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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68476</law_id><section_number>15.2-2108.26</section_number><catch_line>Reciprocity</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-2108.32</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="21">Franchises; Sale and Lease of Certain Municipal Public Property; Public Utilities</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1.2">Licensing and Regulation of Cable Television Systems</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Upon the request by an existing <span class="dictionary">cable operator</span> in the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> that has negotiated and granted a cable <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> to a new cable provider through negotiation, whether before or after July 1, 2006, shall make available to that existing <span class="dictionary">cable operator</span> the applicable terms and conditions that such <span class="dictionary">locality</span> provides to a new <span class="dictionary">cable operator</span>, by an amendment and restatement in lieu of its existing <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> document. In addition, upon the request by an existing <span class="dictionary">cable operator</span> in the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> adopting an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> under this article shall make available to that existing <span class="dictionary">cable operator</span> the applicable terms and conditions from any such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> by opting into an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> cable <span class="dictionary">franchise</span>. In either such event, the existing <span class="dictionary">cable operator</span> may accept all applicable terms and conditions only in their entirety and in lieu of its existing <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> document and without the ability to accept specific terms and conditions. The <span class="dictionary">locality</span> and the existing <span class="dictionary">cable operator</span> shall <span class="dictionary">amend</span> the cable <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> of the existing <span class="dictionary">cable operator</span> to substitute the new, applicable terms and conditions upon notice of acceptance from the existing <span class="dictionary">cable operator</span>. An existing cable provider in a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall have an enforceable right to require that its cable <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> be amended and restated within 90 days of its request to substitute the new, applicable terms and conditions of the new negotiated <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> or new <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> cable <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> granted to a new cable franchisee. Notwithstanding any other provision in this article, (i) no existing <span class="dictionary">cable operator</span> shall reduce the geographic area in which it actually provides <span class="dictionary">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 &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Regulation of fees, rates and services; penalties" href="/15.2-2108.22/">15.2-2108.22</a> and (ii) the provisions of this section shall not alter the time period remaining in any unexpired, existing <span class="dictionary">franchise</span>.</p></section></text><history>2006, cc. 73, 76.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
