Bill · H.R. 4927· House(119-HR-4927)
CABLE Competition Act
- Introduced
- 8/8/2025
- Last activity
- 8/8/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- Erin Houchin
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "CABLE Competition Act," aims to amend the Communications Act of 1934. It seeks to prohibit franchising authorities from preventing cable operators from transferring their franchises to other parties. Under this proposal, a franchising authority could not stop a transfer if the new person or entity agrees to accept all existing terms of the franchise. The bill also defines what constitutes a transfer of a franchise, including mergers, sales, or restructurings. These changes would take effect six months after the Act is enacted.
Yes
Would business owners be better off under this?+5
The bill provides cable operators more freedom to sell, merge, or restructure their businesses without local government interference.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?+4
The bill eases the transfer of cable franchises by prohibiting local authorities from blocking sales or restructurings.
The opposite
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-5
The bill limits the ability of local franchising authorities to control or approve the transfer of cable system ownership.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Freedom of Sale and Transfer: A franchising authority may not prevent a cable operator from transferring a franchise to a new person or entity, provided they agree to the existing terms (Section 2(a)(b)(1)). This could allow for easier business transitions within the cable industry.
-
Fair Market Value Protection: If a franchise is revoked and the franchising authority acquires ownership or transfers it to another person, that acquisition or transfer must be done at fair market value (Section 2(a)). This ensures that the value of the system is accounted for during such a process.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Notification Requirement Burden: A cable operator must notify the franchising authority in writing no later than 15 days before a transfer occurs if the franchise is being transferred to a party to whom it was not originally granted (Section 2(a)(b)(2)). This creates a specific administrative requirement for the operator.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights-5
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+4
- 8/8/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Craig GoldmanRepublican · Texas