Protecting Community Television Act
Sponsored By: Representative Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
Introduced
Summary
Redefines 'franchise fee' in the Communications Act as an explicit monetary assessment. The bill would replace the word "includes" with "means" and insert "other monetary" before "assessment" in 47 U.S.C. 542(g)(1), recharacterizing the statutory term so franchise fees are defined as monetary assessments.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New rules for cable franchise fees
This bill would change how "franchise fee" is defined for cable services. It would define the fee as a monetary assessment and include other monetary assessments. That could change which charges count as franchise fees. If passed, your cable bill could go up or down depending on local rules and billing. The change would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov