815 R.I. Code R. 815-RICR-10-05-1.7

Current through December 3, 2024

Section 815-RICR-10-05-1.7 - Technical and Design Standards

1.7.1 Compliance with Design Standards; Waivers

All CATV Systems constructed and operated within this State shall conform to the minimum design criteria set forth in this chapter.

1.7.2Residential Network

A. All CATV Systems in Rhode Island shall meet the following minimum standards:

1. shall be designed with an initial analog passband of 750 MHz;

2. be designed to be an active two-way plant utilizing the return bandwidth to permit such services as impulse pay-per-view and other interactive services; and

3. possess stand-by powering.

1.7.3 Institutional Network

A. Due to the advent of facilities-based competition for Cable Services in Rhode Island, as of the effective date of these rules and subject to the provisions of §1.7.3(B) of this Part, CATV Operators shall not be required to construct, operate or maintain Institutional Networks in this state. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude a CATV Operator from voluntarily constructing, operating or maintaining an Institutional Network in this state.

B. Physically separate Institutional Networks existing as of December 31, 2006 shall be preserved, unless otherwise authorized by the Division.

C. All existing or to be negotiated settlement agreements with respect to Information Services provided over Institutional Networks shall remain in full force and effect.

1.7.4 Interconnection of Systems

A. Each holder of any CATV Certificate shall ensure that its system be so designed, constructed and operated that it may be interconnected with and tied into every other CATV System authorized by the Administrator to operate in an adjacent Service Area.

B. RIPTA shall have the responsibility for the operation of a Statewide Interconnection System for the Residential Network. All CATV Systems that receive a Certificate of Authority to Operate shall, where necessary, enter into a contract with other CATV Systems, the Administrator and RIPTA and begin to provide for the transmission of programming for the Statewide Interconnection System immediately upon commencing operation.

C. The Statewide Interconnection System shall be capable of providing both upstream and downstream video, audio, and data signals to and from all operational CATV Systems in the State on the equivalent of three (3) television channels in the downstream direction and three (3) television channels in the upstream direction. The design of the Statewide Interconnection System shall allow for economical expansion of both the number of activated channels and the total technical capacity of the system, as demand may warrant.

1.7.5Emergency Communications

A. All CATV Systems certified to operate in this State shall be required to participate fully in the State Emergency Alert System ("EAS") operational plan developed by the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, or its successor. Such participation shall, at a minimum, require that the operator monitor at all times Primary-1, as designated by the State Emergency Management Agency, and that unmanned or part-time manned operations be so equipped that EAS warnings and programming be automatically carried.

B. All CATV Systems shall be so designed as to permit at a minimum emergency audio override on all channels in the event of activation of the EAS State Emergency Network by responsible Federal, State, or local officials (as provided for in the State EAS operational plan). Such audio override may direct viewers to turn to in-state television channels or to the government access channel, which may also be activated to carry emergency audio messages originated by the activating agency. The system shall be so designed that Subscribers may listen directly to the monitored radio station for the duration of the emergency activation.

C. In addition, wherever financially feasible, CATV Systems shall be so designed as to permit the capability of carrying both video and audio emergency information originated by the activating agency on the government access channel.

D. CATV System Operators shall be held harmless and indemnified from any damages or penalties resulting from such overriding by the Emergency Management Agency and/or other activating agency or official(s).

1.7.6Signal Carriage

A. Each CATV System certificated to operate within this State shall be operationally capable of relaying to all Subscriber terminals at least the following signals:

1. all television broadcast signals allowed or required to be carried in that Service Area pursuant to FCC rules, as amended from time to time; and

2. all specially designated access channels required to be carried by that system pursuant to § 1.14 of this Part.

B. The minimum number of access channels required to be carried by all CATV Systems under the provisions of § 1.14.1 of this Part shall be made available on the lowest tier or level of Basic Service offered by each CATV System on its Residential Network.

1.7.7 Technical Standards

The technical standards contained in 47 C.F.R. § 76(K) (2018) are hereby incorporated into these rules, and made a part of all Certificates of Construction and Authority to Operate issued by the Administrator.

1.7.8Performance Tests

A. Within one hundred and twenty (120) days of commencement of service to Subscribers on any portion of a CATV system, or on any substantially reconstructed portion of a CATV system, the holder of a Certificate of Authority to Operate will conduct technical performance tests to determine the extent to which the system complies with the standards required in § 1.7.7 of this Part.

B. All such tests shall be performed by, or under the supervision of, a registered professional engineer or technician with proper training and experience, using instrumentation and calibration procedures necessary to achieve reasonable precision of measurement.

C. In the event the measured performance at any location fails to comply with the technical standards required, the Certificate holder shall immediately take steps to assure compliance.

D. Copies of reports of the initial performance test and measurement, and of annual performance tests required by FCC rules shall be kept available for inspection by Division personnel at the CATV System Operator's office for at least five (5) years.

815 R.I. Code R. 815-RICR-10-05-1.7