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To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit franchising authorities from requiring approval for the sale of cable systems, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit franchising authorities from blocking the transfer of cable system franchises to new operators. Under the bill, cable operators would be able to transfer franchises to other entities, provided the new operator agrees to accept all existing franchise terms. Franchising authorities would be required to receive 15 days' notice before a franchise transfer occurs. The bill also establishes that if a franchising authority acquires or transfers a cable system following franchise revocation, the acquisition or transfer must occur at fair market value. The amendments become effective six months after enactment.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9] (R-IN)
1 cosponsor
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Erin Houchin’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $21,100
- KIESLER POLICE SUPPLY, INC. $13,700
- ELWOOD STAFFING $12,400
- ANDREESSEN HOROWITZ $12,399
- APOLLO $9,100
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Erin Houchin → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Aug 8, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. · house
- Aug 8, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 8, 2025
Mrs. Houchin (for herself and Mr. Goldman of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit franchising authorities from requiring approval for the sale of cable systems, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Consumer Access to Broadband for Local Economies and Competition Act” or the “CABLE Competition Act”.
SEC. 2. SALES OF CABLE SYSTEMS.
(a) In General.—Section 627 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 547) is amended to read as follows:
“SEC. 627. CONDITIONS OF SALE OR TRANSFER.
“(a) Value of Cable System After Revocation of Franchise.—If a franchise held by a cable operator is revoked under section 626(b)(2)(B) and the franchising authority acquires ownership of the cable system or effects a transfer of ownership of the system to another person, any such acquisition or transfer shall be at fair market value.
“(b) Limitations on Authority of Franchising Authority With Respect To Transfer of Franchise.—
“(1) In general.—A franchising authority may not preclude a cable operator from transferring a franchise to any person—
“(A) to which such franchise was not initially granted; and
“(B) with respect to the terms of the franchise that apply to the cable operator, who agrees to accept all such terms in effect at the time of the transfer.
“(2) Notification.—In the case of the transfer of a franchise to a person to which such franchise was not originally granted, a franchising authority may require a cable operator to which a franchise was initially granted to, not later than 15 days before the transfer of the franchise, notify the franchising authority in writing of such transfer.
“(3) Transfer of a franchise defined.—In this subsection, the term ‘transfer of a franchise’ means the transfer or assignment of any rights under a franchise through any transaction, including through—
“(A) a merger involving the cable operator or cable system;
“(B) a sale of the cable operator or cable system;
“(C) an assignment of the cable operator or a cable system;
“(D) a restructuring of a cable operator or a cable system; or
“(E) the transfer of control of a cable operator or a cable system.”.
(b) Effective Date.—This section, and the amendment made by subsection (a), shall take effect 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Application.—This section, and the amendment made by subsection (a), shall apply to a franchise granted—
(1) on or after the effective date established by subsection (b); or
(2) before such date, if—
(A) such franchise (including any renewal term thereof) is in effect on such date; or
(B) such franchise is expired and cable operator has continued to perform under the provisions of such franchise as if such franchise were not expired. <all>
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