Sec. 16-331p. Certificate of cable franchise authority in franchise areas in which certified competitive video service providers are offering video service.
Sec. 16-331p. Certificate of cable franchise authority in franchise areas in
which certified competitive video service providers are offering video service. (a)
Thirty days after a certified competitive video service provider offers video service
in a community antenna television company's existing franchise area pursuant to a
certificate of video franchise authority, or thirty days after a municipal electric utility,
its affiliate or subsidiary begins offering video service in a community antenna television
company's existing franchise area pursuant to a certificate of video franchise authority,
the community antenna television company may seek a certificate of cable franchise
authority from the Department of Public Utility Control.
(b) A certificate of cable franchise authority issued by the department pursuant to
subsection (a) of this section shall become effective immediately upon issuance by the
department.
(c) A community antenna television company seeking a certificate of cable franchise authority shall file an application with the department. Such application shall
include the information required in this section and shall be accompanied by a fee of
one thousand dollars.
(d) Said application shall include a completed affidavit submitted by the applicant
and signed by an officer or general partner of the applicant, affirming: (1) The location
of the applicant's principal place of business and the names of the applicant's principal
executive officers; (2) that the applicant has filed or will timely file with the Federal
Communications Commission all forms required by said commission in advance of
offering community antenna television service or video service in such franchise area;
(3) that the applicant agrees to comply with all applicable federal and state statutes and
regulations and with all department orders applicable to community antenna television
companies, except as exempted by sections 16-331q to 16-331aa, inclusive; and (4) that
the applicant agrees to comply with the requirements of sections 16-331q to 16-331aa,
inclusive. The affidavit shall also include a description of the community antenna television company's current franchise area and a general description of the type or types of
technologies the community antenna television company is using and intends to use in
providing community antenna television programming or video service in the franchise
area, which may include wireline, satellite or any other alternative technology.
(e) The department shall notify the applicant whether the applicant's application is
complete or incomplete on or before the fifteenth calendar day after the applicant submits
the application. The department's review of the completeness of the application is limited to whether the application complies with the requirements set forth in subsection
(d) of this section. In reviewing the application, the department shall not conduct a
hearing or a contested case proceeding pursuant to chapter 54. The department may
submit written questions to the applicant and require written answers regarding the
information provided and may accept written comments and reply comments from the
applicant, the Office of Consumer Counsel, the Attorney General and other interested
persons.
(f) The department shall issue a certificate of cable franchise authority not later than
thirty calendar days from finding the application complies with the requirements of
subsection (d) of this section. The certificate issued by the department shall provide:
(1) A grant of authority to provide community antenna television service or video service
as requested in the application; (2) a grant of authority to own, lease, maintain, operate,
manage or control facilities in, under or over any public highway in the delivery of such
service, subject to the laws of the state; and (3) a statement that the grant of authority
is subject to lawful operation of the community antenna television service or video
service by the applicant or its interest.
(g) If the department finds that the applicant's application is incomplete, it shall
specify with particularity the items in the application that are incomplete and permit the
applicant to amend the application to cure any deficiency. The department shall issue
a certificate of cable franchise authority not later than thirty calendar days from its
receipt of the amended and completed application.
(h) The failure of the department to notify the applicant of the completeness or
incompleteness of the application within the timeframes set forth above shall be deemed
to constitute issuance of the certificate of cable franchise authority.
(P.A. 07-253, S. 13.)