Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73not60
§557 Existing Franchises
Title 47 › Chapter 5— WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › Subchapter V–A— CABLE COMMUNICATIONS › Part IV— Miscellaneous Provisions › § 557
Summary
Keeps any franchise that was in effect on the subchapter’s effective date, and any State law or rule about public, educational, or governmental channel use that was in effect on October 30, 1984. A franchise counts as in effect if it was granted on or before that date.
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 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60