CABLE Leadership Act
The Cable Access for Broadband and Local Economic Leadership Act (the CABLE Leadership Act) would add a new requirement to how local franchising authorities (such as cities or towns that grant cable television franchises) handle requests for new cable franchises. It mandates that a complete, non-renewal request for a franchise be approved or denied within 120 days. If the authority fails to decide within that window, the request is automatically deemed granted. The bill also requires a written denial (if denied) with substantial evidence, released to the applicant on the same day, and it prohibits tolling (pausing) the 120-day clock due to moratoriums. It provides a detailed definition of what counts as a “complete” request and when a complete request is considered received, aiming to streamline and accelerate the franchise process while ensuring transparency. In short, the bill is designed to speed up the process for granting new cable franchises (to support broadband deployment and local economic leadership) while prohibiting prolonged delays and ensuring written, evidenced-based decisions.
Key Points
- 1120-day deadline for new franchise decisions: After a franchising authority receives a complete non-renewal franchise request, it must approve or deny within 120 days.
- 2Deemed grant if no decision: If the authority does not act by the end of the 120-day period, the franchise is deemed granted.
- 3No tolling by moratoriums: The 120-day clock cannot be paused or delayed by any moratorium imposed by the franchising authority.
- 4Written denial with substantial evidence: If a request is denied, the decision must be in writing, supported by substantial evidence in a written record, and publicly released to the requesting party on the day the decision is made.
- 5Definitions of completeness and receipt: The bill provides a detailed test for when a request is considered complete and when it is considered received (including how electronic, in-person, and other submissions are dated), and it explains when a request can be deemed complete if the authority does not notify the applicant within 30 days that information is missing.