Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73
§537 Sales of cable systems
Title 47 › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V–A— - CABLE COMMUNICATIONS › Part Part II— - Use of Cable Channels and Cable Ownership Restrictions › § 537
Summary
When a franchise sale or transfer needs approval, the franchising authority has 120 days after getting the information the Commission and authority require to decide; if it doesn't, request is approved unless both agree to extend.
Full Legal Text
Title 47, §537
Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A franchising authority shall, if the franchise requires franchising authority approval of a sale or transfer, have 120 days to act upon any request for approval of such sale or transfer that contains or is accompanied by such information as is required in accordance with Commission regulations and by the franchising authority. If the franchising authority fails to render a final decision on the request within 120 days, such request shall be deemed granted unless the requesting party and the franchising authority agree to an extension of time.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Pub. L. 104–104 redesignated subsec. (e) as entire section, substituted “A franchising authority” for “Limitation on Duration of Franchising Authority Power To Disapprove Transfers.—In the case of any sale or transfer of ownership of any cable system after the 36-month period following acquisition of such system, a franchising authority”, and struck out subsecs. (a) to (d) which related to three-year holding period requirement, treatment of multiple transfers, exceptions to holding requirement, and waiver authority.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 60 days after Oct. 5, 1992, see section 28 of Pub. L. 102–385, set out as an
Effective Date
of 1992 Amendment note under section 325 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
47 U.S.C. § 537
Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73