Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB2421
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Full Text of HB2421  93rd General Assembly

HB2421 93rd General Assembly


093_HB2421

 
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 1        AN ACT concerning community antenna television systems.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 5.  The Counties  Code  is  amended  by  changing
 5    Section 5-1095 as follows:

 6        (55 ILCS 5/5-1095) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-1095)
 7        Sec.   5-1095.  Community   antenna  television  systems;
 8    satellite transmitted television programming.
 9        (a)  The County Board may license, tax or  franchise  the
10    business  of  operating a community antenna television system
11    or systems within the County and outside of  a  municipality,
12    as defined in Section 1-1-2 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
13        When  an  area is annexed to a municipality, the annexing
14    municipality shall thereby become the  franchising  authority
15    with  respect  to  that  portion  of  any  community  antenna
16    television  system  that,  immediately before annexation, had
17    provided cable television services within  the  annexed  area
18    under  a  franchise  granted  by the county, and the owner of
19    that community antenna television  system  shall  thereby  be
20    authorized  to  provide  cable television services within the
21    annexed area under the terms and provisions of  the  existing
22    franchise.   In  that instance, the franchise shall remain in
23    effect until, by its  terms,  it  expires,  except  that  any
24    franchise  fees  payable under the franchise shall be payable
25    only to the county for a period of 5 years or until,  by  its
26    terms,  the franchise expires, whichever occurs first.  After
27    the 5 year period,  any  franchise  fees  payable  under  the
28    franchise shall be paid to the annexing municipality.  In any
29    instance   in  which  a  duly  franchised  community  antenna
30    television system  is  providing  cable  television  services
31    within  the  annexing municipality at the time of annexation,
 
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 1    the annexing  municipality  may  permit  that  franchisee  to
 2    extend its community antenna television system to the annexed
 3    area  under  terms and conditions that are no more burdensome
 4    nor less favorable to  that  franchisee  than  those  imposed
 5    under  any  community antenna television franchise applicable
 6    to  the  annexed  area  at  the  time  of  annexation.    The
 7    authorization to  extend  cable  television  service  to  the
 8    annexed  area  and  any  community  antenna television system
 9    authorized to provide cable television  services  within  the
10    annexed  area  at the time of annexation shall not be subject
11    to the provisions of subsection (e) of this Section.
12        (b)  "Community antenna television  system"  as  used  in
13    this  Section,  means  any  facility  which is constructed in
14    whole or in part in, on, under or over any highway  or  other
15    public  place  and  which is operated to perform for hire the
16    service of receiving and amplifying the signals broadcast  by
17    one  or  more  television  stations  and  redistributing such
18    signals by wire, cable or  other  means  to  members  of  the
19    public  who  subscribe  to such service except that such term
20    does not include (i) any system which serves  fewer  than  50
21    subscribers   or  (ii)  any  system  which  serves  only  the
22    residents of one or more  apartment  dwellings  under  common
23    ownership,    control    or    management,   and   commercial
24    establishments located on the premises of such dwellings.
25        (c)  The authority hereby granted does  not  include  the
26    authority to license or franchise telephone companies subject
27    to  the  jurisdiction  of the Illinois Commerce Commission or
28    the Federal  Communications  Commission  in  connection  with
29    furnishing circuits, wires, cables or other facilities to the
30    operator of a community antenna television system.
31        The  County  Board may, in the course of franchising such
32    community antenna television system, grant to such franchisee
33    the authority and the right and permission to use all  public
34    streets,  rights  of  way,  alleys,  ways  for public service
 
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 1    facilities, parks,  playgrounds,  school  grounds,  or  other
 2    public  grounds,  in  which such county may have an interest,
 3    for the construction, installation,  operation,  maintenance,
 4    alteration, addition, extension or improvement of a community
 5    antenna television system.
 6        Any  charge  imposed  by  a  community antenna television
 7    system franchised pursuant to this Section for the raising or
 8    removal of cables or lines to permit passage on, to or from a
 9    street  shall  not  exceed  the  reasonable  costs  of   work
10    reasonably necessary to safely permit such passage.  Pursuant
11    to subsections (h) and (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the
12    Constitution  of  the State of Illinois, the General Assembly
13    declares the regulation of charges which may  be  imposed  by
14    community  antenna  television  systems  for  the  raising or
15    removal of cables or lines to permit passage on, to  or  from
16    streets is a power or function to be exercised exclusively by
17    the  State  and not to be exercised or performed concurrently
18    with the State by any unit of local government, including any
19    home rule unit.
20        The  County  Board  may,  upon  written  request  by  the
21    franchisee of a community antenna television system, exercise
22    its right  of  eminent  domain  solely  for  the  purpose  of
23    granting  an  easement right no greater than 8 feet in width,
24    extending no greater than 8 feet from any lot  line  for  the
25    purpose  of  extending cable across any parcel of property in
26    the manner  provided  for  by  the  law  of  eminent  domain,
27    provided,  however,  such franchisee deposits with the county
28    sufficient security to pay all costs incurred by  the  county
29    in the exercise of its right of eminent domain.
30        A  franchise  agreement  between a county and a community
31    antenna television system may  not  authorize  the  franchise
32    holder  to  impose  a fee exceeding $1.50 upon a consumer for
33    the delinquent  payment  of  a  bill  for  community  antenna
34    television  services  or  a  fee  exceeding $10 for sending a
 
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 1    worker to a consumer's residence to disconnect the consumer's
 2    service for nonpayment or delinquent payment. A payment shall
 3    not be deemed delinquent unless the bill remains  unpaid  for
 4    more  than  30 days after the consumer has received the bill.
 5    This limitation on the  imposition  of  delinquent  fees  and
 6    disconnection  fees  under  a  community  antenna  television
 7    system  franchise  agreement  is  a denial and restriction of
 8    home rule  powers  and  functions  under  subsection  (h)  of
 9    Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.
10        Except   as   specifically  provided  otherwise  in  this
11    Section, this Section is not a limitation on  any  home  rule
12    county.
13        (d)  The   General   Assembly  finds  and  declares  that
14    satellite-transmitted  television   programming   should   be
15    available   to   those   who  desire  to  subscribe  to  such
16    programming and that decoding devices should be obtainable at
17    reasonable  prices  by  those  who  are  unable   to   obtain
18    satellite-transmitted  television  programming  through  duly
19    franchised community antenna television systems.
20        In  any  instance  in  which a person is unable to obtain
21    satellite-transmitted television programming through  a  duly
22    franchised community antenna television system either because
23    the  municipality and county in which such person resides has
24    not granted a franchise to operate and maintain  a  community
25    antenna  television  system,  or  because the duly franchised
26    community antenna television system operator  does  not  make
27    cable  television  services  available  to  such  person, any
28    programming  company  that   delivers   satellite-transmitted
29    television  programming  in scrambled or encrypted form shall
30    ensure that devices for decryption of  such  programming  are
31    made  available  to  such person, through the local community
32    antenna television operator  or  directly,  for  purchase  or
33    lease at prices reasonably related to the cost of manufacture
34    and distribution of such devices.
 
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 1        (e)  The  General  Assembly  finds  and declares that, in
 2    order to ensure that community  antenna  television  services
 3    are  provided  in  an  orderly,  competitive and economically
 4    sound manner, the best interests of the public will be served
 5    by  the  establishment  of  certain  minimum  standards   and
 6    procedures  for  the  granting of additional cable television
 7    franchises.
 8        Subject  to  the  provisions  of  this  subsection,   the
 9    authority  granted  under subsection (a) hereof shall include
10    the authority to license, franchise and  tax  more  than  one
11    cable   operator  to  provide  community  antenna  television
12    services  within  the  territorial   limits   of   a   single
13    franchising  authority.  For purposes of this subsection (e),
14    the term:
15             (i)  "Existing cable television franchise"  means  a
16        community  antenna  television  franchise  granted  by  a
17        county  which  is in use at the time such county receives
18        an application or request by another cable operator for a
19        franchise to provide cable  antenna  television  services
20        within  all  or any portion of the territorial area which
21        is or may be served under the existing  cable  television
22        franchise.
23             (ii)  "Additional  cable television franchise" means
24        a  franchise  pursuant   to   which   community   antenna
25        television   services   may   be   provided   within  the
26        territorial areas, or any portion thereof, which  may  be
27        served under an existing cable television franchise.
28             (iii)  "Franchising  Authority"  is  defined as that
29        term  is  defined  under  Section  602(9)  of  the  Cable
30        Communications Policy Act of 1984, Public Law 98-549.
31             (iv)  "Cable operator" is defined as  that  term  is
32        defined  under Section 602(4) of the Cable Communications
33        Policy Act of 1984, Public Law 98-549.
34        Before granting an additional cable television franchise,
 
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 1    the franchising authority shall:
 2             (1)  Give written notice to the owner or operator of
 3        any other community antenna television system  franchised
 4        to serve all or any portion of the territorial area to be
 5        served  by  such  additional  cable television franchise,
 6        identifying the applicant for such  additional  franchise
 7        and  specifying  the  date,  time  and place at which the
 8        franchising authority shall conduct  public  hearings  to
 9        consider  and  determine  whether  such  additional cable
10        television franchise should be granted.
11             (2)  Conduct  a  public  hearing  to  determine  the
12        public  need  for  such   additional   cable   television
13        franchise,   the  capacity  of  public  rights-of-way  to
14        accommodate such additional community antenna  television
15        services,  the  potential disruption to existing users of
16        public  rights-of-way  to  be  used  by  such  additional
17        franchise  applicant  to  complete  construction  and  to
18        provide cable television  services  within  the  proposed
19        franchise  area,  the  long  term economic impact of such
20        additional cable television system within the  community,
21        and such other factors as the franchising authority shall
22        deem appropriate.
23             (3)  Determine,  based  upon  the foregoing factors,
24        whether it is in the best interest of the county to grant
25        such additional cable television franchise.
26             (4)  If the franchising  authority  shall  determine
27        that  it  is in the best interest of the county to do so,
28        it may grant the additional cable  television  franchise.
29        Except  as  provided  in paragraph (5) of this subsection
30        (e), no such additional cable television franchise  shall
31        be  granted  under  terms or conditions more favorable or
32        less burdensome to  the  applicant  than  those  required
33        under  the existing cable television franchise, including
34        but not limited to terms and conditions pertaining to the
 
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 1        territorial  extent  of  the  franchise,  system  design,
 2        technical performance standards, construction  schedules,
 3        performance   bonds,   standards   for  construction  and
 4        installation of cable television facilities,  service  to
 5        subscribers,  public  educational and governmental access
 6        channels   and   programming,   production    assistance,
 7        liability and indemnification, and franchise fees.
 8             (5)  Unless  the existing cable television franchise
 9        provides that any additional cable  television  franchise
10        shall  be  subject  to  the  same  terms or substantially
11        equivalent terms and conditions as those of the  existing
12        cable television franchise, the franchising authority may
13        grant  an  additional  cable  television  franchise under
14        different terms and conditions than those of the existing
15        franchise, in which event the franchising authority shall
16        enter into good  faith  negotiations  with  the  existing
17        franchisee and shall, within 120 days after the effective
18        date of the additional cable television franchise, modify
19        the  existing  cable television franchise in a manner and
20        to the  extent  necessary  to  ensure  that  neither  the
21        existing  cable  television  franchise nor the additional
22        cable  television  franchise,  each  considered  in   its
23        entirety,  provides  a  competitive  advantage  over  the
24        other,  provided  that  prior  to  modifying the existing
25        cable television  franchise,  the  franchising  authority
26        shall  have  conducted  a  public hearing to consider the
27        proposed modification.   No modification in the terms and
28        conditions of the  existing  cable  television  franchise
29        shall oblige the existing cable television franchisee (1)
30        to   make  any  additional  payment  to  the  franchising
31        authority,  including  the  payment  of  any   additional
32        franchise   fee,   (2)   to   engage  in  any  additional
33        construction of the existing cable television system  or,
34        (3)  to  modify  the  specifications  or  design  of  the
 
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 1        existing  cable  television  system; and the inclusion of
 2        the factors identified in items (2) and (3) shall not  be
 3        considered   in   determining  whether  either  franchise
 4        considered in its entirety, has a  competitive  advantage
 5        over  the  other except to the extent that the additional
 6        franchisee provides additional video or data services  or
 7        the  equipment or facilities necessary to generate and or
 8        carry such service.   No modification in  the  terms  and
 9        conditions  of  the  existing  cable television franchise
10        shall be made if the existing cable television franchisee
11        elects  to  continue  to  operate  under  all  terms  and
12        conditions of the existing franchise.
13             If  within  the  120  day  period  the   franchising
14        authority  and  the  existing cable television franchisee
15        are unable to reach agreement  on  modifications  to  the
16        existing cable television franchise, then the franchising
17        authority  shall  modify  the  existing  cable television
18        franchise, effective 45 days thereafter, in a manner, and
19        only to the extent, that the terms and conditions of  the
20        existing  cable  television  franchise  shall  no  longer
21        impose  any duty or obligation on the existing franchisee
22        which is not also  imposed  under  the  additional  cable
23        television franchise; however, if by the modification the
24        existing  cable  television  franchisee  is  relieved  of
25        duties  or  obligations  not imposed under the additional
26        cable television franchise, then within the same 45  days
27        and following a public hearing concerning modification of
28        the  additional cable television franchise within that 45
29        day period, the franchising authority  shall  modify  the
30        additional  cable  television  franchise  to  the  extent
31        necessary  to  insure  that  neither  the  existing cable
32        television franchise nor the additional cable  television
33        franchise,  each considered in its entirety, shall have a
34        competitive advantage over the other.
 
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 1        No county shall be subject to suit for damages based upon
 2    the county's determination to grant or its refusal  to  grant
 3    an  additional  cable  television  franchise, provided that a
 4    public hearing as herein  provided  has  been  held  and  the
 5    franchising  authority  has determined that it is in the best
 6    interest of the county to  grant  or  refuse  to  grant  such
 7    additional franchise, as the case may be.
 8        It  is  declared to be the law of this State, pursuant to
 9    paragraphs (h) and (i) of Section 6 of  Article  VII  of  the
10    Illinois  Constitution,  that  the  establishment  of minimum
11    standards and procedures for the granting of additional cable
12    television franchises as provided in this subsection  (e)  is
13    an  exclusive  State  power  and  function  that  may  not be
14    exercised concurrently by a home rule unit.
15    (Source: P.A. 90-14, eff. 7-1-97; 90-285, eff. 7-31-97.)

16        Section 10.  The Illinois Municipal Code  is  amended  by
17    changing Section 11-42-11 as follows:

18        (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-42-11)
19        Sec.  11-42-11.  Community  antenna  television  systems;
20    satellite transmitted television programming.
21        (a)  The  corporate  authorities of each municipality may
22    license, franchise  and  tax  the  business  of  operating  a
23    community  antenna  television system as hereinafter defined.
24    In municipalities with less than 2,000,000  inhabitants,  the
25    corporate  authorities  may,  under the limited circumstances
26    set forth in this Section,  own  (or  lease  as  lessee)  and
27    operate  a community antenna television system; provided that
28    a municipality may not acquire, construct, own, or operate  a
29    community antenna television system for the use or benefit of
30    private consumers or users, and may not charge a fee for that
31    consumption  or  use,  unless  the  proposition  to  acquire,
32    construct,  own, or operate a cable antenna television system
 
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 1    has been submitted to and approved by  the  electors  of  the
 2    municipality   in  accordance  with  subsection  (f).  Before
 3    acquiring,  constructing,  or  commencing  operation   of   a
 4    community  antenna  television system, the municipality shall
 5    comply with the following:
 6             (1)  Give written notice to the owner or operator of
 7        any other community antenna television system  franchised
 8        to serve all or any portion of the territorial area to be
 9        served by the municipality's community antenna television
10        system, specifying the date, time, and place at which the
11        municipality  shall  conduct  public hearings to consider
12        and determine whether the  municipality  should  acquire,
13        construct,  or  commence operation of a community antenna
14        television  system.   The  public   hearings   shall   be
15        conducted at least 14 days after this notice is given.
16             (2)  Publish  a  notice  of the hearing in 2 or more
17        newspapers  published  in  the  county,  city,   village,
18        incorporated town, or town, as the case may be.  If there
19        is  no  such newspaper, then notice shall be published in
20        any 2 or more newspapers  published  in  the  county  and
21        having  a  general  circulation throughout the community.
22        The public hearings shall be conducted at least  14  days
23        after this notice is given.
24             (3)  Conduct a public hearing to determine the means
25        by  which construction, maintenance, and operation of the
26        system will be financed, including whether the use of tax
27        revenues or other fees will be required.
28        (b)  The  words  "community  antenna  television  system"
29    shall mean any facility which is constructed in whole  or  in
30    part  in, on, under or over any highway or other public place
31    and which is operated to perform  for  hire  the  service  of
32    receiving and amplifying the signals broadcast by one or more
33    television  stations and redistributing such signals by wire,
34    cable or other means to members of the public  who  subscribe
 
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 1    to  such  service;  except  that  such  definition  shall not
 2    include  (i)  any  system  which  serves  fewer  than   fifty
 3    subscribers,  or  (ii)  any  system  which  serves  only  the
 4    residents  of  one  or  more apartment dwellings under common
 5    ownership,   control   or    management,    and    commercial
 6    establishments located on the premises of such dwellings.
 7        (c)  The   authority  hereby  granted  does  not  include
 8    authority to license, franchise or  tax  telephone  companies
 9    subject  to  jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission
10    or the Federal Communications Commission in  connection  with
11    the   furnishing   of  circuits,  wires,  cables,  and  other
12    facilities to the operator of a community antenna  television
13    system.
14        The  corporate  authorities  of each municipality may, in
15    the course of franchising such community  antenna  television
16    system,  grant to such franchisee the authority and the right
17    and permission to use all  public  streets,  rights  of  way,
18    alleys,   ways   for   public   service   facilities,  parks,
19    playgrounds, school grounds,  or  other  public  grounds,  in
20    which  such  municipality  may  have  an  interest,  for  the
21    construction,     installation,    operation,    maintenance,
22    alteration, addition, extension or improvement of a community
23    antenna television system.
24        Any charge imposed  by  a  community  antenna  television
25    system franchised pursuant to this Section for the raising or
26    removal of cables or lines to permit passage on, to or from a
27    street   shall  not  exceed  the  reasonable  costs  of  work
28    reasonably necessary to safely permit such passage.  Pursuant
29    to subsections (h) and (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the
30    Constitution of the State of Illinois, the  General  Assembly
31    declares  the  regulation  of charges which may be imposed by
32    community antenna  television  systems  for  the  raising  or
33    removal  of  cables or lines to permit passage on, to or from
34    streets is a power or function to be exercised exclusively by
 
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 1    the State and not to be exercised or  performed  concurrently
 2    with the State by any unit of local government, including any
 3    home rule unit.
 4        The   municipality  may,  upon  written  request  by  the
 5    franchisee of a community antenna television system, exercise
 6    its right  of  eminent  domain  solely  for  the  purpose  of
 7    granting  an  easement right no greater than 8 feet in width,
 8    extending no greater than 8 feet from any lot  line  for  the
 9    purpose  of  extending cable across any parcel of property in
10    the manner provided by the law of eminent  domain,  provided,
11    however,  such  franchisee  deposits  with  the  municipality
12    sufficient   security  to  pay  all  costs  incurred  by  the
13    municipality in the exercise of its right of eminent domain.
14        A  franchise  agreement  between  a  municipality  and  a
15    community antenna television system  may  not  authorize  the
16    franchise  holder  to  impose  a  fee  exceeding $1.50 upon a
17    consumer for the delinquent payment of a bill  for  community
18    antenna  television  services  or  a  fee  exceeding  $10 for
19    sending a worker to a consumer's residence to disconnect  the
20    consumer's  service  for  nonpayment or delinquent payment. A
21    payment shall  not  be  deemed  delinquent  unless  the  bill
22    remains  unpaid  for more than 30 days after the consumer has
23    received the bill.  This  limitation  on  the  imposition  of
24    delinquent  fees  and  disconnection  fees  under a community
25    antenna television system franchise agreement is a denial and
26    restriction  of  home  rule  powers   and   functions   under
27    subsection  (h)  of  Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois
28    Constitution.
29        (d)  The  General  Assembly  finds  and   declares   that
30    satellite-transmitted   television   programming   should  be
31    available  to  those  who  desire  to   subscribe   to   such
32    programming and that decoding devices should be obtainable at
33    reasonable   prices   by  those  who  are  unable  to  obtain
34    satellite-transmitted  television  programming  through  duly
 
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 1    franchised community antenna television systems.
 2        In any instance in which a person  is  unable  to  obtain
 3    satellite-transmitted  television  programming through a duly
 4    franchised community antenna television system either because
 5    the municipality and county in which such person resides  has
 6    not  granted  a franchise to operate and maintain a community
 7    antenna television system, or  because  the  duly  franchised
 8    community  antenna  television  system operator does not make
 9    cable television  services  available  to  such  person,  any
10    programming   company   that  delivers  satellite-transmitted
11    television programming in scrambled or encrypted  form  shall
12    ensure  that  devices for description of such programming are
13    made available to such person, through  the  local  community
14    antenna  television  operator  or  directly,  for purchase or
15    lease at prices reasonably related to the cost of manufacture
16    and distribution of such devices.
17        (e)  The General Assembly finds  and  declares  that,  in
18    order  to  ensure  that community antenna television services
19    are provided in  an  orderly,  competitive  and  economically
20    sound manner, the best interests of the public will be served
21    by   the  establishment  of  certain  minimum  standards  and
22    procedures for the granting of  additional  cable  television
23    franchises.
24        Subject   to  the  provisions  of  this  subsection,  the
25    authority granted under subsection (a) hereof  shall  include
26    the  authority  to  license,  franchise and tax more than one
27    cable  operator  to  provide  community  antenna   television
28    services  within the corporate limits of a single franchising
29    authority.  For purposes of this subsection (e), the term:
30             (i)  "Existing cable television franchise"  means  a
31        community  antenna  television  franchise  granted  by  a
32        municipality   which   is   in   use  at  the  time  such
33        municipality  receives  an  application  or  request   by
34        another  cable  operator for a franchise to provide cable
 
                            -14-     LRB093 07515 JLS 07688 b
 1        antenna television services within all or any portion  of
 2        the  territorial area which is or may be served under the
 3        existing cable television franchise.
 4             (ii)  "Additional cable television franchise"  means
 5        a   franchise   pursuant   to   which  community  antenna
 6        television  services   may   be   provided   within   the
 7        territorial  areas,  or any portion thereof, which may be
 8        served under an existing cable television franchise.
 9             (iii)  "Franchising Authority" is  defined  as  that
10        term  is  defined  under  Section  602(9)  of  the  Cable
11        Communications Policy Act of 1984, Public Law 98-549, but
12        does  not  include  any municipality with a population of
13        1,000,000 or more.
14             (iv)  "Cable operator" is defined as  that  term  is
15        defined  under Section 602(4) of the Cable Communications
16        Policy Act of 1984, Public Law 98-549.
17        Before granting an additional cable television franchise,
18    the franchising authority shall:
19             (1)  Give written notice to the owner or operator of
20        any other community antenna television system  franchised
21        to serve all or any portion of the territorial area to be
22        served  by  such  additional  cable television franchise,
23        identifying the applicant for such  additional  franchise
24        and  specifying  the  date,  time  and place at which the
25        franchising authority shall conduct  public  hearings  to
26        consider  and  determine  whether  such  additional cable
27        television franchise should be granted.
28             (2)  Conduct  a  public  hearing  to  determine  the
29        public  need  for  such   additional   cable   television
30        franchise,   the  capacity  of  public  rights-of-way  to
31        accommodate such additional community antenna  television
32        services,  the  potential disruption to existing users of
33        public  rights-of-way  to  be  used  by  such  additional
34        franchise  applicant  to  complete  construction  and  to
 
                            -15-     LRB093 07515 JLS 07688 b
 1        provide cable television  services  within  the  proposed
 2        franchise  area,  the  long  term economic impact of such
 3        additional cable television system within the  community,
 4        and such other factors as the franchising authority shall
 5        deem appropriate.
 6             (3)  Determine,  based  upon  the foregoing factors,
 7        whether it is in the best interest of the municipality to
 8        grant such additional cable television franchise.
 9             (4)  If the franchising  authority  shall  determine
10        that it is in the best interest of the municipality to do
11        so,   it   may  grant  the  additional  cable  television
12        franchise.  Except as provided in paragraph (5)  of  this
13        subsection  (e),  no  such  additional  cable  television
14        franchise shall be granted under terms or conditions more
15        favorable  or less burdensome to the applicant than those
16        required under the existing cable  television  franchise,
17        including   but  not  limited  to  terms  and  conditions
18        pertaining to the territorial extent  of  the  franchise,
19        system    design,    technical   performance   standards,
20        construction schedules, performance bonds, standards  for
21        construction   and   installation   of  cable  television
22        facilities, service to  subscribers,  public  educational
23        and   governmental   access   channels  and  programming,
24        production assistance, liability and indemnification, and
25        franchise fees.
26             (5)  Unless the existing cable television  franchise
27        provides  that  any additional cable television franchise
28        shall be subject  to  the  same  terms  or  substantially
29        equivalent  terms and conditions as those of the existing
30        cable television franchise, the franchising authority may
31        grant an  additional  cable  television  franchise  under
32        different terms and conditions than those of the existing
33        franchise, in which event the franchising authority shall
34        enter  into  good  faith  negotiations  with the existing
 
                            -16-     LRB093 07515 JLS 07688 b
 1        franchisee and shall, within 120 days after the effective
 2        date of the additional cable television franchise, modify
 3        the existing cable television franchise in a  manner  and
 4        to  the  extent  necessary  to  ensure  that  neither the
 5        existing cable television franchise  nor  the  additional
 6        cable   television  franchise,  each  considered  in  its
 7        entirety,  provides  a  competitive  advantage  over  the
 8        other, provided that  prior  to  modifying  the  existing
 9        cable  television  franchise,  the  franchising authority
10        shall have conducted a public  hearing  to  consider  the
11        proposed modification.   No modification in the terms and
12        conditions  of  the  existing  cable television franchise
13        shall oblige the existing cable television franchisee (1)
14        to  make  any  additional  payment  to  the   franchising
15        authority,   including  the  payment  of  any  additional
16        franchise  fee,  (2)  to   engage   in   any   additional
17        construction  of the existing cable television system or,
18        (3)  to  modify  the  specifications  or  design  of  the
19        existing cable television system; and  the  inclusion  of
20        the  factors identified in items (2) and (3) shall not be
21        considered  in  determining  whether   either   franchise
22        considered  in  its entirety, has a competitive advantage
23        over the other except to the extent that  the  additional
24        franchisee  provides additional video or data services or
25        the equipment or facilities necessary to generate and  or
26        carry  such  service.    No modification in the terms and
27        conditions of the  existing  cable  television  franchise
28        shall be made if the existing cable television franchisee
29        elects  to  continue  to  operate  under  all  terms  and
30        conditions of the existing franchise.
31             If   within  the  120  day  period  the  franchising
32        authority and the existing  cable  television  franchisee
33        are  unable  to  reach  agreement on modifications to the
34        existing cable television franchise, then the franchising
 
                            -17-     LRB093 07515 JLS 07688 b
 1        authority shall  modify  the  existing  cable  television
 2        franchise, effective 45 days thereafter, in a manner, and
 3        only  to the extent, that the terms and conditions of the
 4        existing  cable  television  franchise  shall  no  longer
 5        impose any duty or obligation on the existing  franchisee
 6        which  is  not  also  imposed  under the additional cable
 7        television franchise; however, if by the modification the
 8        existing  cable  television  franchisee  is  relieved  of
 9        duties or obligations not imposed  under  the  additional
10        cable  television franchise, then within the same 45 days
11        and following a public hearing concerning modification of
12        the additional cable television franchise within that  45
13        day  period,  the  franchising authority shall modify the
14        additional  cable  television  franchise  to  the  extent
15        necessary to  insure  that  neither  the  existing  cable
16        television  franchise nor the additional cable television
17        franchise, each considered in its entirety, shall have  a
18        competitive advantage over the other.
19        No  municipality  shall  be  subject  to suit for damages
20    based upon the municipality's determination to grant  or  its
21    refusal  to  grant  an additional cable television franchise,
22    provided that a public hearing as herein  provided  has  been
23    held  and the franchising authority has determined that it is
24    in the best interest of the municipality to grant  or  refuse
25    to grant such additional franchise, as the case may be.
26        It  is  declared to be the law of this State, pursuant to
27    paragraphs (h) and (i) of Section 6 of  Article  VII  of  the
28    Illinois  Constitution,  that  the  establishment  of minimum
29    standards and procedures for the granting of additional cable
30    television franchises by  municipalities  with  a  population
31    less  than 1,000,000 as provided in this subsection (e) is an
32    exclusive State power and function that may not be  exercised
33    concurrently by a home rule unit.
34        (f)  No  municipality  may  acquire,  construct,  own, or
 
                            -18-     LRB093 07515 JLS 07688 b
 1    operate a community  antenna  television  system  unless  the
 2    corporate authorities adopt an ordinance.  The ordinance must
 3    set forth the action proposed; describe the plant, equipment,
 4    and  property to be acquired or constructed; and specifically
 5    describe the manner in which the  construction,  acquisition,
 6    and operation of the system will be financed.
 7        The  ordinance  may not take effect until the question of
 8    acquiring, construction, owning,  or  operating  a  community
 9    antenna  television system has been submitted to the electors
10    of the municipality at a regular election and approved  by  a
11    majority  of  the  electors  voting  on  the  question.   The
12    corporate authorities must certify the question to the proper
13    election  authority,  which  must  submit  the question at an
14    election in accordance with the Election Code.
15        The question  must  be  submitted  in  substantially  the
16    following form:
17             Shall  the ordinance authorizing the municipality to
18        (insert action authorized by ordinance) take effect?
19    The votes must be recorded as "Yes" or "No".
20        If a majority of electors voting on the question vote  in
21    the affirmative, the ordinance shall take effect.
22        Not  more than 30 or less than 15 days before the date of
23    the  referendum,  the  municipal  clerk  must   publish   the
24    ordinance  at  least once in one or more newspapers published
25    in the municipality or, if no newspaper is published  in  the
26    municipality,   in   one   or   more  newspapers  of  general
27    circulation within the municipality.
28    (Source: P.A. 90-285, eff. 7-31-97; 91-648, eff. 1-1-00.)