N.J. Admin. Code § 14:18-5.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 14:18-5.1 - Location and closing

(a) Each cable television company issued a municipal consent or system-wide franchise shall maintain within its franchise service area or county of the area served, at a minimum, a local business office that meets the requirements at N.J.S.A. 48:5A-26(d), and serves the purpose of receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints regarding the quality of service, equipment malfunctions, and similar matters, as well as applications for service, service inquiries, bill payments, and so forth.

(b) Each cable television company shall furnish the Office with the current location of its offices where maps and records showing the various services areas and facilities are available to supply, upon reasonable request, information to customers, governmental bodies, utilities, other cable television companies and contractors.

(c) At least 60 days prior to the closing or relocation of an office described at (a) or (b) above, where such office is expressly required pursuant to a municipal consent ordinance and Board order to be located within the municipality or other specific location; or where the office is to be relocated outside the cable television company's service territory; where the office is to be located outside the State of New Jersey; or where the office is the sole office located in either the county or the franchise territory of the cable system or legal operating entity under which the cable franchise is organized, a cable television company shall file a petition for approval with the Board demonstrating such closure or relocation is not unreasonable, will not unduly prejudice the public interest, and setting forth the means upon Board approval of the petition, by which customers and other interested parties will be adequately notified of the closing or relocation and alternatives available in the case of a closed office. The cable television company shall simultaneously notify its customers and the clerk of each affected municipality of the pending application for permission to relocate or close the subject office by means of posting notice at the office location and, within three days of filing the petition, by placing notice of the office closing or relocation in the newspaper(s) serving the affected area and providing a copy of the notice by mail to the clerk of each affected municipality. Said notice shall inform customers of the Office's toll free number and their right to present to the Board, in writing, any objections they may have to the office closure or relocation. The notice shall specify a date certain for submission of comments, which date shall not be less than 30 days after publication and posting. Such office shall not be closed or relocated until the cable television company has been informed, in writing, that the Board has approved such request.

(d) In all other instances, a cable television company must notify with the Board and its customers no later than 30 days prior to the closure or relocation of the office.

1. Notice to the Board shall include a certification from a company officer certifying that notice has been provided to its customers; that the company will provide all services available at the existing office at the new or alternate location; and that there will be no gap in service if the office is relocated.

N.J. Admin. Code § 14:18-5.1

Amended by 46 N.J.R. 2165(a), effective 11/3/2014.

Amended by 54 N.J.R. 630(a), effective 4/4/2022