§ 17.5-22. System design.

Except as otherwise provided by the Cable Act all cable systems shall be designed, constructed and operated to conform to the minimal technical requirements set forth in sections 17.5-22 and 17.5-23.

(1)

Minimum standard channels required. All cable systems shall be designed and constructed so as to be capable of initially transmitting at least thirty (30) channels for delivery to subscribers upon commencement of operation.

(2)

Channels for commercial use. Cable operators shall comply with the Cable Act provisions regarding channel capacity designated for commercial use by unaffiliated persons.

(3)

Service to public buildings. The cable operator shall, upon request, provide without charge, one standard installation and one outlet of basic cable to those county administrative buildings, fire stations(s), police station(s), and K-12 public school buildings(s) that are passed by its cable system. The outlets of basic cable shall not be used to distribute or sell services in or throughout such buildings, nor shall such outlets be used for viewing by the public. The county shall take reasonable precautions to prevent any use of the cable operator's cable system in any manner that results in the inappropriate use thereof or any loss or damage to the cable system. The cable operator shall not be required to provide an outlet to such buildings where the drop line from the feeder cable to said buildings or premises exceeds one hundred fifty (150) cable feet or unless the appropriate governmental entity agrees to pay the incremental cost of such drop line in excess of one hundred fifty (150) cable feet. If additional outlets of basic cable are provided to such buildings, the county shall pay the usual installation and service fees associated therewith, including, but not limited to, labor and materials.

(4)

Government channel.

a.

The cable operator shall provide the county, without charge, one operative television channel over the system for noncommercial programming, including civic and school programs, lectures, announcements, commission or board meetings, educational, or other lawful information concerning county governmental activities.

b.

In accordance with the provisions of FCC rules and regulations part 11, subpart D, section 11.51(h)(1), and as such provisions may from time to time be amended, the cable operator shall install, if it has not already done so, and maintain an emergency alert system (EAS) for use in transmitting emergency act notifications (EAN) and emergency act terminations (EAT) in local and state-wide situations as may be designated to be an emergency by the local primary (LP), the state primary (SP) and/or the state emergency operations center (SEOC), as those authorities are identified and defined within FCC rules and regulations, part 11.

(5)

Monitoring prohibited. Except to the extent otherwise authorized by law, no monitoring of a terminal connected to the cable system shall be permitted without the written authorization of the person to be monitored: provided that this subsection does not prohibit maintenance and testing procedures designed to ensure compliance with technical standards, or to detect unauthorized reception of signal.

(Ord. No. 01-15, 8-7-2001)