§ 26-2. Intent and purpose.

(a)

It is the intent of the county and the purpose of this chapter:

(1)

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 or cable systems and open video systems within the county;

(2)

To provide for the regulation, to the full extent provided for by law, of each cable system and open video system within the county in the public interest;

(3)

To provide for the payment of fees and other valuable consideration by a franchisee to the county for the use of county's rights-of-way consistent with state law;

(4)

To promote the widespread availability of quality cable services to the county's residents and businesses, the county, and other public institutions;

(5)

To encourage the development of cable and other communications technologies as a means of communication between and among members of the public, businesses, the county, and other public institutions;

(6)

To promote competition in cable rates and services;

(7)

To promote the safe and efficient use of the county's rights-of-way; and

(8)

To encourage the provision of a diversity of information sources to residents, businesses, the community, the county, and other public institutions by cable technology.

(b)

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

(Ord. No. 02-18, § 2, 7-30-02)