2J20
CABLE FRANCHISE AREA MANAGER

This is cable franchise contract compliance and mass communications work, which includes producing broadcast quality television programs. An employee in this class monitors cable television services in one of the City's four geographically assigned cable areas to insure compliance with contract specifications and adherence to FCC regulations and ordinances. The employee in this class also participates in the operation of the City's two municipal cable television channels' production and cablecasting activities for public viewing and analyzes and selects new studio and related equipment for the facility. Work includes project management activities in the installation, implementation and operation of new communications equipment and technology. Maintaining working relationships with representatives of cable franchises, officials of federal, state and city agencies, cable subscribers, property owners and the general public is a significant aspect of the work.

Work is performed under the supervision of a technical superior.

• The work must be performed in the Communications Division of the Department of Public Property.
• The position must direct the activities of and monitor contract compliance for at least one (1) of the City's four (4) cable company franchise agreements assigned to a geographic area of the city.
• The position must participate in the operation of the City's two municipal cable television channels production and cablecasting activities for public viewing.

• Oversees and maintains franchise agreement requirements, including rates, technical standards and customer service regulations; accepts, compiles and reviews public complaints and investigates special problems in the field; corresponds with the franchise general manager and officials of federal and state agencies and city departments such as Law, Streets, City Council to reconcile deviations from contracts and specifications and rectify complaints.
• Reviews plans and specifications for new installations within cable franchise area, and insures plans comply with contract specifications and FCC regulations; contacts cable firms to indicate variances and problems and to suggest corrections or improvements; recommends the disapproval of plans that fail to meet contractual specifications or standards; provides provisional review and coordination of all cable-related plans submitted for the review of other city departments and agencies and coordinates their submission with that respective department or agency.
• Analyzes cable franchise rate submissions to determine compliance with standards and regulations of basic cable TV service, all associated equipment such as converters and remote controls and installation fees in the franchise area including the review of financial documents submitted by cable operators which support their rate structures; analyzes rate submissions with legal, accounting and consultant personnel to ascertain whether regulations have been met; responds to questions about and makes interpretations of the legal, technical and consumer related aspects of rate submissions and policies to cable firm representatives, property owners and the general public; responds to complaints from cable subscribers and property owners concerning their rights under the Franchise and Federal Cable Act provisions.
• Provides production services for the two City operated government access channels, including technical services, programming, and equipment operation; interacts with and serves as liaison with City departments and City Council concerning cablecasting needs; recommends, installs, and operates television production equipment for the two government access channels studios.
• Prepares periodic and special reports on cable franchise; may prepare maps or charts and take photos of areas of installation work; may serve as project leader for large communications projects or as advisory support for other communications projects.
• Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE OF:
• the principles and practices of communications technology as applied to the installation and operation of cable television
• the methods and techniques of communications technology as applied in field inspection of cable system upgrades and the evaluation and use of equipment used in public works cable television installation projects
• techniques used in communication production including direction, authoring software applications for multimedia production, lighting and editing
• web authoring and video streaming on the Internet
• computer, internet and multimedia functions
• FCC regulations concerning TV cable transmission, operation and rate structuring
ABILITY TO:
• analyze cable franchise agreements and enforce regulations and contracts
• evaluate cable operations, modifications and enhancements for conformance to contracts and specifications
• analyze installation and specification interpretation problems and to exercise sound judgment in their resolution
• analyze data and explain contract deviation to contractors and to resolve disputes firmly and tactfully
• produce broadcast quality video productions
• maintain and update an Internet web site
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, contractors, cable subscribers, property owners and complainants

EDUCATION
• Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in communications, mass communications or communications technology.
AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE
• Two years of public information or communications experience.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE
• One year of full performance level mass communications, or public information and promotional experience in television or cable communications.

OR

Any equivalent combination of education and experience which has included completion of a two year program in an acceptable area of communications, mass communications, communication technology, engineering or engineering technology as an educational minimum and the specific experience.

• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.