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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>60147</law_id><section_number>15.2-2108.32</section_number><catch_line>Application of article to certain localities</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><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>In any <span class="dictionary">locality</span> in which the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> has granted one or more new cable <span class="dictionary">franchises</span> during the 12-month period prior to July 1, 2006, that include an overlapping geographic service area with another cable <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> within that <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, all <span class="dictionary">franchises</span> within that <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall remain in full force and effect until the earliest expiration date of the overlapping <span class="dictionary">franchises</span> or until one is terminated pursuant to the terms of the <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> and shall not be subject to the provisions of this article, except as set forth in this section. A <span class="dictionary">locality</span> that has granted one or more new, overlapping <span class="dictionary">franchises</span> within the 12-month period prior to July 1, 2006, shall have the option not to offer, accept, or implement the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> cable <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> process described in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Regulation of fees, rates and services; penalties" href="/15.2-2108.22/">15.2-2108.22</a> until the earliest expiration date of the overlapping <span class="dictionary">franchises</span>, but may determine only to grant new cable <span class="dictionary">franchises</span> during such period through the negotiated cable <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> process. Any such <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, when granting any additional cable <span class="dictionary">franchises</span> after July 1, 2006, and until the existing cable <span class="dictionary">franchises</span> expire or are terminated pursuant to their terms, shall make the terms of any such newly granted <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> available, pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Reciprocity" href="/15.2-2108.26/">15.2-2108.26</a>, to all <span class="dictionary">cable operators</span> with existing <span class="dictionary">franchises</span>. Any <span class="dictionary">locality</span> in which the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> has granted one or more new cable <span class="dictionary">franchises</span> during the 12-month period prior to July 1, 2006, that include an overlapping geographic service area with another cable <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> within that <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, shall make the terms of any such newly granted <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> available, in the manner described in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Reciprocity" href="/15.2-2108.26/">15.2-2108.26</a>, to all <span class="dictionary">cable operators</span> with existing <span class="dictionary">franchises</span> on the date the subsequent overlapping <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> was awarded. Upon the expiration of a current cable <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> that is subject to this section, the provisions of this section shall no longer be applicable to any cable <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> in such <span class="dictionary">locality</span> and the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall thereafter be subject to all provisions of this article.</p></section></text><history>2006, cc. 73, 76.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
