5097
HARFORD COUNTY

Bill No. 74-46 (as amended)

AN ACT to add new Chapter 6, heading "Businesses", to the
Harford County Code to provide a chapter of laws
which will govern businesses within Harford County,
Maryland; and to enact new Article 6, heading
"Community Antenna Television" to be added to
Chapter 6 of the Harford County Code, said Article 6
to provide the County Council [[and the County
Executive]] with the authorization to grant a
franchise or franchises for the construction and
operation of community antenna, cable television and
cable communication systems, and to provide for the
regulation and control of such a system or systems
within Harford County.

WHEREAS, Community Antenna Television (CAT?) is
available in some areas of the State of Maryland for use
by the public by means of transmitting audio and visual
TV Signals and radio signals by cable; and

WHEREAS, the growth and acceptance of cable
transmission technology indicates that many public
benefits are available for the benefits of the citizens
of Harford county; and

WHEREAS, the Harford County Council deems it to be
in the best interests and general welfare of the citizens
of Harford County to provide for the granting of CATV
franchises in conformity with the Charter of Harford
County, Maryland and Article 25A (Section 5B) of the
Annotated Code of Maryland. NOW, THEREFORE,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF
HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND, That new Chapter 6 of the
Harford County Code (1974), heading, "Businesses", be,
and it is hereby, added to the Harford County Code, and
that Article 6 heading, "Community Antenna Television",
be, and it is hereby, added to said Chapter 6 of the
Harford County Code, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 6. COMMUNITY ANTENNA TELEVISION

SECTION 6.1. AUTHORITY OF COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF HARFORD COUNTY [[SUBJECT TO
FINAL APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AS HEREINAFTER SET
FORTH]] IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED TO ISSUE A
FRANCHISE OR FRANCHISES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND
OPERATION OF COMMUNITY ANTENNA TELEVISION (CATV) SYSTEMS
AS DEFINED BY THIS ARTICLE, AND TO REGULATE SAID SYSTEMS
CONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS OF THIS ARTICLE AND ANY OTHER
APPLICABLE LAWS OR REGULATIONS.