§ 39-19-14 - Recovery of expenses from cable television companies.
SECTION 39-19-14
§ 39-19-14 Recovery of expenses from cabletelevision companies. – (a) The cable television company making an application or filing to thedivision, or subject to a division investigation, shall be charged with andshall pay the expenses reasonably so incurred by the division for the purchaseof materials, and for the employment of legal counsel, official stenographers,engineers, accountants and expert witnesses and for travel, advertisingexpense, hearing site expense and other necessary expenses as are reasonablyattributable to the investigation or the hearing of the application or filingby the division.
(b) The total amount which may be charged to any cabletelevision company under authority of this section for proceedings before thedivision in any calendar year shall not exceed forty thousand ($40,000) dollars.
(c) The administrator shall ascertain the expenses and shalldetermine the amount to be paid by the cable television company or companies,and bills shall be rendered therefor either at the conclusion of theinvestigation or hearing, or from time to time during its progress, and theamount of each bill so rendered shall be paid by the cable television companyto the administrator within thirty (30) days from the date of its renditionunless, within the thirty (30) day time period, the cable television company sobilled shall request an opportunity to be heard by the division as to theamount thereof. The division shall comply with any such request. Any amount ofthe bill not paid within thirty (30) days from the date of service of thedetermination upon the hearing, or, if none shall be requested, within thirty(30) days from the date of rendition of the bill, shall draw interest at therate of twelve percent (12%) per annum. At the discretion of the administrator,cable television companies may be prebilled for contractual services utilizedby the division. Any revenue received but not expended upon the completion ofthe case will be promptly reimbursed to the cable television company.
(d) Any person or company making an application to thedivision for the issuance of a CATV certificate shall be charged with and payall expenses reasonably incurred by the division in supplying materials and forthe employment of legal counsel, official stenographers, engineers,accountants, and expert witnesses, and for travel and other necessary expensesas are reasonably attributable to the investigation or the hearing of theapplication proposal. Applicants shall pay those fees in full prior to thehearing process commencing unless the administrator agrees to an alternatepayment schedule. All fees collected by the division shall be deposited withthe general treasurer and appropriated to the division. The administrator isauthorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurerfor payment of any sum or sums as may be necessary from time to time and uponreceipt by him or her of authenticated vouchers presented by the administrator.Failure of the applicant to pay expenses lawfully assessed by the administratorshall constitute grounds for suspension of regulatory proceedings or revocationof any certificate granted, until the applicant has paid the expenses.