The Legislature declares: (a) That after careful investigation it appears that the rates, services, and operations of cable television companies in the territory are subject to the public interest; (b) That it is the policy of this territory to provide fair regulation of cable television companies in the interest of the public; (c) That the […]
(a) The Commission shall supervise and regulate the cable service and rates of every cable television company or system operating within the territory, so far as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, and to do all things, whether herein specifically designated or in addition thereto, which are necessary or appropriate […]
No person shall construct or operate a cable television company or system within the territory, except as provided in this chapter. Any franchise authorized under this chapter shall be nonexclusive.
Any cable television company which was lawfully engaged in actual operations of a cable television system serving at least 50 subscribers on January 1, 1984, may continue to operate, maintain and manage that cable system and to that end the Commission is hereby directed to issue a franchise to such cable television company, provided however […]
The following conditions shall apply to any franchise granted: (a) The franchise term shall be for a period of fifteen (15) years. (b) Except for those operating cable systems to which section 306 of this chapter applies, the franchise shall be granted only after a performance bond is furnished to the Government of the Virgin […]
No franchise, except in the case of an operating cable system upon filing of a sworn statement pursuant to section 306 of this chapter, or renewal thereof shall be issued except upon written application to the Commission. Such application shall contain such information as the Commission may reasonably prescribe, including: (1) the citizenship and character […]
No franchise, except for a franchise granted pursuant to section 306 of this chapter, or amendment thereto shall be granted pursuant to this chapter until the Commission has held a public hearing. The Commission shall cause notice of the time, date and place of such hearing, as well as the subject matter sufficient for the […]
Before a franchise can be issued by the Commission, the applicant for a franchise must agree in writing to the following: (a) In installing, operating, and maintaining equipment, cable and wires, it shall avoid all unnecessary damage and injury to trees, structures, and improvements in and along the routes authorized by the Commission. (b) It […]
(a) Each franchisee shall quarterly pay to the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue a franchise fee equal to five percent (5%) of the franchisee’s gross subscriber receipts for that quarter. (b) Any franchise fees under subsection (a) of this section not paid within fifteen (15) days of the end of the applicable quarter shall […]
(a) In any case in which a cable television system franchisee submits an application to the Commission for the renewal or extension of its franchise authorization, the Commission may refuse to grant such renewal or other extension only in accordance with section 626(c)(1) of the federal Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984. (b) A cable […]
No franchise or control thereof shall be transferred or assigned without the prior written consent of the Commission. Such consent shall be given only after a hearing upon a written application therefor. The application for consent to a transfer or assignment shall be signed by the franchisee and by the proposed transferee or assignee.
Any franchise may, after hearing, be revoked by the Commission for any of the following reasons: (a) false or misleading statements in, or material omissions from, any applications or periodic statements submitted under this chapter; (b) failure to file and maintain a bond or insurance as required by this chapter; (c) repeated violations, as determined […]
(a) 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 different services or for subscribers in different categories. Except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) and (d) […]
(a) Upon obtaining the prior approval of the Commission, a cable television company may construct and maintain the wires, cables, and conduits necessary to its business upon, under or over any highway, and may erect and maintain the necessary fixtures, including poles and posts, for sustaining such wires and cables; provided, however, that such wires, […]
No owner of any dwelling or private housing development or subdivision or his agent shall forbid or prevent any tenant or resident of such dwelling or private housing development or subdivision from receiving cable television service, nor demand or accept payment in any form as a condition of permitting the installation of such service in […]
(a) A cable television company shall provide safe, adequate and proper service, equipment and facilities for the operation of its cable television system. (b) A cable television company shall not demand or receive a greater compensation for providing cable television service than the rates specified in the franchise in effect at the time, or as […]
(a) The Commission may not prohibit or limit any program or any class or type of program or otherwise censor the communications or signals transmitted by any cable television company or over any cable television system, and may not promulgate any rule, regulation, or condition which would interfere with the right of free speech by […]
Neither the cable television company whose facilities are used to transmit a program produced by a person other than such cable television company pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or of federal law, or of applicable regulations, nor the officers, directors or employees of any cable television company shall be liable for damages arising […]
Each franchisee shall file quarterly with the Commission a statement of gross quarterly subscriber receipts for official use only, together with any franchise fee payment which may be due pursuant to section 311 of this chapter. In addition, each such franchisee shall file with the Commission an annual statement of gross subscriber receipts. Such statements […]
(a) Complaints by any subscriber as to the operation of any cable television service, system or company may be filed in writing with the Commission. The Commission shall within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such complaint report in writing to the subscriber as to the disposition or status of his complaint. Any subscriber […]
