§ 6-166 — Services to subscribers and users

Sec. 6-166. - Services to subscribers and users.

(a) Concurrently with the activation of the cable communications system in the city, the grantee shall provide those services to subscribers as described in the franchise agreement or services of similar mix, quality and level. (1) The system shall carry the programming and services listed in the franchise agreement. Should the grantee desire to change the selection of programs or services offered on any of its tiers, it shall use its best efforts to maintain the mix, quality and level of services provided over the system. Any such change in programs or services offered shall comply with the conditions and procedures contained in the franchise agreement and shall be reported to the city at least 30 days prior to the proposed implementation when possible. The grantee shall use its best efforts to ensure diversity of programming. (2) A basic service tier shall be offered to subscribers throughout the term of this franchise. (3) The grantee shall provide and maintain, at a minimum, the following access channels whose purposes are outlined: a. A government access channel, which shall be a specifically designated channel for local governmental use and shall be staffed and managed by the city. The grantee shall provide necessary microwave and/or cable links from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center to enter programming onto the governmental access channel. b. An educational channel, which shall be a specifically designated channel for use by local public and private school authorities. c. A public access channel, which shall be a specifically designated channel available on a first come, first served, nondiscriminatory basis to qualified users. (4) The grantee shall make available leased access channels to ensure that the widest possible diversity of information sources are made available to subscribers. a. Such channels shall be especially designated for leased access use by persons unaffiliated with the grantee on terms, rates and conditions which are in accordance with the Cable Act. b. The number of such channels shall be determined by the provisions of the Cable Act. The grantee shall advertise periodically the availability of such channels. c. The grantee shall not exercise any editorial control over any programming provided over such channels, except as permitted in accordance with the provisions of the Cable Act. (5) The grantee shall provide, when normal installation is possible, basic service and one free outlet to each of the following public facilities located within 500 feet of existing service lines of the grantee: all courthouses, prisons, libraries, detention centers, police and fire stations, municipal office buildings and public schools. The grantee shall notify the city in writing when normal installation is not possible. No monthly service fee shall be charged for any such outlet. The grantee shall provide service to new construction for such public facilities, provided they are within 500 feet of the existing service lines of the grantee. The city reserves the right to provide service to public facilities outside of the franchised area at its own expense. The grantee shall produce and carry on a designated channel, on a daily basis, an alphanumeric program guide describing, at a minimum, the programs offered on the access channels described in this subsection. (b) The grantee shall, without charge, provide service and maintain public emergency transmission capabilities, as described in the franchise agreement.

(Code 1985, § 6-81; Ord. No. 8194, § 1, 12-19-2016; Ord. No. 8195, § 1, 12-21-2016)