Ord. 498 ~ I5, 1971; Ord. 855 >3 15, 1989).
5.40.160 Miscellaneous provisions.
A. When not otherwise prescribed here-
in, all matters herein required to be filed
with the City shall be filed with the City
Clerk.
B. 7'he grantee must pay to the City a
sum of money sufficient to reimburse it for
expenses incurred by it, in publishing legal
notice and ordinances in connection with
the grantee with written statement of such
expense.
C. The grantee shall maintain atoll-free
telephone number, with twenty-four hour-
per-day answering or referral service, so
that CATV maintenance service shall be
promptly available to subscribers.
D. The grantee shall keep a maintenance
service log which will indicate the nature of
each service complaint, the date and time it
was received, the disposition of said com-
plaint and the time and date cleared. This
log shall be made available-for the periodic
inspection by the City.
E. Grantee shall bear the prime responsi-
bility for appropriate corrective action when-
ever improper performance is detected in
any part of the system, regardless of
whether public utility distribution facilities
are utilized.
F. No person, firm or corporation in the
existing service area of grantee shall be
arbitrarily refused service; provided, how-
ever, that grantee shall not be required to
provide service to any subscriber who has
not paid the applicable connection fee or
the applicable mont}rly service charge, or
has been involved in theft of or un-
authorized access to cable services.
G. In the case of any emergency or dis-
aster, the grantee shall upon request of the
Director of Public Works make available his
facilities to the City for emergency use
during the emergency a' disaster.
H. Any franchise granted pursuant to
the provisions of this chapter authorizes
only the operation of t:he CATV system as
provided herein and does not take the place
of any other franchise, license or permit
which might be required by law of the
grantee.
I. The grantee shall at all times employ
ordinary care and shall instal] and maintain
in use commonly accepted methods and
devices for preventing failures and acci-
dents which are likely to cause damage,
injuries or nuisances to the public.
J. The grantee shall install and maintain
its wires, cables, fixtures and other equip-
ment in accordance with the requirements
of the Public Utilities Commission of the
State of California and in such manner that
they will not interfere with any installation
of the City or of a public utilities serving the
city.
543
Hec. Ord. Supp. 4 '89
f
5.40.170 LAKE ELSINORE CODE
5.40.180
K. All structures and all lines, equipment
and connections in, over, under, and upon
the streets, sidewalks, alleys and public
ways or places of the City wherever situated
or located, shall at all times be kept and
maintained in a safe, suitable, substantial
condition and in good order and repair.
L.. The grantee shall maintain a force of
one or more area resident agents or em-
ployees at all times and shall have sufficient
employees to provide safe, adequate and
prompt service for its facilities, and shall
maintain a technical staff that is capable of
responding on a twenty-four hour, on-call
basis.
M. Grantee shall at all times during the
life of any franchise maintain studio facili-
ties and a bu.,iness office within the City.
The business office shall be open during all
normal business hours and shall be equipped
and staffed to allow customers to make bill-
ing inquiries, pay bills, order or cancel ser-
vices, receive or return converter devices,
and to dispatch service personnel and equip-
ment.
N. The grantee shall limit failures to mini-
mum by locating and correcting mal-
functions promptly.
O. Copies of all petitions, applicatimis
and communications submitted by the
grantee to the Federal Communications Com-
mission,. Security and Exchange Commis-
sion, or any other Federal, State or local
regulatory commission or agency having
jurisdiction in respect to any matters affect-
ing CATV operations authorized pursuant
to the ordinance, shall also be submitted
simultaneously to the Director of Public
Works.
(Ord. 998 § 16, 1971; Ord. 855 § 16, 1989).
5.40.170 Use of utility poles and facili-
ties: Agreements. When any portion of
the CAT~'system is to be installed on public
utilities poles and facilities, certified copies
of the agreements for such joint use of poles
and facilities shall be filed with the City
Clerk. (Ord. 498 § 17, 1971; Ord. 855 § 17,
1989).
6.40.180 Adoption of rules and regu•
lations lations by the City Council.
A. The City Council is authorized to
adopt rules and regulations consistent with
the provisions of this chapter governing the
operation of CATV systems in the City and
such rules and regulations shall apply to
and shall govern the operations of this
chapter.
B. The City Council may adopt rules or
regulations or amend, modify, delete, or
otherwise change such rules and regulations
previously adopted in the following manner:
1. The City Council shall pass a reso-
lution of .intention describing the rules or
regulations to be adopted, amended, modi-
fied, deleted, or otherwise changed and set
a day, hour and place for public hearing.
Such resolution shall direct the City Clerk
to publish the same at least once within
fifteen days of passage thereof.
2. The City Clerk shall cause such reso-
lution to be published at least once in one
newspaper ofgeneral circulation in the City
and shall cause a copy of same t.o be mailed
or delivered to any grantee not less than ten
days prior to the time fixed for hearing
thereon.
3. At the time for public hearing, or at
any adjournment thereof, the City Council
shall proceed to hear and pass upon such
evidence, comments and objections as may
be presented. Thereafter, the City Council
by its resolution mayadopt, amend, modify,
delete, or otherwise change said rules and
regulations.
(Ord. 498 § 18, 1971; Ord. 855 § 18, 1989.)
544
Rec. Ord. Supp. 4!8A
5.40.190 BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSES AND REGULATION 5.40.190
_~
5.40.190 Application for a franchise.
A. Application for a franchise here-
under shall be in writing, shall be filed with
the City Clerk, in a form approved by the
Director oC Public Works, and shall contain
but not be limited to the following infor-
mation:
1. Name and address of the applicant.
Tf the applicant is a partnership, the name
and address of each partner shall also be
set forth. If the applicant is a corporation,
the application shall also state the names
and addresses of its directors, main officers,
major. stockholders and. associates, the
names and addresses of parent and sub-
sidiary companies and the state of incorpo-
ration.
2. A statement or schedule in a form
approved by the Director of Public Works of
proposed rates and charges to subscribers
for installation and services, and a copy of
any proposed service agreement between
the grantee and its subscribers shall ac-
company the application. Where under-
ground cable is required, or where more
than one hundred fifty feet of distance from
cable to connection of service to subscribers,
an additional installation charge over that
normally charged for installation as speci-
fied in the applicant's proposal may be
charged, with easements to be supplied by
subscribers. For remote, relatively inac-
cessible subscribers within the City, service
may be made available on the basis of cost
of materials, labor and easements if re-
quired by the grantee.
3. A copy of any contract, if existing,
between the applicant and any public utility
providing for the use of facilities of such
public utility, such as poles, lines or con-
duits.
9. If a franchise is granted to a person,
firm or corporation posing as a front or as
the representative of another person, firm
or corporation, and such information is not
disclosed in the original application, such
franchise shall be deemed void and of no
force and effect whatsoever.
5. A financial statement prepared by a
certified public accountant showing appli-
cant's financial status.
6. The Council may, at any time, de-
mand, and applicant shall provide such
supplementary, additional or other infor-
mation as the Council may deem reasonably
necessary. to determine whether the re-
quested franchise should be granted.
7. A statement of intent with regard
to program origination and acceptance of
local advertising shall be included.
8. The number and identification of
channels proposed to be carried on the
CATV system.
B. Upon consideration of any such appli-
cation, the City Council may grant a fran-
chise for CATV to such applicant as may ap-
pear from said application to be in its
opinion qualified to render proper and
efficient CA'I'V service to television viewers
and subscribers in the City. If favorably
considered, the application submitted shall
constitute and form a part of the franchise
and granted.
C. Prior to the granting of the franchise
pursuant to this chapter, the Counc-il shall
pass a resolution declaring its intention to
grant the same, stating the name of the
proposed grantee, the character of the fran-
chise and the terms and conditions upon
which it is proposed to be granted. Such
resolution shall fix and set forth the day,
hour and place when and where any per-
sons having any interest therein or any
objection to the granting thereof may ap-
pear before the Council and be heard
thereon. It shall direct the City Clerk to
publish said resolution at least once within
fifteen days of the passage thereof in one
newspaper of general circulation in the City.
Said notice shall be published at least ten
545
Rcr. Ord. Sapp. 4.'R9
r
5.40.200
LAKE ELSINORE CODE
days prior to the date of hearing. At the
time set for hearing, the Council shat] pro-
ceed to hear and pass upon all protests and
its decision thereon shall be bnar soldut on,
elusive. Thereafter it may, y
grant the franchise on the terms and con-
ditions specified in this chapter..
(Ord.498 ~ L9A, 1971; Ord. 855 g 19, 1989).
5.40.200 Application fee. Each app;i_
cation shall he accompanied by an app
cation fee in the sum of one hundred dollars
which shall be used by the City to cover the
costs of revie~~~ing, investigating and process-
ing such an application. This fee is not
refundable. (Ord. 498 § 20, 1971; Ord. 855 ~
20, 1989).
5.40.210 Acceptance and effective date
of franchise.
A. No franchise granted pursuant to the
provisions of this chapter shall become
effective unless and. until the ordinance
granting same has become effective and, in
addition, wiless and until all things required
in this section and Sections 5.40.130 and
5.40.190 hereof are done and completed, all
of such things being hereby declared to be
conditions precedent to the effectiveness of
any such franchise granted hereunder. In
the event any of such things are not done
and completed in the time and manner
required, the Council may declare the fran-
chise null and void.
B. Frorn and after the effective date of
this chapter, it shall be unlawful for anY
person to construct, install or maintain
within any public street ierthof th'e City,
within any other public prop y
or within any privately-owned area within
the City which has not yet become a public
street but is designated or delineated as
proposed public street on any tentative sub-
division map approved by the City, any
5.40.210
equipment or facilities for distributing any
television signals or radio signals through a
CATV system, unless a franchise authorizing
such use of such street or property or area
has first been obtained pursuant to this
provision of this chapter, and unless such
franchise is in full force and effect.
C. It shall be unlawful for any person,
firm or corporation to make any un-
authorized connection whether physically,
electronically, acoustically, inductively or
otherwise, with any part of a franchised
CATV system within this City for the pur-
pose of taking or receiving television signals,
radio signals, pictures, programs, or sound,
or for the purpose of enabling himself or
others to receive any television signal, radio
signal, picture, program or sound, without
payment to the owner of said system.
D. It shall be unlawful for any person,
without the consent of the owner, to wilfully
tamper with, remove or injure any cables,
wires or equipment used for distribution of
television signals, radio signals, pictures,
programs or sound.
(Ord. 498 ~ 21, 1971; Ord. 855 g 21, 1989).
546
try.. ord. s~Pa. a. af~
r'