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Senate Bill 1087 |
Senate Author: Carona |
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Effective: 9-1-11 |
House Sponsor: Hilderbran |
Senate Bill 1087 amends provisions of the Utilities Code relating to state-issued certificates of franchise authority to provide cable service and video service. Current law provides that a cable service provider or a video service provider that currently has or had previously received a franchise to provide the service to a municipality is not eligible to seek a state-issued certificate of franchise authority. Expired law allowed certain cable and video service providers to terminate a municipal franchise and seek a state-issued certificate of franchise. Among other provisions, the bill sets out updated procedures authorizing certain providers in municipalities with a population of less than 215,000 to elect to terminate all unexpired franchises and seek a state-issued certificate of franchise authority for each area served under a terminated franchise by providing written notice to the Public Utility Commission of Texas and each affected municipality before January 1, 2012. A cable or video service provider in a municipality with a population of at least 215,000 may terminate a franchise in the manner described above under specified conditions. The bill revises provisions relating to franchise fees and in-kind contributions to a municipality and provisions governing public, educational, and governmental access channels.