CHAPTER 09 Title 8 Fiber Optic System
CHAPTER 9
FIBER OPTIC SYSTEM
8-9-1: Purpose
8-9-2: Definitions
8-9-3: Ownership, Control and Management
8-9-4: No Obligation to Serve
8-9-5: Applicability
8-9-6: Transfer of Rights Prohibited
8-9-7: Billings
8-9-8: Limitations
8-9-9: Rights of Way
8-9-10: Liability for Interruptions
8-9-11: Shut-Down for Repairs
8-9-12: Interference with the Fiber Optic System
8-9-13: Protection of the Customer’s Equipment
8-9-14: Tampering with Fiber Optic System Prohibited
8-9-15: Theft of Access or Use
8-9-16: Violations and Penalties
8-9-1: PURPOSE: The purpose of this Chapter is to establish a City owned Fiber Optic
System which provides broadband access to meet the needs of:
A. City Departments
B. Public Safety Organizations
C. Other Publicly Owned and Operated Facilities
D. Community Anchor Institutions
E. Businesses
F. Residents
To protect the public right-of-way by improving both the management and regulation of
competing demands through the elimination of duplicate fiber optic facilities within the public
right-of-way.
To protect the economic vitality of the City by providing the broadband transport service and
fiber facilities leasing required by broadband service providers.
To reduce the cost of maintaining the sidewalk, pavement and public facilities located within the
public right-of-way by minimizing the number of pavement cuts and dislocation of other public
facilities necessitated by the construction or installation of fiber optic facilities.
To foster competition among retail broadband service providers by providing open Access to the
City Fiber Optic System.
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To protect the cost of broadband services by eliminating anti-competitive pricing schemes or
monopolistic practices which contribute to higher costs for broadband services.
To protect the ability of retail broadband service providers to reach subscribers and provide
service without undue competition or regulation by a tax-supported entity.
8-9-2: DEFINITIONS: Certain terms used in this chapter shall have the meanings
ascribed below:
ACCESS: Access to or use of the Fiber System in the form of either broadband transport
service or Dark Fiber leasing.
CITY: The City of Ammon, Idaho.
CUSTOMER: A retail or wholesale user of the Fiber Optic System.
DARK FIBER: A single fiber strand without any light flowing through it.
DEMARCATION POINT: The point of connection on an Optical Network Terminal or Network
Interface Device at which the City Fiber Optic System ends and a point of interconnection is
established for the customer’s use.
DIRECTOR: The Director of the Ammon Technology Department, or his or her appointed
designee.
FIBER OPTIC SYSTEM: The City owned Fiber Optic System, including all fiber, facilities,
equipment and appurtenances.
PLANT: A single fiber running from point to point provided to a Customer as a Dark Fiber
lease.
PROVIDER: A retail broadband service provider.
SERVICE: Any future or current, retail or customer broadband service which may be
transported utilizing the Fiber Optic System.
SUBSCRIBER: A current or potential Provider Customer.
TRANSPORT: Broadband transport service consisting of Ethernet services as supported by
the City Fiber System.
8-9-3: OWNERSHIP, CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT: The City shall have exclusive and
complete ownership, control and management of the Fiber Optic System within all Demarcation
Points, which shall include the device or interface provided for interconnection. The City may
make such rules and regulations as are necessary for the operation of the Fiber Optic System
both inside and outside the City limits.
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8-9-4: NO OBLIGATION TO SERVE: The City shall have an obligation to provide Access to
any provider or subscriber. The City shall not be obligated to construct extensions or install
additional facilities necessary to meet a Customer's needs, except as explicitly authorized by
the Director. The City reserves the right to limit or refuse Access at its sole discretion, provided
access shall not be denied or limited on the basis of race, religion, age, national origin or
gender.
8-9-5: APPLICABILITY: The provisions of this chapter shall apply only to the Fiber Optic
System. Nothing herein shall be construed or deemed to regulate the delivery of
communications or data services over or across lines, facilities, or equipment owned by a
private communications provider, or which may be located in the public right-of-way pursuant to
a franchise, lease, or other license or privilege granted by the City.
8-9-6: TRANSFER OF RIGHTS PROHIBITED: All rights to Access and any rights or
privileges arising under the provisions of this Chapter shall not be transferred to any person or
entity without the express written approval of the Director.
8-9-7: BILLINGS: Fiber Optic Utility System Access provided by the City shall be billed
to the Customer in accordance with a schedule of rates as established by the City Council by
resolution which may be amended from time to time, and such rates shall be kept on file in the
office of the City Clerk and information furnished to interested parties upon request.
8-9-8: LIMITATIONS: Access to the City of Ammon Fiber Optic system shall be provided
only to those customers that have been connected via a residential or commercial fiber optic
project or by separate contract for services negotiated by the Director and approved by the City
Council.
Fiber Optic System Access may be supplied under a given rate schedule provided that the fiber
optic system has the ability to meet the requirements of the rate schedule applicable thereto.
Nothing herein shall be construed or deemed to prevent the City from negotiating separate
contracts with any customer solely for the purpose of obtaining assistance in constructing or
installing additional plant for the benefit of said customer. Such negotiations shall be handled
by the Director and approved by City Council.
8-9-9: RIGHTS OF WAY: The City may condition providing transport or plant upon the
customer's dedication or conveyance to the City of a utility easement for the installation,
operation and maintenance of the City's fiber system, over, across and upon property owned or
controlled by the customer or the customer's landlord. Such utility easement may also be used
for the purpose of providing Access to other customers of the City. Such utility easement shall
permit access thereto by authorized representatives of the City at all reasonable hours or at any
time in any emergency situation. By acceptance of or submission of an application for fiber optic
access, the customer shall be deemed to waive any claim for damages to the customer's
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property or equipment located within such utility easement, arising from the operation or
maintenance of the Fiber Optic System therein. Such acceptance or application shall also be
deemed to constitute a waiver of any claim for damages arising from a taking or any severance
damages with respect to a customer's underlying fee, simple interest.
8-9-10: LIABILITY FOR INTERRUPTIONS: The City shall not be liable for any loss, injury
or damage of any kind, including but not limited to consequential, special and punitive damages,
resulting from the interruption, reduction, loss or restoration of Access from any cause, including
without limitation any loss by fire, flood, accident, casualty, sabotage, terrorist act, strike, labor
slow-down, act of God or the public enemy or failure or inadequacy of the Fiber Optic System.
The City disclaims any express or implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular
purpose and the delivery of Access to any customer shall not be construed as or deemed to be
the delivery of goods under the Idaho Uniform Commercial Code. By acceptance of transport or
plant, the customer agrees to, and shall be deemed to, waive any and all claims for damage or
loss to the customer's lines, facilities, or communications equipment caused by any act or
omission of the City, however, nothing herein shall be deemed or construed as a waiver of any
claim for damage or liability arising out of the gross negligence or malicious act of the City, or its
agents.
8-9-11: INTERRUPTION OF SERVICE SUPPORT: Support for fiber optic system
outages shall be handled as follows:
Residential Service:
Single Residential Property: Shall be confined to best effort during regular business
hours. No service for a single service will be provided outside of regular business hours.
Multiple Residential Properties: Residential outages of 3 or more contiguous properties
will receive support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.
Commercial Service:
Commercial support shall always be given priority and available 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week, and 365 days a year.
8-9-12: SHUT-DOWN FOR REPAIRS: For the purpose of making necessary
repairs, upgrades or changes to its Fiber Optic System, or to avoid damage to property or to
persons, the City may without prior notice to the customer suspend Access for such periods as
may be reasonably necessary to make such repairs, upgrades or changes and the City shall not
be liable for damage of any kind, direct or indirect, as a result of such discontinuance of Access.
8-9-13: INTERFERENCE WITH THE FIBER OPTIC SYSTEM: The City may refuse to
supply Access where there is a possibility that the delivery of such may seriously impair or
disrupt any other customers, or which may disrupt the operation of the Fiber Optic System. The
City may also discontinue or disconnect Access for a Customer if the Customer, by their use of
the Fiber Optic System, is seriously impairing any other Customer’s use of the Fiber Optic
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System. The City may also, without prior notice, suspend or disconnect any customer using the
Fiber Optic System for the purposes of delivering any virus, spam, spyware, denial of service
attacks, or any other illegal or malicious purpose which has the effect of or is intended to impair
or impede the operation of the Fiber Optic System, the internet, or any public or private
computer or computer network connected thereto or for the purpose of obtaining illegal or
unauthorized access to other computers or networks connected to the Fiber Optic System.
8-9-14: PROTECTION OF THE CUSTOMER’S EQUIPMENT: The customer is solely
responsible for the selection, installation and maintenance of all equipment and wiring on the
customer side of the Demarcation Point. The customer shall install and maintain suitable
protective devices and equipment to protect life and property from harm or injury and the City
assumes no duty to warn or otherwise assist the customer in the selection or use of such
protective devices.
8-9-15: TAMPERING WITH FIBER OPTIC SYSTEM PROHIBITED: Other than City
representatives working under the supervision of the Director, no person shall connect to, adjust,
tamper with or make any alteration or addition to the Fiber Optic System, without having first
obtained written permission from the Director. Any person who willfully or maliciously causes
damage to, interference with or obstruction to the efficient operation of the Fiber Optic System
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who causes such damage shall in addition to any
criminal fines or penalties, be liable to the City for any reasonable damages which may be
proximately caused by such damage or interference. Such amounts may be included upon the
customer's regular monthly billing statement for utility service and upon the customer's failure or
refusal to pay such charges, Fiber Optic System Access or any other public utility service provided
by the City, may be terminated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this chapter.
Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be deemed a misdemeanor and subject to
section 1-4-1 of the Ammon City Code.
8-9-16: THEFT OF ACCESS OR USE: It shall be unlawful for any person to make any
connection to or install or construct any facility or equipment with the specific intent of obtaining
Access from or making use of the Fiber Optic System, without paying for such Access or without
paying the fees and charges established by the provisions set forth in this chapter.
8-9-17: FIBER OPTIC RATES, FEES: Fiber Optic Rates Established. The City Council
shall establish fiber optic rates and any associated fees by resolution which may be amended
from time to time, and such rates shall be kept on file in the office of the City Clerk and information
furnished to interested parties upon request.
8-9-18: DUE DATE: Bills rendered for participation in the fiber optic system are payable
ten (10) days following the month of service and as such the bill is due in full at such time. If the
account is not paid by the 10th of the month following the due date, the account will become
delinquent. When the due date falls on a legal holiday or on a day when City offices are not open
for business, the next regular business day is considered the due date and the past due date.
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When remittances are made by mail, bills shall be deemed paid on the date of mailing as shown
by the postmark.
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8-9-19: DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS: When a utility account is not paid by the 10 of the
month following the month of service, as hereinabove stated, and the bill remains unpaid, the
account will become delinquent and shall be handled in the following manner:
(A) On or after the delinquent date, a delinquency statement is to be mailed to the
responsible party, stating a date the account balance must be paid in full.
(B) If there has been no response to the mailed delinquency statement by the deadline
date in said statement, a notice shall be posted at the residence/location stating
the date that the utility access will be terminated. A posting fee will be added to the
account for said notice.
(C) In cases when a notice is posted at the residence/location, the customer can make
payment or arrangements for payment prior to the disconnection of service.
(D) In cases when services is terminated for non-payment, there shall be a fee charged
which shall include payment for the shut off and the future reconnect Service shall
not be restored until the account is paid in full by approved funds as listed in item
(F).
(E) Notice of termination shall be posted at the residence/location stating the date that
the termination/disconnection will be performed.
(F) In the event of payment of a delinquent account, personal checks shall not be
accepted, and the balance must be paid by cash or one of the following: certified
funds; cashier’s check, certified check, credit card or money order.
(G) Payments received for services by a check that is subsequently returned unpaid
by any financial institution shall be assessed a return check fee as set by resolution
of the City Council. Said fee shall be charged to the customer’s utility account and
charges for utilities that said check was to pay shall also be billed back to the
customer’s utility account. Any returned check must be paid within five (5) working
days from the time the notice is given by the City of the returned check or the utility
account shall be considered delinquent. All fees shall be paid in full prior to
reinstatement of services. Partial payments of amounts due shall be applied to
check fees prior to being applied to services.
8-9-20: VOLUNTARY DISCONNECT: Fiber optic service may be voluntarily
disconnected at any time by written request to the City of Ammon administrative office of the City.
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There shall be no charge for a voluntary disconnect. Reconnection of voluntarily disconnected
service shall be charge a reconnection fee set by resolution of the City Council.
8-9-21: SERVICES PROVIDED: Fiber Optic Utility Access may include emergency,
lifeline or other public safety or welfare services as part of the utility rate for Ammon property
owners. The City shall not provide any retail end user service, such as voice, video or Internet
that is not directly related to the City’s police powers or public health and welfare as part of the
utility rate.
8-9-22: SEPARATE CONTRACT AUTHORIZED: Nothing herein shall be construed or
deemed to prevent the City from negotiating separate contracts or agreements with any
customer for the purpose of obtaining assistance in constructing or installing additional plant for
the benefit of said customer or providing services not included in the utility rate structure. Such
negotiations shall be handled by the Director and approved by City Council.
8-9-23: CONTINUING OBLIGATION OF EXISTING CONTRACTS: All contracts in
effect on the date of the adoption of this code shall remain in effect until said contract expires.
Upon expiration of a contract all new contracts shall be charged pursuant to the rates set by
resolution of the Council or by negotiation of a new contract as with the Director and approved
by the City Council.
8-9-24: VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES: Any violation of the provisions of this chapter
deemed to be a misdemeanor shall be subject to penalties prescribed for such violations under
section 1-4-1 of this code. Any person violating the provisions of this chapter deemed to be an
infraction shall be subject to the penalties as provided for in section 1-4-2. Violations of this
chapter shall be deemed an infraction, unless such violation is designated in this chapter as a
misdemeanor.
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