HLS 24RS-97 ORIGINAL 2024 Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO. 308 BY REPRESENTATIVE ADAMS TELEVISION/CABLE: Prohibits discontinuation of cable service without prior notice 1 AN ACT 2To amend and reenact R.S. 45:1364(E) and 1365(B)(1), relative to notice for discontinuation 3 of cable and video services; to provide for termination of certificates with the 4 secretary of state; to require the issuance of notice; and to provide for related 5 matters. 6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 7 Section 1. R.S. 45:1364(E) and 1365(B)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted to read 8as follows: 9 §1364. Certificate issued by the state; eligibility 10 * * * 11 E.(1) The certificate issued pursuant to this Chapter may be terminated by 12 the cable service provider or video service provider by submitting written notice of 13 the termination to the secretary of state. 14 (2) A cable service provider or video service provider shall notify its 15 customers of the end of service at least thirty days before termination of the 16 certificate is effective. The cable service provider or video service provider shall 17 notify its customers of the end of service in writing and through announcements on 18 the cable system. 19 * * * Page 1 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 24RS-97 ORIGINAL HB NO. 308 1 §1365. State franchise; effect on existing local franchise agreement 2 * * * 3 B. Any incumbent service provider shall have the option to terminate an 4 existing franchise previously issued by a local governmental subdivision and may 5 instead offer cable service or video service in such local governmental subdivision 6 under a certificate of state franchise issued by the secretary of state in accordance 7 with the provisions of R.S. 45:1364, provided the following requirements are 8 satisfied by any such incumbent service provider: 9 (1)(a) An incumbent service provider exercising its termination option shall 10 file a statement of termination with the secretary of state in the form of an affidavit 11 containing the information required by R.S. 45:1364(B) and submit copies of such 12 filing with any affected local governmental subdivision. Termination of existing 13 franchises is effective immediately upon the effective date of the certificate of state 14 franchise issued by the secretary of state. 15 (b) If there may be a disruption of service, a cable service provider or video 16 service provider shall notify its customers at least thirty days before termination of 17 the certificate is effective. The cable service provider or video service provider shall 18 notify its customers of a possible disruption in writing and through announcements 19 on the cable system. 20 * * * DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 308 Original 2024 Regular Session Adams Abstract: Prohibits the discontinuation of cable service without prior notice. Present law provides that the secretary of state shall issue a certificate authorizing an applicant to offer cable service or video service. Present law provides that the certificate issued pursuant to present law may be terminated by the cable service provider or video service provider by submitting written notice of the termination to the secretary of state. Page 2 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 24RS-97 ORIGINAL HB NO. 308 Proposed law adds that a cable service provider or video service provider shall notify its customers of the end of service at least 30 days before termination of the certificate is effective. The service provider shall notify its customers of the end of service in writing and through announcements on the cable system. Present law states that any incumbent service provider shall have the option to terminate an existing franchise previously issued by a local governmental subdivision and may instead offer cable service or video service in such local governmental subdivision under a certificate of state franchise issued by the secretary of state in accordance with the provisions of present law and proposed law, provided that all requirements are satisfied by any such incumbent service provider. Proposed law retains present law. Present law provides that an incumbent service provider exercising its termination option shall file a statement of termination with the secretary of state in the form of an affidavit containing the information required by present law and submit copies of such filing with any affected local governmental subdivision. Termination of existing franchises is effective immediately upon the effective date of the certificate of state franchise issued by the secretary of state. Proposed law adds that if there may be a disruption of service, a cable service provider or video service provider shall notify its customers at least 30 days before termination of the certificate is effective. The service provider shall notify its customers of a possible disruption in writing and through announcements on the cable system. (Amends R.S. 45:1364(E) and 1365(B)(1)) Page 3 of 3 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.