§ 211. Statement of policy. While cable television serves in part as an extension of interstate broadcasting, its operations involve public rights-of-way, municipal franchising, and vital business and community service, and, therefore, are of state concern; while said operations must be subject to state oversight, they also must be protected from undue restraint and regulation […]
§ 212. Definitions. The words and phrases used in this article shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning clearly appears in the context. 1. “Cable television company,” shall mean any person owning, controlling, operating, managing or leasing one or more cable television systems within the state. 2. “Cable television system” shall mean any […]
§ 213. Application of article. 1. Except as provided in subdivision two of this section, the provisions of this article shall apply to every cable television system and every cable television company including a cable television company which constructs, operates and maintains a cable television system in whole or in part through the facilities of […]
§ 215. Duties of the commission in respect to cable television companies. The commission shall: 1. Develop and maintain a statewide plan for development of cable television services, setting forth the objectives which the commission deems to be of regional and state concern; 2. To the extent permitted by, and not contrary to applicable federal […]
§ 216. Powers of the commission in respect to cable television companies. 1. The commission may promulgate, issue, amend and rescind such orders, rules and regulations as it may find necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this article. Such orders, rules and regulations may classify persons and matters within the jurisdiction of […]
§ 217. Costs and expenses of the commission and department and assessment thereof related to the regulation of cable television companies. 1. All costs and expenses of the department and commission related to cable television companies shall be paid pursuant to appropriation in the first instance from the state treasury, on the certification of the […]
§ 218. Municipal fees; taxes or charges. Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit the power of any municipality to impose upon any cable television company, a fee, tax or charge, provided that any such fee, tax or charge when added to the amount payable to the commission pursuant to section two hundred […]
§ 219. Franchise requirement. 1. Notwithstanding any other law, no cable television system, whether or not it is deemed to occupy or use a public thoroughfare, may commence operations or expand the area it serves unless it has been franchised by each municipality in which it proposes to provide or extend service. 2. A municipality […]
§ 220. Construction of systems. Every cable television system constructed after April first, nineteen hundred seventy-three shall comply with such construction standards as the commission may prescribe pursuant to subdivision two of section two hundred fifteen.
§ 221. Certificate of confirmation. 1. Except as provided in this section, no person shall exercise a franchise, and no such franchise shall be effective, until the commission has confirmed such franchise. A person wishing to exercise a franchise shall file with the commission an application for a certificate of confirmation in such form and […]
§ 222. Transfer, renewal or amendment of franchises and transfer of control over franchises and system properties. 1. No transfer, renewal or amendment of any franchise, or any transfer of control of a franchise or certificate of confirmation or of facilities constituting a significant part of any cable television system shall be effective without the […]
§ 223. Interconnection and system coordination. Whenever the commission finds it to be in the public interest, the commission may, either upon application of an interested party or on its own initiative, and after public notice and opportunity for hearing, order the interconnection of cable television systems and facilities or the coordinated operation of such […]
§ 224. Requirement for adequate service. 1. Every cable television company shall provide safe, adequate and reliable service in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and franchise requirements. 2. Whenever, upon complaint or upon its own motion, and after public notice and opportunity for hearing, the commission finds that, despite its economic feasibility, the construction or […]
§ 224-a. Consumer protection. 1. Notification of commission. Every cable television company shall notify the commission of any network change or significant programming change no later than the later occurring of forty-five days prior to the network change or significant programming change or five business days after the cable television company first knows of such […]
§ 224-b. Cable bills. 1. At the time service is initiated to a residential customer and at least once a year thereafter, every telephone corporation, as defined in subdivision seventeen of section two of this chapter, and every cable television company, as defined in section two hundred twelve of this article that provides cable service […]
§ 224-c. Broadband and fiber optic services. 1. For the purposes of this section: (a) The term “served” means any location with at least two internet service providers and at least one such provider offers high-speed internet service. (b) The term “underserved” means any location which has fewer than two internet service providers, or has […]
§ 225. Rates. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, and by federal law and regulation, the rates charged by a cable television company shall be those specified in the franchise which may establish, or provide for the establishment of reasonable classifications of service and categories of subscribers, or charge different rates for differing […]
§ 226. Abandonment of service. 1. No cable television company, notwithstanding any provision in a franchise, may abandon any service or portion thereof without giving six months’ prior written notice to the commission and to the franchisor, if any, and to the municipalities it serves. 2. When abandonment of any service is prohibited by a […]
§ 227. Termination of franchises. 1. A franchise shall terminate at the expiration of its term or otherwise in accordance with the provisions thereof, unless, prior thereto, the commission otherwise orders. The commission may so order only if it finds, after public notice and opportunity for a hearing, that the franchisee: (a) has committed a […]
§ 227-a. Forfeiture. 1. Every cable television company, and all officers, agents and employees of any cable television company shall obey, observe and comply with every order, direction or requirement made by the commission, under authority of this article, so long as the same shall be and remain in force. Except as provided in subdivision […]
