§ 26-9. Public service requirements.

(a)

Each franchise shall provide for channels for public service at least one of which shall provide noncommercial public access on a first-come nondiscriminatory basis, at least one of which shall be designated for use by state or county educational authorities, at least one of which shall be designated for governmental uses and at least one channel of which shall provide for local Cheverly program origination and programming control.

(b)

Until such time as there is demand for all locally originated channels, the franchisee may combine programs on one or more channels, and to the extent that time is available therefor, local access channels may be used for other broadcasts and nonbroadcast services, except that programs originated by the town or its public service organizations will have priority as to time and channel use.

(c)

Each franchisee shall provide, without cost, production facilities and training for officers and employees of the town and for public service organizations of the town, so as to maximize opportunities for broadcast of programs of general interest within the town.

(d)

Access to the public service channels shall be available without charge to educational, governmental, religious and public service organizations of the town and to the public on the public access channel, and the franchisee shall maintain a studio, headend and equipment for broadcasting such programs live or on tape. The franchise may provide reasonable charges for equipment and facilities used to broadcast live or on tape programs originated away from such studio or headend.

(e)

Each franchisee shall provide at least one service outlet to each public building within the town without charge.

(f)

In the event of an emergency, the town may interrupt signals otherwise being distributed by any franchise in order to deliver signals necessitated by such emergency.

(Ord. No. 3-80, 6-12-80)