A. Authority to Grant Cable Franchises. The city council may by ordinance award a nonexclusive franchise to construct, operate and maintain a cable system which complies with the requirements and conditions of this chapter. Any franchise granted pursuant to this chapter shall be nonexclusive and shall not preclude the city from granting other or further franchises or permits, or preclude the city from using any roads, public ways, streets, or other public properties, or affect its jurisdiction over them or any part of them, or limit the full power of the city to make such changes as the city shall deem necessary, including the dedication, establishment, maintenance, and improvement of all new public ways and thoroughfares and other public properties; provided, that any such changes shall not materially or substantially impair the rights granted a franchisee pursuant to this chapter. All franchises granted subsequent to the effective date of this chapter shall be consistent with the requirements and conditions of this chapter.

B. Conditions of a Franchise. Subject to the provisions in this chapter, any cable franchise granted hereunder by the city shall authorize a franchisee to: (1) engage in the business of operating and providing cable service and the distribution and sale of such service to subscribers within the city; and (2) erect, install, construct, repair, replace, reconstruct, maintain and retain in, on, over, under, upon, across and along any street, such amplifiers and appliances, lines, cables, conductors, vaults, manholes, pedestals, attachments, supporting structures, and other property as may be necessary and appurtenant to the cable communications system; provided, that no privilege or exemption shall be granted or conferred upon a franchisee by any franchise except those specifically prescribed therein, and any use of any street shall be consistent with any prior lawful occupancy of the street or any subsequent improvement or installation therein.

C. Term of Franchise. The council shall have the right to grant a franchise for a period of time which in the council’s judgement is the most appropriate to the circumstances of the particular grant and is in the best interests of the citizens of the city. (Ord. 6798 § 3 (Exh. C), 2020.)