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TOWN OF ORCHARD PARK
and
VILLAGE OF ORCHARD PARK
FRANCHISE
AGREEMENT
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STATE OF NEW YORK
Town of Orchard Park and Village of Orchard Park, County of Erie
This FRANCHISE AGREEMENT made this 28th day of May, 1995 between the
Incorporated Town of Orchard Park and Village of Orchard Park (hereinafter
called "Orchard Park") and Cable TV Fund 11-B, LTD., a Colorado limited
partnership doing business as Jones Intercable Inc., (hereinafter called
"Franchisee").
WHEREAS Franchisee wishes to construct, maintain and operate a cable
television system in Orchard Park; and
WHEREAS the construction, maintenance and operation of said cable
television system involves the use and occupation by Franchisee of the streets,
thoroughfares and other public rights-of-way belonging to Orchard Park; and
WHEREAS the technical ability, financial condition and character of
Franchisee and its principals have been considered and approved by the Town
Board of Orchard Park and the Village Board of Orchard Park in full public
proceedings affording due process; and
WHEREAS, by resolution of the Town Board dated May 17, 1995, Orchard
Park has granted a renewal of the non-exclusive cable television franchise to
Franchisee and authorized the Town Supervisor or other designated
representative of the Town Board to execute the instant FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
with Franchisee upon the terms hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, by resolution of the Village Board dated May 17, 1995,
Orchard Park has granted a renewal of the non-exclusive cable television
franchise to Franchisee and authorized the Village Mayor or other designated
representative of the Village Board to execute the instant FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
with Franchisee upon the terms hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, the instant FRANCHISE AGREEMENT complies with the franchise
standards required by the New York State Commission of Cable Television and the
Federal Communications Commission;
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual conditions and
covenants contained herein:
IT IS MUTUALLY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Grant
Orchard Park hereby grants to Franchisee, its successors and assigns
the nonexclusive right and privilege to erect and place in Orchard Park and to
construct, maintain and operate in, over or under the present and future
streets, sidewalks, alleys, public land and places and highways in or of
Orchard Park, towers, poles, lines, cables, necessary wiring and other
apparatus for the purpose of transmitting, receiving, amplifying and
distributing telephone, telegraph, television, data, radio signals and other
video and aural programming and communications services within said Orchard
Park and to the inhabitants thereof. Any and all towers intended to be erected
shall be subject to the prior approval of Orchard Park. No antennas nor poles
shall exceed the height of existing utility poles without the prior approval of
Orchard Park. All installations shall comply with Orchard Park ordinances and
federal, state and local laws and regulations.
2. Term
The term of this Agreement shall be for a period of ten (10) years
from May 28, 1995.
3. Franchise Area
The franchise rights and obligations set forth in this Agreement shall
be applicable to the present territorial limits of the Town of Orchard Park and
the Village of Orchard Park and to any area added thereto during the term of
this Agreement.
4. Construction
(a) Franchisee shall construct and maintain its cable system in a
safe and reliable manner.
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(b) The population density shall be established at a minimum of 25
dwelling units per aerial mile of cable for years 1 thru 5 of this franchise.
During years 6 - 10 of this franchise the population density shall be
established at 20 dwelling units per aerial mile of cable. Areas adjoining
existing cable plant meeting the above density requirements shall be cabled
without a contribution in aid of construction by subscribers. Areas not
immediately adjoining the cable plant and whose population density is less than
the number of dwelling units per lineal mile of aerial cable established above,
shall be considered to be located in a line extension area. Subscribers
residing in such an area and who are willing to contribute to the cost of
construction shall be entitled to services in accordance with the following
formula C/LE-CA/P = SC.
C = The actual cost of new construction in the line extension area;
CA = The average cost of construction per mile in the primary service area;
P = The minimum number of dwelling units per mile which would require the
franchisee to provide service in the primary service area. This is determined
by taking the minimum number, or the average (which is determined by dividing
the number of dwelling units in the primary service area by the number of
lineal miles of cable in the same area) whichever of the two numbers is lower;
LE = The number of dwelling units requesting service in the line extension
area;
SC = Subscriber contribution in aid of construction in the line extension area.
(c) Franchisee shall construct its cable system using materials of
good and durable quality, and all work involved in construction, installation,
maintenance, and repair of the cable system shall be performed in a safe,
thorough, and reliable manner.
(d) New subdivisions where cable facilities have been installed in
joint trench with power and/or telephone that are located within cabled areas
shall have service activated when the number of occupied homes equals 25% of
the planned lots in the subdivision. The calculation of the percentage occupied
will be determined based on the area where cable facilities have been placed in
joint trench rather than including future phases of the subdivision in the lots
calculation.
5. Subscriber Rates
(a) The Franchisee may make such charges for services provided to
subscribers as are permitted by Federal, State, or Local law. Under this
sub-section, neither party surrenders any other rights or obligations due them
under any other Federal, State, or Local statute rule or regulation.
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(b) Any subscriber over 65 years of age who is the principal
resident of the service dwelling will be entitled to a discount of 10% on basic
cable television service including initial installation. This discount will be
extended to the Basic Plus customer. Franchisee shall establish a procedure for
subscribers to apply for this discount.
(c) The Town Hall, Town Library, Fire Stations, Senior Center, and
all public schools within Orchard Park which are in areas meeting the density
requirements of section 4(b) will receive one free outlet and free Basic Plus
Service.
(d) Franchisee agrees to construct a two way capable plant to the
Orchard Park High School to enable the School to cable cast programming on the
Educational access channel. Franchisee has sole responsibility for scheduling
air time for access programming.
6. Complaints
(a) Franchisee shall maintain an office with a listed telephone
number within the Orchard Park for the purpose of receiving and responding to
cable television subscriber complaints.
(b) All subscriber complaints or trouble calls shall receive
investigative action on the same day such complaint or call is received at the
local office, if possible, but in no case later than the following business
day. Subscriber complaints and trouble calls shall be processed in compliance
with the standards set forth in Section 596.8 of the rules and regulations of
the New York State Commission on Cable Television.
(c) Franchisee shall provide notice to each subscriber, at
intervals of not more than one year, of the procedure for reporting and
resolving subscriber complaints. (Such notice may be written or by such other
means as the State Commission on Cable Television may from time to time
approve.)
7. Prohibition of Abandonment
Franchisee shall provide continuous cable television service during the term of
this agreement and shall at no time during the term of this agreement abandon
or cease to operate its cable system.
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8. Indemnification and Insurance
(a) Franchisee shall indemnify and save Orchard Park harmless from
all losses sustained by Orchard Park on account of any suit, judgment,
execution, claim, damage, or demand whatsoever occasioned by or arising out of
the construction, erection, maintenance, repair, or operation of Franchisee's
cable television system or the exercise by Orchard Park of the franchise rights
granted herein. For this purpose, Franchisee shall obtain and carry property
damage and personal liability insurance written by an insurance company or
companies qualified to do business in the State of New York. The amounts of
such insurance shall be not less than $250,000 for liability due to damage to
property, no less than $5,000,000 for liability due to injury or death of any
person, and not less than $5,000,000 for liability due to any one accident.
Orchard Park shall notify Franchisee within thirty (30) days after the
presentation of any claim or demand, either by suit or otherwise, made against
Orchard Park on account of any negligence or other conduct on the part of
Franchisee.
(b) Franchisee specifically agrees that it will pay all expenses
incurred by Orchard Park to defend itself in regard to any matter mentioned in
paragraph (a), above. These expenses shall include out-of pocket expenses, such
as reasonable attorney's fees, and shall include the reasonable value of any
service rendered by Orchard Park's attorneys or their assistants or any other
employees of Orchard Park.
(c) A certificate evidencing the insurance coverage required by
paragraph (a), above, shall be delivered by Franchisee to the Town Clerk within
60 days of the date of this franchise.
9. Repair of Property
Any property of the Town of Orchard Park or the Village of Orchard
Park damaged or destroyed by reason of any activity undertaken pursuant to this
Agreement shall be repaired or replaced, or Franchisee shall commence such
repair or replacement, within 48 hours from the time Franchisee receives notice
of the damage. Franchisee shall restore any such damage property to serviceable
condition. All openings or obstructions in public ways will be protected by
fencing or other protective devices at the sole expense of Franchisee. At its
own expense Franchisee will disconnect or relocate any of its equipment in
public rights-of-way as may be required by the Town or Village by reason of
street construction and public safety. If requested by a private party holding
an appropriate permit issued by the Town or Village, Franchisee will
temporarily raise or lower its lines to enable the moving of any building or
structure if expenses related thereto are paid by the requesting party.
Franchisee will restore or commence to restore any damage to private property
resulting from the installation and operation of its cable television system
within thirty (30) days of notice from such property owner.
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10. Equal Employment
Franchisee shall not refuse to hire or employ, nor bar or discharge
from employment, nor discriminate against any person in compensation or in
terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of age, race, creed,
color, national origin, or sex.
11. Additional Regulations
Orchard Park reserves the right to adopt such additional regulations
as it shall find necessary in the exercise of its police power, provided such
regulations are reasonable and not materially in conflict with the rights and
privileges granted in this Agreement.
12. Municipal Inspection
Orchard Park reserves the right to inspect all pertinent books,
records, maps, plans, financial statements, and other like materials of
Franchisee upon reasonable notice during normal business hours.
13. Responsible Municipal Officer
The Town Board and the Village Board shall be responsible for the
continuing administration of this Agreement.
14. Material Provisions and Severability
Should any provision of this Agreement be held invalid by any court or
regulatory agency of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions of this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
15. Approval and Amendment of Provisions
(a) The terms and provisions of this Agreement are subject to the
approval of the New York State Commission on Cable Television.
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(b) Should the Federal Communications Commission or the New York
State Commission on Cable Television make such modifications of the provisions
of its rules and regulations that would require the amendment of this
Agreement, such amendment is hereby agreed upon and such necessary provisions
or changes are incorporated herein by reference. Necessary amendments will be
made within one year or upon the expiration of this Agreement, whichever occurs
first.
16. Franchise Fees and Reporting
Franchisee agrees to pay to Orchard Park for the rights and privileges
enjoyed hereunder, a sum equal to three percent (3%) of Franchisee's gross
annual receipts attributable to providing the services contemplated in this
Franchise Agreement. Such sum shall be paid in semiannual installments within
90 days of the end of each fiscal half year of Franchisee. In addition to the
above described franchise fee, Franchisee shall be responsible for all
applicable local, state, and federal property, sales, income, and franchise and
other taxes or assessments. Franchisee shall provide a financial statement to
Orchard Park annually, within 90 days of the close of its fiscal year. Such
financial reports will be prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principals and shall be audited by a public accountant or certified
by a senior financial officer of Franchisee.
17. Future Technology Initiative
(a) The Franchisee and Orchard Park recognize that during the
period of this Agreement that technology changes in the Cable industry may make
new products and services available that may benefit Orchard Park and its
residents. Both parties agree to evaluate these products and services as they
become available. Nothing in this section will require either party to offer a
specific service or to purchase it if made available.
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The parties have duly executed this agreement as of the date first
written above.
TOWN OF ORCHARD PARK
By: /s/ DENNIS J. MILL
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Title: Supervisor
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VILLAGE OF ORCHARD PARK
By: /s/ PATRICIA A. SCLIMAN
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Title: Mayor
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CABLE TV FUND 11-B, LTD
By: Jones Intercable Inc.
its General Partner
By: /s/ RUTH E. WARREN
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Ruth E. Warren
Group Vice President/Operations
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