Cable Transparency Act

This bill, called the Cable Transparency Act, updates how local cable TV franchises can be changed and how they start and end. It lets a cable company ask the local franchising authority to remove or change any franchise requirement if it shows good cause, like following new laws, adapting to technology, or when a rule has become commercially impracticable, as long as the company keeps the same mix, quality, and level of service that was promised when the franchise began. The authority must decide within 120 days; if it doesn’t, the change happens automatically, except for public, educational, or governmental access services. A company can appeal a denial in court. The bill also clarifies when a request is “complete” and how the date a request is received is counted.

Franchises would last until they are revoked or ended, with no renewals needed. A cable company can end a franchise by making a written request; if the request is complete, the authority must revoke the franchise within 90 days or it is automatically revoked. A local authority can revoke only if the company knowingly and willfully fails to meet a major requirement, is given a fair chance to fix it, and does not fix it. The company can ask the Federal Communications Commission to review a revocation or go to court; during review, the FCC or a court may pause the revocation. These changes take effect 6 months after the law is enacted and apply to new franchises and to many existing or recently expired ones where the company is still operating under the old terms .

• Who is affected: Cable companies and local franchising authorities.
• What changes: Faster decisions on requests to change franchise rules; limited automatic approvals; clear rules for ending or revoking a franchise; options to appeal or seek FCC review .
• When: Takes effect 6 months after enactment; applies to new and many existing or recently expired franchises where operations continue under old terms.