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ID H0350
Bill
AI Summary
House Bill 350 Summary
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Creates the Idaho Video Service Act establishing a statewide certification system for video service providers, allowing the Idaho Secretary of State to issue certificates of franchise authority as an alternative to local franchise agreements.
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Requires video service providers to obtain a $1,000 filing fee for initial certificate application and $500 for amendments, must carry $500,000 liability insurance, and must provide service access to at least one household within 24 months or lose authorization.
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Establishes video service provider fees as a percentage of gross revenues paid quarterly to political subdivisions, capped at 5% or the rate paid by incumbent cable providers, whichever is lower.
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Prohibits discrimination by local governments against certificate holders regarding public rights-of-way access and by providers against residential subscribers based on income; requires nondiscriminatory mediation process for resolving service denial complaints.
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Mandates system operators designate public, educational, and governmental (PEG) channels equal to those activated by incumbent cable providers, with minimum requirements of one to two channels depending on jurisdiction population.
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 W/M
4/6/2011