                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

APPLICATION OF ARTICLE TO CERTAIN LOCALITIES (§ 15.2-2108.32)

In any locality in which the governing body of the locality has granted one or
more new cable franchises during the 12-month period prior to July 1, 2006, that
include an overlapping geographic service area with another cable franchise
within that locality, all franchises within that locality shall remain in full
force and effect until the earliest expiration date of the overlapping
franchises or until one is terminated pursuant to the terms of the franchise and
shall not be subject to the provisions of this article, except as set forth in
this section. A locality that has granted one or more new, overlapping
franchises within the 12-month period prior to July 1, 2006, shall have the
option not to offer, accept, or implement the ordinance cable franchise process
described in § 15.2-2108.22 until the earliest expiration date of the
overlapping franchises, but may determine only to grant new cable franchises
during such period through the negotiated cable franchise process. Any such
locality, when granting any additional cable franchises after July 1, 2006, and
until the existing cable franchises expire or are terminated pursuant to their
terms, shall make the terms of any such newly granted franchise available,
pursuant to § 15.2-2108.26, to all cable operators with existing franchises.
Any locality in which the governing body of the locality has granted one or more
new cable franchises during the 12-month period prior to July 1, 2006, that
include an overlapping geographic service area with another cable franchise
within that locality, shall make the terms of any such newly granted franchise
available, in the manner described in § 15.2-2108.26, to all cable operators
with existing franchises on the date the subsequent overlapping franchise was
awarded. Upon the expiration of a current cable franchise that is subject to
this section, the provisions of this section shall no longer be applicable to
any cable franchise in such locality and the locality shall thereafter be
subject to all provisions of this article.

HISTORY: 2006, cc. 73, 76.