H.R. 5311: Connecting And Building Lines for Expedited Expansion Act

This bill, known as the Connecting And Building Lines for Expedited Expansion Act (CABLE Expansion Act), seeks to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to maintain the authority of local franchising authorities over decisions related to cable service infrastructure. The main objectives of the bill are as follows:

Preservation of Franchising Authority

The bill emphasizes that local franchising authorities retain their power to make decisions regarding:

• The placement, construction, and modification of certain facilities used for cable services within their jurisdiction.

Limitations on Local Authority

However, the bill sets limits on this authority to ensure that it does not impede the capabilities of cable operators. Specifically, the regulations should:

• Not prohibit or effectively prevent cable operators from providing or enhancing cable services under the franchises they hold.

Timeline for Approval of Requests

Franchising authorities are required to follow specific timelines when responding to requests from cable operators for authorization to place, construct, or modify their facilities:

• If the request is for authorization involving “eligible support infrastructure” (infrastructure that supports or houses communication facilities), the authority must make a decision within 90 days.
• If the request does not involve eligible support infrastructure, the authority has 150 days to respond.

This aims to expedite the process, helping to get services up and running faster.

Conditions for Decision Making

Local authorities must provide:

• A written decision to deny a request, which must be based on substantial evidence and made available to the public.

Request Processing

Requests to franchising authorities will be considered complete if the authority does not communicate within 10 business days that additional information is needed for the request to proceed. The bill also clarifies how requests will be received based on the submission method, ensuring that all parties have a clear understanding of the timelines involved.

Definitions

The bill provides definitions for key terms to clarify its provisions, including:

• Eligible support infrastructure: infrastructure that is currently able to support or house communication facilities.
• Covered facility: facilities that provide cable service and serve subscribers using public rights-of-way.

Impact on Cable Service

The overarching goal of this legislation is to protect and streamline the regulatory environment for cable service providers, which may foster improvements and expansions in cable service offerings across the nation.

Relevant Companies

• CMCSA (Comcast Corporation) - As a major cable service provider, Comcast may benefit from more streamlined approval processes for infrastructure improvements.
• T (AT&T Inc.) - With significant investments in cable infrastructure, AT&T could see enhancements in the deployment of new services.
• FOX (Fox Corporation) - While primarily a media company, Fox could be impacted as cable service availability affects subscriber levels for cable networks.