There is a Cable Communications Advisory Commission.
The Commission comprises 14 members, 1 from each Council District, appointed by the Mayor in accordance with <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="IV|§6">Article IV, § 6 of the City Charter</cite>.
Each member must be a resident of and registered voter in the Council District from which the member is appointed.
The members shall be appointed without regard to political party affiliation.
No member may be an employee, stockholder, officer, or director of a CATV franchisee. Nor may any member have any financial interest, direct or indirect, in the operation or ownership of a franchise. The fact that a member subscribes to cable television service is not a conflict of interest.
The members appointed may represent the following interests: law, cable technology, education, finance, and communications.
Members serve for a term of 4 years concurrent with the Mayor’s term of office.
Members shall serve only 1 full term on the Commission, plus any partial term as herein provided or through the filling of a vacancy.
Any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled by the Mayor in the manner provided in <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="IV|§6">Article IV, § 6 of the Baltimore City Charter</cite>.
The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §230(a) - (c)
Ord. 90-614
Ord. 09-170
The Mayor shall appoint the Chairperson of the Commission and the Commission members shall select other officers as they deem necessary and appropriate.
The Mayor shall have the power to appoint a member as acting Chairperson for a period not to exceed 6 months.
The Chairperson may appoint any committees he or she deems necessary to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties and responsibilities.
The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson but not less than 6 times a year.
8 members of the Commission are a quorum for the transaction of business.
An affirmative vote of at least 8 members is needed for any action by the Commission.
All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public.
The Commission may hold public meetings to solicit customer, business, industry, and other input relating to its duties and responsibilities.
The Commission may adopt rules to govern its meetings and operation.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §230(d) - (f)
Ord. 90-614
Ord. 09-170
The duty and responsibility of the Commission is to advise, assist, investigate, report on, review, and recommend to the Board of Estimates in connection with the following matters:
the cable television franchisee’s adherence to the franchise agreement;
the progress of the construction schedule for the cable television system;
subscriber rates and rates for leased access;
complaints raised by the public and the franchisee arising out of the service access, construction, and maintenance;
the franchisee’s compliance with the minority participation guidelines;
recommendations for the improvement or expansion of the cable television system as may be reasonably undertaken without imposing an undue burden on the public or the system operator;
the renewal of the franchise;
matters which might constitute grounds for revocation of the franchise;
other matters related to cable television as may be directed by the Board or deemed appropriate by the Commission; and
new technology in the cable communications field.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §231(a)
Ord. 90-614
Ord. 04-672
All reports and recommendations of the Commission shall be in writing and a copy of each shall be sent to the President of the City Council and to the Department of Legislative Reference.
The Commission shall make an annual report to the Board of Estimates and to the City Council, which shall include:a summary of the Commission’s activities;
all actions taken concerning the duties and responsibilities listed in this subtitle; and
any recommendations of the Commission.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §231(b)
Ord. 90-614