                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

AUTHORITY TO GRANT NEGOTIATED CABLE FRANCHISES AND REGULATE CABLE SYSTEMS (§
15.2-2108.20)

A. A locality may grant a negotiated cable franchise in accordance with Title VI
of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. &#xA7; 521 et seq., and
this chapter.

B. A locality may, by ordinance, exercise all regulatory powers over cable
systems granted by the Communications Act of 1934, except as limited by this
article. These regulatory powers shall include the authority: (i) to enforce
customer service standards in accordance with the Act; (ii) to enforce more
stringent standards as agreed upon by the cable operator through the terms of a
negotiated cable franchise; and (iii) to regulate the rates for basic cable
service in accordance with the Act. A locality, however, shall not regulate
cable operators, cable systems, or other facilities used to provide video
programming through the adoption of ordinances or regulations (a) that are more
onerous than ordinances or regulations adopted for existing cable operators; (b)
that unreasonably prejudice or disadvantage any cable operator, whether existing
or new; or (c) that are inconsistent with any provision of federal law or this
article.

HISTORY: 2006, cc. 73, 76.