Spokane Municipal Code

Title 10 Regulation of Activities

Chapter 10.27A Cable Communications Code

Article IV. Cable Advisory Board

Section 10.27A.900 Cable Advisory Board

1. The City may establish a citizens cable advisory board as specified in SMC 10.27A.040(E). The City and County additionally may approve a consolidated City-County cable advisory board.

1. 1. In the event of such consolidation, board representation shall include the City of Spokane and areas of Spokane County outside the City of Spokane.

1. 2. The cable advisory board shall consist of seven members, appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the city council, for staggered three-year terms.

1. 3. In the event of consolidation, the Spokane County board of commissioners may appoint an additional four members, for staggered three-year terms.

1. 4. Cable advisory board members shall serve without compensation or per diem. They shall be broadly representative of the City or County population, with diverse backgrounds and a reasonable knowledge of cable communications.

1. 5. The cable advisory board shall appoint from its members a chairman.

1. 6. No cable advisory board member shall be affiliated with the local cable franchisee in any way.

2. Reasonable expenses of the cable advisory board, including any necessary support staff, shall be provided by the City.

1. 1. In the event of a consolidated City-County cable advisory board, arrangements for sharing of expenses and staffing shall be through an annual budget approved by the city council and board of county commissioners.

1. 2. Additionally, any specific expenditure exceeding two hundred fifty dollars shall be approved by both the mayor and the Spokane county chief administrative officer, or his designee.

3. The cable advisory board’s powers and functions shall include such powers as the city council may establish by ordinance, including the following:

1. 1. Consider unresolved complaints and disagreements between franchisees and subscribers or users of the cable system and issue rulings thereon.

1. 2. Advise the city council and mayor on the regulation of rates in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

1. 3. Advise the city council and mayor regarding general policy relating to the cable services provided subscribers and the operation and use of access and leased access channels (if any), with a view to maximizing the diversity and usefulness of programs and services to subscribers.

1. 4. Assist the city council in its consideration of applications for new, transfer and renewal franchises.

1. 5. Perform such other advisory duties as the city council and mayor may from time to time assign to the cable advisory board.

4. In the event of a consolidated City-County cable advisory board, functions of such board shall include those specified hereinabove for both the City of Spokane and unincorporated areas of Spokane County, provided any additional functions to be performed at the request of the City of Spokane which concern unincorporated areas of Spokane County shall require concurrence of the County, and any additional functions to be performed at the request of the County which concern areas within the City of Spokane shall require concurrence of the City.

Date Passed: Monday, June 4, 2007

Effective Date: Wednesday, July 11, 2007

ORD C34041 Section 1 (Recodification)