§ 8-1. Definitions.  


Latest version.
  • The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

    Access channels means cable television channels available for use by citizens, government and educational institutions, including but not limited to the cablecast of meetings, hearings and programs of federal, state and local government and community organizations.

    Additional services means cable television service provided in addition to basic services on an optional basis, including, but not limited to, pay TV, home security, data transmission, facsimile reproduction, meter reading and home shopping.

    Applicant means any person submitting an application for a cable television franchise under this chapter and the terms and conditions set forth in any franchise ordinance entered into by the county and the applicant.

    Automated channels means cable television channels available for carrying time, weather, news, stock market quotations and community messages.

    Basic services means the cable television services available to all subscribers for a regular monthly service charge, excluding additional services for which a separate charge is made.

    Board of commissioners means the present governing authority of the county or any successor to the legislative powers of the present governing authority.

    Cable television system or CATV system means any nonbroadcast facility consisting of a set of transmission paths and associated signal generation, reception and control equipment, under common ownership and control, that distributes or is designed to distribute to subscribers the signals of one (1) or more television broadcast stations, but such term shall not include any such facility that serves or will serve only subscribers in one (1) or more multiple unit dwellings under common ownership, control or management.

    CATV means cable television.

    Channel means a frequency band capable of carrying audio or video signals to subscribers.

    Channel capacity means the number of activated channels to be offered to subscribers.

    Converter means an electronic tuning device which makes it possible for an ordinary television set to receive cable television service.

    County means the unincorporated areas of the county.

    FCC means the Federal Communications Commission or any successor agency having jurisdiction or regulatory power over cable television service.

    Franchise or CATV franchise means the privilege granted by the board of commissioners to a grantee under this chapter and a franchise ordinance to use the streets of the county to construct, equip and operate a CATV system in a designated area or areas in the county.

    Franchise area means the area of the county within which a CATV franchise is granted, whether such area is the entire county or a part of the county.

    Franchise ordinance means an ordinance adopted by the board of commissioners, consistent with this chapter, granting a CATV franchise to a particular grantee, and includes a confirming ordinance as defined in section 8-9.

    Grantee means the person to whom a CATV franchise is granted by the board of commissioners or any person to whom the interest of a grantee is assigned or transferred in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the franchise ordinance.

    Gross revenue means all revenue derived directly or indirectly by a grantee from its CATV system within the county, including but not limited to charges for basic services and additional services, connection and reconnection, leased channels, converter rentals, studio rental, production equipment and personnel, and advertising revenues. Any taxes on cable television services imposed directly upon subscribers but collected by a grantee shall not be included in the gross revenue.

    Installation means the connection or reconnection of a CATV system feeder or trunk cable to a subscriber's terminal.

    Local origination means programs of local origin.

    Monitoring means observing a communications signal carried on a CATV system, or the absence of such a signal, by any person without regard to whether such observation is by visual or electronic means. Monitoring shall not include systemwide, nonindividually addressed sweeps of the CATV system for purposes of verifying the integrity of the system, controlling subscriber transmissions or billing for additional services.

    Pay TV means optional audio or video programs available to subscribers for a separate charge for each program or channel selected by the subscriber.

    Person means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.

    Rates means all rates, fees or charges paid by residential or nonresidential subscribers for basic services, the installation of the CATV system to subscriber terminals, and additional services to the extent that county regulation thereof would be consistent with applicable state and federal law.

    Streets means the surface of and the space above and below any public street, road, highway, freeway, lane, path, public way, or place, alley, court, boulevard, parkway, drive, sidewalk or other easement or right-of-way now or hereafter held by the county.

    Subscriber means a recipient of CATV service.

    Two-way channels means CATV channels which allow subscribers to transmit audio, video or other signals.

(Code 1976, § 7-6003)

Cross reference

Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.