§ 18-102. Intent and purpose.

(a)

It is the intent of the city and the purpose of this article to promote the public health, safety and general welfare by providing for the grant of one or more franchises for the construction and operation of a cable system, and the provision of cable service, within the city; to provide for the regulation, to the extent provided for by law, of each cable system within the city in the public interest; to provide for the payment of fees and other valuable consideration by a franchisee to the city for the use of streets and rights-of-way by its cable system; to promote the widespread availability of quality cable service to city residents and businesses, the city, and other public institutions; to encourage the development of cable and other communications technologies and cable systems as a means of communication between and among members of the public, businesses, the city and other public institutions; to promote competitive cable rates and services; to promote the safe and efficient use of city streets; to enhance and maximize the full potential of streets used by cable systems; and to encourage the provision of a diversity of information sources to city residents, businesses, the community, the city and other public institutions by cable technology.

(b)

Recognizing the continuing development of communications technology and uses, it is the policy of the city to encourage experimentation and innovation in the development of cable system uses, services, programming and techniques that shall be of general benefit to the community to the extent all such experiments and innovations are consistent with applicable laws.

(Ord. No. 2003-32, § 1, 4-8-2003)