Performance Standards
San Diego Municipal Code § 73.0107
in effect§73.0107 Performance Standards
(a) The visual signal level across a terminating impedance which correctly matches the internal impedance of the cable system as viewed from the subscriber terminals shall be not less than the following appropriate values:
Internal Impedance Visual Signal Level 75 ohms 1 millivolt 300 ohms 2 millivolts
(At other impedance values, the minimum visual signal level shall be the square root of 0.0133 z millivolts, where Z is the appropriate impedance value.)
(b) The visual signal level on each channel shall not vary more than 12 dB within any 24 hour period and shall be maintained within:
(1) 3 dB of the visual signal level within 6 MHZ nominal frequency separation, and;
(2) 9 dB of the visual signal level on any other channel, and;
(3) A maximum level such that signal degradation due to overload in the subscriber’s receiver does not occur.
(c) The peak voltage of the aural signal on Class I standard broadcast signals shall be maintained between 13 and 17 dB below the associated visual level. On pay service channels with scrambling devices the aural signal may be 10 dB below the visual signal level.
(d) The ratio of visual signal level to system noise shall be not less than 36 dB.
(e) Cross modulation ratio on any channel shall not exceed –50 dB. There shall be no visible cross–modulation products produced on any channel carried by the Cable Television System.
(f) Multiburst frequency response of single channel equipment for head–end shall conform with the following:
White Level OdB Reference 0.5 MHz +0, 2dB 1.5 MHz +0, 2dB 3.0 MHz +0, 2dB 3.2 MHz +0, 2dB 3.58 MHz +0, 2dB 4.1 MHz +0, 2dB 4.18 MHz +0, 6dB* 4.2 MHz No Specifications
*Not more than 4dB below the level of the 3.58 MHz burst.
(g) Because there is no FCC tolerance on transfer linearity, single channel equipment should be adjusted for the best practicable performance. In no case, however, shall system differential phase exceed 5 degrees, nor shall differential gain exceed 2 dB.
(h) Spurious frequencies in any channel shall be attenuated at least 46 dB below visual carrier level as defined in Section 73.0104, paragraph (k), unless it can be shown that a particular spurious frequency at higher level is not perceptible on a commercial TV set.
(i) Incidental radiation shall conform with FCC specifications, Section 76.605 (a) (12).
(j) The peak to peak variation in visual signal level caused by undesired low frequency disturbance (hum or repetitive transients) generated within the system, or by inadequate low frequency response shall not exceed –3% of the visual signal level.
(k) The channel frequency response shall be within the range of + or –2 decibels for all frequencies within –1 MHZ and +4 MHZ of the visual carrier frequency.
(l) Direct pick–up causing leading ghosts or blanking bars or co–channel interference, shall not be visible on a thoroughly shielded test receiver connected to any service drop. Ghosts, unwanted signals, ringing, or reflections of any sort shall be either eliminated or minimized, subject to the limitations imposed by the technical state of the art. The design, construction, and operation of the entire Cable Television System from antenna to service drops and baluns shall be such as to minimize all such reflections and stray pickup.
(m) Cable Television systems shall conform to all applicable FCC Rules and Regulations. Should the FCC at some future date relinquish regulation of cable television systems, the City shall retain the same FCC technical standards and regulations under this ordinance as applicable.
(Amended 4–6–1981 by O–15480 N.S.)
(Editors note: Title added 8–9–1988.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter07/Ch07Art03Division01.pdf#page=7Fetched: 10/28/2026