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Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-110

§556 Coordination of Federal, State, and Local Authority

Title 47 › CHAPTER 5 — WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › SUBCHAPTER V–A — CABLE COMMUNICATIONS › Part IV — Miscellaneous Provisions › § 556

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

State and local governments, agencies, and franchising authorities keep their power over public health, safety, and welfare when those powers fit the clear rules in this subchapter. States can also regulate cable services as long as they follow the same subchapter rules. Any state or local law or franchise rule that conflicts with this chapter is overridden, except as section 557 explains. "State" is defined by section 153 of this title.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §556

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

(a)Regulation by States, political subdivisions, State and local agencies, and franchising authorities
Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to affect any authority of any State, political subdivision, or agency thereof, or franchising authority, regarding matters of public health, safety, and welfare, to the extent consistent with the express provisions of this subchapter.
(b)State jurisdiction with regard to cable services
Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to restrict a State from exercising jurisdiction with regard to cable services consistent with this subchapter.
(c)Preemption
Except as provided in section 557 of this title, any provision of law of any State, political subdivision, or agency thereof, or franchising authority, or any provision of any franchise granted by such authority, which is inconsistent with this chapter shall be deemed to be preempted and superseded.
(d)“State” defined
For purposes of this section, the term “State” has the meaning given such term in section 153 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (d). 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. § 556

Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110