Sec. 710.125. - Parental control devices.

It is the declared public policy of the City of Jacksonville that each person's home is a place of refuge and privacy subject to the unique control of the homeowner and the occupants and that these values are especially important as they pertain to the parenting of children and the supervision of children. It is recognized that cable signals enter homes electronically in packages and that as such, each homeowner should be entitled to the option of controlling access to the channels and programs within the package which come into their home. It is for this reason that this Section is made part of Chapter 710 , including the following: (a) As a material provision, term and condition of this Chapter under each and every franchise granted pursuant to this Chapter, each Franchisee shall provide for sale or lease a parental control device, defined below, to each and every subscriber requesting such device for use as part of their cable subscription and shall provide assistance on the use of all parental control devices supplied by the Franchisee. A parental control device shall mean a converter or other equipment or software or combination thereof, which enables the adult user to electronically block either channels or programs or other services from being shown on such receivers. (b) A Franchisee shall inform in writing and verbally, potential subscribers, and renewing subscribers regarding the available option to obtain a parental control device, the rates and terms for such devices and reasonable and clear information with regard to use of such devices. The Franchisee shall install a parental control device within 30 days after receiving an order for such device from a subscriber. The parental control devices to be made available by the Franchisee shall be reliable equipment, which is available at a reasonable and affordable price to the vast majority of subscribers to the cable television system in the City of Jacksonville. (c) Franchisee shall provide parental control devices and the installation thereof at a nominal cost. (d) As parental control devices are improved and new technology becomes available, the Franchisee shall upgrade the parental control device it makes available to its subscribers so that such devices shall continue to be affordable and easy to own, rent, use and operate by a parent for the protection of the family and especially children of the family and children which are guests in the home. (e) It is the intent of the City Council that each subscriber shall have the option to control by mechanical or electronic means known only to the designee of the subscriber, the channels and programs received by the television receivers of such subscribers. Franchisee shall take all necessary steps to make parental control devices available to subscribers on an affordable and user friendly basis. (Ord. 2003-188-E, § 1)