CABLE Expansion Act Connecting And Building Lines for Expedited Expansion Act
Impact
The legislation emphasizes the need for timely decisions from covered entities, such as local governments, concerning requests for constructing or modifying cable infrastructure. It mandates that these requests must be approved or denied within specified timeframes—90 days for requests related to eligible support infrastructure and 150 days for other requests. Furthermore, the bill allows for deemed approvals if deadlines are not met, which could streamline the deployment of necessary telecommunications services and enhance competition among service providers.
Summary
House Bill 3330, also known as the CABLE Expansion Act, aims to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to preserve cable franchising authority and facilitate faster deployment of cable services. It specifically impacts the regulatory procedures regarding the placement, construction, or modification of cable equipment by defining timelines for approval and imposing restrictions on local government entities. The bill seeks to strike a balance between local control and the need for expedited infrastructure development, which proponents argue is vital for improving service delivery in the telecommunications sector.
Contention
Despite its stated goals, HB3330 is not without contention. Critics argue that the bill could diminish local governance and authority over infrastructure decisions. There are concerns that fast-tracking cable service developments may lead to inadequate regulatory oversight and negatively impact community needs. Additionally, the mandatory approval timelines are seen by some as potentially prohibitive for local governments, which might struggle to assess the impacts of such requests adequately. The balance between the rapid advancement of telecommunications services and local regulatory authority remains a key point of debate.