{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-2108.26.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-2108.26.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-2108.26.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-2108.26.html"}],"law_id":68476,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68476,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.26","catch_line":"Reciprocity","history":"2006, cc. 73, 76.","full_text":"Upon the request by an existing cable operator in the locality, a locality that has negotiated and granted a cable franchise to a new cable provider through negotiation, whether before or after July 1, 2006, shall make available to that existing cable operator the applicable terms and conditions that such locality provides to a new cable operator, by an amendment and restatement in lieu of its existing franchise document. In addition, upon the request by an existing cable operator in the locality, a locality adopting an ordinance under this article shall make available to that existing cable operator the applicable terms and conditions from any such ordinance by opting into an ordinance cable franchise. In either such event, the existing cable operator may accept all applicable terms and conditions only in their entirety and in lieu of its existing franchise document and without the ability to accept specific terms and conditions. The locality and the existing cable operator shall amend the cable franchise of the existing cable operator to substitute the new, applicable terms and conditions upon notice of acceptance from the existing cable operator. An existing cable provider in a locality shall have an enforceable right to require that its cable franchise be amended and restated within 90 days of its request to substitute the new, applicable terms and conditions of the new negotiated franchise or new ordinance cable franchise granted to a new cable franchisee. Notwithstanding any other provision in this article, (i) no existing cable operator shall reduce the geographic area in which it actually provides cable service as of July 1, 2006, by the exercise of its rights under this article, but its service obligations within such service areas shall be subject to the service exclusions set forth in clauses (a) through (i) of subdivision 12 of \u00a7 15.2-2108.22 and (ii) the provisions of this section shall not alter the time period remaining in any unexpired, existing franchise.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":247920,"text":"Upon the request by an existing cable operator in the locality, a locality that has negotiated and granted a cable franchise to a new cable provider through negotiation, whether before or after July 1, 2006, shall make available to that existing cable operator the applicable terms and conditions that such locality provides to a new cable operator, by an amendment and restatement in lieu of its existing franchise document. In addition, upon the request by an existing cable operator in the locality, a locality adopting an ordinance under this article shall make available to that existing cable operator the applicable terms and conditions from any such ordinance by opting into an ordinance cable franchise. In either such event, the existing cable operator may accept all applicable terms and conditions only in their entirety and in lieu of its existing franchise document and without the ability to accept specific terms and conditions. The locality and the existing cable operator shall amend the cable franchise of the existing cable operator to substitute the new, applicable terms and conditions upon notice of acceptance from the existing cable operator. An existing cable provider in a locality shall have an enforceable right to require that its cable franchise be amended and restated within 90 days of its request to substitute the new, applicable terms and conditions of the new negotiated franchise or new ordinance cable franchise granted to a new cable franchisee. Notwithstanding any other provision in this article, (i) no existing cable operator shall reduce the geographic area in which it actually provides cable service as of July 1, 2006, by the exercise of its rights under this article, but its service obligations within such service areas shall be subject to the service exclusions set forth in clauses (a) through (i) of subdivision 12 of \u00a7 15.2-2108.22 and (ii) the provisions of this section shall not alter the time period remaining in any unexpired, existing franchise.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15701,"edition_id":1,"name":"Licensing and Regulation of Cable Television Systems","identifier":"1.2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13192,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:58:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:58:04","permalink":{"id":154459,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15701,"identifier":"1.2","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2","url":"\/15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13192,"edition_id":1,"name":"Franchises; Sale and Lease of Certain Municipal Public Property; Public Utilities","identifier":"21","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:25","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:25","permalink":{"id":154333,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13192,"identifier":"21","token":"15.2\/II\/21","url":"\/15.2\/II\/21\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12733,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":152369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12733,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":62043,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.19","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/15.2-2108.19\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.19","metadata":false},{"id":70700,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.20","catch_line":"Authority to grant negotiated cable franchises and regulate cable systems","url":"\/15.2-2108.20\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.20","metadata":false},{"id":78140,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.21","catch_line":"Ordinance cable franchises","url":"\/15.2-2108.21\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.21","metadata":false},{"id":63465,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.22","catch_line":"Regulation of fees, rates and services; penalties","url":"\/15.2-2108.22\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.22","metadata":false},{"id":83742,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.23","catch_line":"Regulation of rights-of-way; fees","url":"\/15.2-2108.23\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.23","metadata":false},{"id":60433,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.24","catch_line":"Regulation of facility construction or rights-of-way management requirements for certain cable operators","url":"\/15.2-2108.24\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.24","metadata":false},{"id":70164,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.25","catch_line":"Itemization","url":"\/15.2-2108.25\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.25","metadata":false},{"id":68476,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.26","catch_line":"Reciprocity","url":"\/15.2-2108.26\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.26","metadata":false},{"id":66038,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.27","catch_line":"Modification","url":"\/15.2-2108.27\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.27","metadata":false},{"id":64460,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.28","catch_line":"Transfer","url":"\/15.2-2108.28\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.28","metadata":false},{"id":78409,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.29","catch_line":"Surrender","url":"\/15.2-2108.29\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.29","metadata":false},{"id":81245,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.30","catch_line":"Renewal","url":"\/15.2-2108.30\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.30","metadata":false},{"id":68185,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.31","catch_line":"Article construed","url":"\/15.2-2108.31\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.31","metadata":false},{"id":60147,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.32","catch_line":"Application of article to certain localities","url":"\/15.2-2108.32\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.32","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":70164,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.25","catch_line":"Itemization","url":"\/15.2-2108.25\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.25","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":66038,"structure_id":15701,"section_number":"15.2-2108.27","catch_line":"Modification","url":"\/15.2-2108.27\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.27","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-2108.26\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2006. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 73<\/a> and 76<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":[{"id":60147,"section_number":"15.2-2108.32","catch_line":"Application of article to certain localities","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2108.32\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":63465,"section_number":"15.2-2108.22","catch_line":"Regulation of fees, rates and services; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2108.22\/"}],"permalink":{"id":154489,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68476,"identifier":"15.2-2108.26","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.26","url":"\/15.2-2108.26\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-2108.26\/","token":"15.2\/II\/21\/1.2\/15.2-2108.26","dublin_core":{"Title":"Reciprocity","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-2108.26","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Upon the request by an existing cable operator<\/span> in the locality<\/span>, a locality<\/span> that has negotiated and granted a cable franchise<\/span> to a new cable provider through negotiation, whether before or after July 1, 2006, shall make available to that existing cable operator<\/span> the applicable terms and conditions that such locality<\/span> provides to a new cable operator<\/span>, by an amendment and restatement in lieu of its existing franchise<\/span> document. In addition, upon the request by an existing cable operator<\/span> in the locality<\/span>, a locality<\/span> adopting an ordinance<\/span> under this article shall make available to that existing cable operator<\/span> the applicable terms and conditions from any such ordinance<\/span> by opting into an ordinance<\/span> cable franchise<\/span>. In either such event, the existing cable operator<\/span> may accept all applicable terms and conditions only in their entirety and in lieu of its existing franchise<\/span> document and without the ability to accept specific terms and conditions. The locality<\/span> and the existing cable operator<\/span> shall amend<\/span> the cable franchise<\/span> of the existing cable operator<\/span> to substitute the new, applicable terms and conditions upon notice of acceptance from the existing cable operator<\/span>. An existing cable provider in a locality<\/span> shall have an enforceable right to require that its cable franchise<\/span> be amended and restated within 90 days of its request to substitute the new, applicable terms and conditions of the new negotiated franchise<\/span> or new ordinance<\/span> cable franchise<\/span> granted to a new cable franchisee. Notwithstanding any other provision in this article, (i) no existing cable operator<\/span> shall reduce the geographic area in which it actually provides cable service<\/span> as of July 1, 2006, by the exercise of its rights under this article, but its service obligations within such service areas shall be subject to the service exclusions set forth in clauses (a) through (i) of subdivision 12 of \u00a7 15.2-2108.22<\/a> and (ii) the provisions of this section shall not alter the time period remaining in any unexpired, existing franchise<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRECIPROCITY (\u00a7 15.2-2108.26)\n\nUpon the request by an existing cable operator in the locality, a locality that\nhas negotiated and granted a cable franchise to a new cable provider through\nnegotiation, whether before or after July 1, 2006, shall make available to that\nexisting cable operator the applicable terms and conditions that such locality\nprovides to a new cable operator, by an amendment and restatement in lieu of its\nexisting franchise document. In addition, upon the request by an existing cable\noperator in the locality, a locality adopting an ordinance under this article\nshall make available to that existing cable operator the applicable terms and\nconditions from any such ordinance by opting into an ordinance cable franchise.\nIn either such event, the existing cable operator may accept all applicable\nterms and conditions only in their entirety and in lieu of its existing\nfranchise document and without the ability to accept specific terms and\nconditions. The locality and the existing cable operator shall amend the cable\nfranchise of the existing cable operator to substitute the new, applicable terms\nand conditions upon notice of acceptance from the existing cable operator. An\nexisting cable provider in a locality shall have an enforceable right to require\nthat its cable franchise be amended and restated within 90 days of its request\nto substitute the new, applicable terms and conditions of the new negotiated\nfranchise or new ordinance cable franchise granted to a new cable franchisee.\nNotwithstanding any other provision in this article, (i) no existing cable\noperator shall reduce the geographic area in which it actually provides cable\nservice as of July 1, 2006, by the exercise of its rights under this article,\nbut its service obligations within such service areas shall be subject to the\nservice exclusions set forth in clauses (a) through (i) of subdivision 12 of \u00a7\n15.2-2108.22 and (ii) the provisions of this section shall not alter the time\nperiod remaining in any unexpired, existing franchise.\n\nHISTORY: 2006, cc. 73, 76.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}