Cable Communications Policy Act

In the United States, the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 was an act of Congress passed in 1984 that amended the Communications Act of 1934 and established a national policy with respect to cable television communications. The act sought to facilitate a cable system and services deployment by regulating the excessive demands that some local governments attempt to impose on cable television providers. In exchange for a curtailment of the authority of local governments to regulate cable systems, local governments were granted the right to collect franchise fees, not exceeding 5 percent of the cable operator’s gross revenues. The act regulates the local franchise renewal and transfer process as well as protects the personal information of customers of cable television operators by restricting the ...