CABLE Leadership Act

House Votes

This bill speeds up how local governments handle new cable TV franchise requests. Once a complete request is filed, the local office that issues cable franchises must approve or deny it within 120 days. If they don’t act by the day after that deadline, the request is automatically approved. If they deny it, they must issue a written decision with evidence and make it public the same day. The timeline can’t be paused by a local moratorium, and the 120-day clock covers all steps the local government requires. The bill also spells out when a request counts as “complete” and what date counts as “received,” including rules for electronic and in‑person filings .

Key points

• Who is affected: Cities and counties that issue cable TV franchises, and companies asking for a new franchise.
• What changes: 120‑day deadline; automatic approval if no decision; written, evidence‑based denials made public; clear rules for when a request is complete and received .
• When: The 120‑day clock starts when the local government receives a complete request, as defined by the bill’s rules for submissions and notices .