If during the term of a franchise the county, cities, a public utility district, a
public water district, a public sanitation district, a public drainage district or
any other similar special public district elects to alter, repair, realign, abandon,
improve, vacate, reroute or change the grade of any street or to replace, repair,
install, maintain, or otherwise alter any aboveground or underground cable, wire,
conduit, pipe, line, pole, wire-holding structure, structure, or other facility utilized
for the provision of utility or other services or transportation of drainage, sewage
or other liquids, the franchisee, shall, except as otherwise hereinafter provided,
at its sole expense remove or relocate as necessary its poles, wires, cables, underground
conduits, manholes and any other facilities which it has installed. If such removal
or relocation is required within a subdivision in which all utility lines, including
those for the cable television system, were installed at the same time, the entities
may decide among themselves who is to bear the cost of relocation; provided that neither
the cities nor county shall be liable to a franchisee for such costs. Regardless of
who bears the costs, a franchisee shall take action to remove or relocate at such
time or times as are directed by the agency or company undertaking the work. Reasonable
advance written notice shall be mailed to the franchisee advising the franchisee of
the date or dates removal or relocation is to be undertaken.
