§ 49-26. Administration.

A. 

The town shall have the following regulatory responsibility:

(1) 

Administration and enforcement of the provisions of this chapter and any franchise granted hereunder.

(2) 

Award, renewal, extension or termination of a franchise pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the franchise and other applicable law.

(3) 

Consent prior to sale or transfer of any franchise granted hereunder.

(4) 

Performance evaluation.

(5) 

Rate regulation, if applicable.

B. 

The town also reserves the right to perform the following functions:

(1) 

To develop objectives and coordinate activities related to the operation of government channels.

(2) 

To approve procedures and standards for public, government and educational access and operations and services, including the use of dedicated channels and sharing of public facilities.

(3) 

To coordinate plans for expansion, interconnection and growth of cable services.

(4) 

To analyze the possibility of integrating cable communications with other town, state or regional telecommunications networks.

(5) 

To formulate and recommend long-range telecommunications policy for the town and to determine the future cable-related needs and interests of the community.

(6) 

To provide the administrative effort necessary for the conduct of performance evaluations and any other activities required for the administration of the franchise.

(7) 

To monitor the grantee's process for handling citizen complaints and periodically inspect and analyze the records related to such complaints.

(8) 

To receive applications for rate increases, if applicable, and provide staff assistance in the analysis and recommendations thereto.

(9) 

To monitor the grantee's adherence to operational standards, service requirements and line extension policies.

(10) 

To assure compliance with applicable laws and local laws.

(11) 

To arrange tests and analysis of equipment and performance as needed to ensure compliance with this chapter and the franchise.

(12) 

To assure continuity in service.

(13) 

To receive for examination all data and reports required by this chapter.

C. 

Citizens Advisory Cable Television Advisory Committee on Cable Television. There shall be a citizen's advisory cable television advisory committee entitled the "Citizens Advisory Cable Television Advisory Committee on Cable Television." The responsibilities of the Citizens Advisory Cable Television Advisory Committee shall include but not be limited to the following:

(1) 

Monitoring and advising the Town Board and town administration on the provisions of the town's cable television local law and related local laws.

(2) 

Serving as an advisory body for the public, educational and municipal access channels of cable television and any institutional programming that may be developed.

(3) 

Advising the town government of objectives to be obtained in the town's cable communications system based upon its continued evaluation of the town's cable television franchise, cable technology and the future cable-related needs and interests of the community.

(4) 

Preparing an annual report to the Board.

(5) 

Cooperating with the town and the grantee in fulfilling its responsibilities herein.