Number: RL33478
Title: Cable Franchising Provisions in House-Passed H.R. 5252, 109th Congress
Authors: Charles B. Goldfarb, Resources, Science, and Industry Division 
Abstract: On June 8, 2006, the House of Representative passed H.R. 5252, the Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement (COPE) Act of 2006. Title I of the COPE Act amends Title VI of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 541 et seq.) to create a process for granting a national franchise that would give a cable operator the authority to provide cable service in a franchise area. The purpose of this legislation is to foster competitive entry into the cable television market by creating a streamlined franchising process that new entrants could employ as an alternative to the current process of negotiating for franchise authority with potentially thousands of local jurisdictions. Further, once competitive entry has occurred in a franchise area, an incumbent cable company serving that area would be able to seek a national franchise. Under the bill, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) is instructed to issue a number of national rules and is given certain enforcement and appeals responsibilities. Local franchise authorities retain authority over management of rights-of-way and some other requirements. This report presents the major cable franchising provisions in H.R. 5252.
Pages: 14
Date: June 19, 2006