Designed for public officials who must make policy decisions concerning cable television, this booklet forms a checklist to ensure that all basic questions have been considered in drafting an ordinance. The purpose of a cable television ordinance is to develop a law listing the specifications and obligations that will govern the franchising of a local operator. Items surveyed are: 1) provisions governing the length, renewal and transfer of a certificate or franchise; 2) franchise territory; 3) system design; 4) technical performance standards; 5) local regulatory framework; and 6) the applicant selection process. Most all the items mentioned are accompanied by working examples drawn from various American communities. (MC)