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Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73

§557 Existing franchises

Title 47 › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V–A— - CABLE COMMUNICATIONS › Part Part IV— - Miscellaneous Provisions › § 557

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Keeps in force the rules that were part of any franchise when this part of the law took effect, including rules about setting aside or using channel space for public, educational, or government use. It also keeps any State law or regulation that was in effect on October 30, 1984, if that law dealt with those channel uses. A franchise counts as being in effect if it was granted on or before the date this subchapter became effective.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §557

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The provisions of—
(1)any franchise in effect on the effective date of this subchapter, including any such provisions which relate to the designation, use, or support for the use of channel capacity for public, educational, or governmental use, and
(2)any law of any State (as defined in section 153 of this title) in effect on October 30, 1984, or any regulation promulgated pursuant to such law, which relates to such designation, use or support of such channel capacity,
(b)For purposes of subsection (a) and other provisions of this subchapter, a franchise shall be considered in effect on the effective date of this subchapter if such franchise was granted on or before such effective date.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

For “the

Effective Date

of this subchapter” and “such

Effective Date

”, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), as 60 days after Oct. 30, 1984, except where otherwise expressly provided, see section 9(a) of Pub. L. 98–549, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 521 of this title.

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104–104 substituted “section 153” for “section 153(v)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective 60 days after Oct. 30, 1984, except where otherwise expressly provided, see section 9(a) of Pub. L. 98–549, set out as a note under section 521 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

47 U.S.C. § 557

Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73