Title 15.2. Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 21. Franchises; Sale and Lease of Certain Municipal Public Property; Public Utilities
§ 15.2-2108.20. Authority to grant negotiated cable franchises and regulate cable systems.
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. § 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.
