Duarte Municipal Code Ch. 16.34 New Residential Construction Cable Installation

For the purpose of this chapter, the following words, terms, phrases, and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein. When not consistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future tense, words in singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.

"Active electronics" means all components and devices, such as amplifiers and power supplies, that are used to increase, or decrease, cable TV signals.

"Architectural review board" means a group comprised of the city manager, community development director, and the city engineer that inspect and review all plans to ensure compatibility with existing neighborhoods/urban design guidelines.

"Cable systems" means a system of antennas, cables, amplifiers, towers, microwave links, cablecasting studios, and any other conductors, converters, terminals, equipment or facilities, designed and constructed for the primary purpose of distributing television programming to subscribers or users, and for the secondary purpose of producing, receiving, amplifying, storing, processing, or distributing audio, video, digital, or other forms of electronic or electrical signals, but not including telephone systems regulated by the public utilities commission.

"Coaxial TV cable" means acceptable electronic wiring that transmits a clear audio/visual signal to a cable subscribers residence.

"Contractor(s)" means any licensed individual, company, partnership, or corporation engaged in the business of constructing, assembling, or preassembling an entire residential unit or portions thereof.

"Electrical box" means an enclosure secured to a wall where the external coaxial cable connects to the internal cable, splitting the signal into the independent cable lines that are to service each room.

"Electrical meter" means an approved instrument that measures the number of kilowatt hours used at a specific residence during a given period of time.

"Franchised cable TV operators" means a specifically named person or entity that is given permission by the city of Duarte to use the streets and public ways for the purpose of installing, operating, and maintaining a cable communications system.

"Home-run layout" means a method of cable TV installation in which a residence is constructed with independent coaxial cables for each room.

"Multifamily units" means a building designed and used for occupancy by two or more families, all living independently of each other and having separate kitchen and sanitary facilities for each family.

"Passive electronics" means devices that redirect or split cable signals without electronic amplification.

"Quad-shield R-G6" means coaxial cable wire with four shielding elements to prevent signal leakage.

"Schedule 40 P.V.C. conduit" means plastic piping made from Polyvinylchloride used to enclose cable wiring when placed below ground level.

"Single-family units" means a detached or attached building unit designed to be used exclusively for the occupancy of one family and having kitchen and sanitary facilities for only one family.

"Termination points" means where the cable wire exits into the internal portion of the room.

"Vaults" means a secured, ground mounted enclosure that contains and permits access to a cable systems active/passive electronics.

Terms Not Defined. Words, terms, or phrases not defined herein shall first mean their special meanings or connotations in any industry, business, trade or profession where they commonly carry such special meaning. In the event such special meanings are not common, they shall mean their standard definitions as set forth in commonly used and accepted dictionaries of the English language.

(Ord. 668 § 3, 1990)

(a) At the time of construction and prior to occupancy, all builders, contractors or subcontractors of new single-family and multifamily residential units are required, in a commercially reasonable manner, to install coaxial TV cable for each individual unit. The cable to be used shall be U.L. approved quad-shield, R-G6 and shall terminate at a currently approved electrical box on two walls of each bedroom, family room, and living room.

(b) Each room will be pre-wired independent of the other rooms (home-run layout) and shall terminate at an approved electrical box adjacent to the electrical meter located on the exterior of the residence.

(c) Prior to and after any wallcover application, each system is to be electronically tested so as to ensure that it functions properly.

(d) The design of a subdivision, for which a tentative map or parcel map is required, shall provide for appropriate cable television systems and for communication systems, including, but not limited to, telephone and Internet services, to each parcel in the subdivision. The foregoing systems shall be complete systems installed underground to separately service each residence from a predetermined point of connection at the perimeter of the subdivision or development. This subdivision shall not apply to the conversion of existing dwelling units to condominiums, community apartments, or stock cooperatives unless otherwise authorized by applicable law. As used herein, the term "appropriate cable television systems" means those systems franchised or licensed to serve the geographical area in which the subdivision is located. Nothing herein shall abrogate the authority of the city pursuant to Section 19.70.210 et seq. of this code.

(e) Two sets of plans detailing the underground location, electronics, vaults, cable conduit sizes, termination points, etc., must be submitted to the architectural review board for inspection and approval prior to the issuance of any building permit.

(Ord. 795 § 1, 2007: Ord. 668 § 4, 1990)