Loading chat...
ID H0303
Bill
AI Summary
HB 303 - Idaho Video Service Act Summary
-
Creates a new state-level franchise authority system allowing video service providers to obtain certificates from the Idaho Secretary of State to operate statewide, rather than requiring individual franchise agreements with each political subdivision.
-
Establishes a video service provider fee structure requiring system operators to pay a percentage of gross revenues to political subdivisions where they provide service, capped at 5% or the amount paid by incumbent cable providers, whichever is less.
-
Requires system operators to provide access to video service within 24 months of certificate issuance and prohibits discrimination against potential residential subscribers based on income or cost, density, and distance considerations.
-
Mandates compliance with federal customer service standards (47 CFR 76.309(c)) and requires system operators to designate channels for public, educational, and governmental (PEG) use matching those activated by incumbent providers or up to two channels for large subdivisions and one for smaller ones.
-
Prohibits local government discrimination against certificate holders regarding public rights-of-way access and permit fees, limiting such fees to actual costs and applying them equally to all video service providers.
Legislative Description
Adds to existing law relating to the Idaho Video Service Act to provide for franchising authority, to provide for the use of public rights-of-way, to provide for modifications of existing franchise agreements, to provide for fees, to provide for a holder of certificate, to provide for provision of access to video service within a certain period, to provide for amendment of the certificate of franchise authority, to provide for suspension of authority for noncompliance with certain requirements, to provide for a video service provider fee, to provide for nondiscrimination by governmental entities relating to use of the public right-of-way, to prohibit discrimination among potential residential subscribers and to provide for violations, to provide for customer service standards, to provide for the designation and use of channel capacity for public, educational or governmental use, and to provide for applicability of other law.
VIDEO SERVICE ACT
Last Action
to St Aff
3/25/2011