ORDINANCE NO. 1 OF 2023
BLAINE TOWNSHIP
WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
AN ORDINANCE OF BLAINE TOWNSHIP, WASHINGTON
COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, GRANTING A NON-EXCLUSIVE
CABLE FRANCHISE TO HTC COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF A
CABLE SYSTEM IN THE TOWNSHIP AND AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTION OF A CABLE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE TOWNSHIP AND HTC COMMUNICATIONS.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Title VI of the Communications Act (see 47 U.S.C. §601 et
seq.), the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, and the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission
and Pennsylvania law, Blaine Township in Washington County (“Township”) is authorized to
grant one or more franchises to construct, operate, and maintain a cable and telecommunications
system utilizing public rights-of-way and properties within the Township’s jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, HTC Communications (“HTC”) is a Franchisee and a “cable operator” and
the Township is a “local franchising authority” in accordance with Title VI of the
Communications Act (see 47 U.S.C. §522(5), (10)).
WHEREAS, HTC is desirous of expanding their services into the Township, and HTC
has requested of the Township a non-exclusive cable franchise to operate a cable system under
Title VI of the Communications Act (see 47 U.S.C. §521 et seq.); and
WHEREAS, HTC desires to install infrastructure in the Township for the transmission
of cable services pursuant to the authority granted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and
the aforementioned laws and federal regulations; and
WHEREAS, HTC infrastructure will occupy the public rights-of-way within the
Township, and HTC desires to use portions of the infrastructure once installed to provide cable
services to the Township; and
2
WHEREAS, the Township desires to protect and manage the public rights-of-way,
require high standards of customer service, receive financial compensation for HTC’s use of the
public rights-of-way as provided by federal law, obtain complimentary services for its public
buildings, obtain educational and governmental channels, establish certain reporting
requirements, and provide for the future cable-related needs of its residents; and
WHEREAS, the Township has determined HTC to be financially, technically, and
legally qualified to operate the cable system to provide cable service; and
WHEREAS, the Township has determined that the public interest would be served by
granting a franchise to HTC according to the terms and conditions contained in the Cable
Franchise Agreement (the “Agreement”) negotiated with representatives of HTC.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTACED AND ORDAINED by the Blaine
Township Board of Supervisors, under and by virtue of, and pursuant to the authority granted by
the Second-Class Township Code, as amended, as follows:
SECTION 1. TITLE.
This Ordinance shall be known and cited as the “Blaine Township HTC Cable Franchise
Ordinance of 2023”.
SECTION 2. GRANT OF FRANCHISE; EXECUTION OF FRANCHISE
AGREEMENT.
The Township hereby grants HTC a non-exclusive cable franchise subject to and in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement. A copy of the Agreement is
attached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit A.
3
SECTION 3. OTHER FRANCHISES UNAFFECTED.
Nothing in this Ordinance, including the Agreement, shall alter the terms of any other
franchise(s) previously granted by the Township. Such other franchise(s) shall remain in effect
according to their particular terms and conditions.
SECTION 4. SEVERABILITY.
The provisions of this Ordinance are hereby declared severable, and if any of its
provisions shall be held to be invalid or unconstitutional, or otherwise void for any reason, such
decision shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions hereof; it is hereby declared to
be the intent of the Township that this Ordinance would have been adopted is such invalid,
unconstitutional, or otherwise void provision had not been included herein.
SECTION 18. REPEALER.
Any Ordinance containing any provision inconsistent herewith to the extent that such
provisions are inconsistent, those provisions are also hereby repealed.
SECTION 19. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Ordinance shall become effective five (5) days after enactment.
ORDAINED AND ENACTED INTO LAW by the Board of Supervisors of Blaine
Township in lawful session assembled this day of ____, 2023.
ATTEST: BLAINE TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Janice Carroll, Secretary/Treasurer Fred Moore, Chairperson
(SEAL)
Randy Sochor, Vice Chairman
Robert Logsdon, Supervisor