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ID H0320
Bill
AI Summary
HB 320 Summary
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Establishes the Idaho Video Service Act creating a statewide video service franchising framework allowing system operators to obtain certificates of franchise authority from the Secretary of State rather than individual local franchises.
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Requires system operators to maintain $500,000 liability insurance, file FCC forms, and provide video service access to at least one household in their service area within 24 months of certification or lose authorization for that area.
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Imposes a video service provider fee of up to 5% of gross revenues (or the rate paid by incumbent cable providers if lower) payable quarterly to political subdivisions where service is provided.
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Mandates nondiscrimination in public rights-of-way access and prohibits system operators from denying service to residential subscribers based on area income; establishes complaint resolution process with mediation and court enforcement options.
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Requires system operators to designate one or more public, educational, and governmental (PEG) channels matching incumbent cable provider offerings, with political subdivisions allowed to collect up to 0.5% of gross revenues for PEG support on a per-subscriber basis.
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
3/29/2011