Adopted and Filed

Certificates of franchise authority for cable and video service, ch 44

Untitled document

ARC 9000C

UTILITIES COMMISSION[199]

Adopted and Filed

Rulemaking related to certificates of franchise authority

The Utilities Commission hereby rescinds Chapter 44, “Certificates of Franchise Authority for Cable and Video Service,” Iowa Administrative Code, and adopts a new chapter with the same title.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

This rulemaking is adopted under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 476.2.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code chapter 477A.

Purpose and Summary

The Commission opened this rulemaking pursuant to Executive Order 10 with the intent to eliminate unneeded and unnecessary words and provisions and to reduce the number of restrictive terms.Chapter 44 implements Iowa Code chapter 477A regarding certificates of franchise for cable service or video service. This chapter provides an outline for those wishing to obtain or maintain such a certificate.

On February 4, 2025, the Commission issued a conditional order adopting amendments. The order may be obtained on the Commission’s electronic filing system, efs.iowa.gov, under Docket No. RMU-2023-0044.

Public Comment and Changes to Rulemaking

Notice of Intended Action for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on October 30, 2024, as ARC 8315C. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

●November 25, 2024

●December 12, 2024

The November 25, 2024, public hearing was attended by the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA), a division of the Iowa Department of Justice, and the Iowa Communications Alliance; both expressed support for the Notice version of Chapter 44. The December 12, 2024, public hearing was attended by OCA, which reiterated support for the proposed chapter. OCA filed written comments expressing support for the adoption of Chapter 44 as proposed by the Commission.

One change from the Notice has been made to update the chapter implementation sentence.

Adoption of Rulemaking

This rulemaking was adopted by the Commission on February 4, 2025.

Fiscal Impact

This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

No waiver provision is included in the amendments because the Commission has a general waiver provision in rule 199—1.3(17A,474,476) that provides procedures for requesting a waiver of the rules in this chapter.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

Effective Date

This rulemaking will become effective on April 9, 2025.

The following rulemaking action is adopted:

ITEM 1.Rescind 199—Chapter 44 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:

CHAPTER 44

CERTIFICATES OF FRANCHISE AUTHORITY FOR
CABLE AND VIDEO SERVICE

199—44.1(17A,476,477A) Authority and purpose. These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 477A relating to certificates of franchise authority issued by the commission for the provision of cable or video service. The purpose of these rules is to establish procedures for initial applications for and subsequent modifications, transfers, terminations, or updates of certificates of franchise authority issued by the commission.

199—44.2(17A,476,477A) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall mean the same as defined in 47 U.S.C. Section 522, effective February 8, 1996, and Iowa Code section 477A.1, unless defined below:

“Certificate of franchise authority” means the certificate issued by the commission authorizing the construction and operation of a cable or video service provider’s network in a public right-of-way.

“Commission” means the Iowa utilities commission.

“Competitive cable or video service provider” means a person who provides cable service over a cable system or video system in an area other than the incumbent cable provider providing service in the same area.

199—44.3(17A,476,477A) Certificate of franchise authority. After July 1, 2007, a person shall not provide cable or video service in Iowa without a franchise. The franchise may be issued by either the commission pursuant to this chapter or by a municipality pursuant to Iowa Code section 364.2.

44.3(1) Existing franchise agreements. A franchise in effect before July 1, 2007, is subject to the exemptions and requirements of Iowa Code section 477A.2.

44.3(2) Municipal utilities. A municipal utility that provides cable or video service in Iowa is exempt from this chapter pursuant to Iowa Code section 477A.2(2)“c.”

44.3(3) Initial application. The requirements and procedures for obtaining a cable or video service franchise are set forth in Iowa Code section 477A.3. Applications are to be submitted using a form developed by and available from the commission.

44.3(4) Content of certificate. A certificate of franchise authority issued by the commission shall conform to the requirements set forth in Iowa Code section 477A.3(5).

44.3(5) Modification of service area. At least 14 days before expanding cable or video service to a previously undesignated service area or making any other change to its previously designated service area, the holder of a certificate of franchise authority shall update the description of its service area on file with the commission and notify the commission of the effective date of the expansion or other change in service area in a manner prescribed by the commission. The commission will acknowledge receipt of a notice of service area modification by letter.

44.3(6) Transfer of certificate of franchise authority. The holder of a certificate of franchise authority may transfer the certificate to any successor by filing a notice of transfer with the commission and each affected municipality pursuant to Iowa Code section 477A.3(8). The commission will acknowledge receipt of a notice of transfer by letter.

44.3(7) Termination of certificate of franchise authority. The holder of a certificate of franchise authority may terminate the certificate by providing written notice of the effective date of termination to the commission and to each affected municipality using a form prescribed by the commission. The commission will acknowledge receipt of a notice of termination by letter.

44.3(8) Updates. The holder of a certificate of franchise authority shall notify the commission of any change in the name of the entity holding the certificate, contact personnel, principal executive officers, address of principal place of business, telephone number, and customer service contact information by updating such information in the commission’s IUB 24/7 electronic system. The updates shall be completed within 14 days after the effective date of the change.

199—44.4(17A,476,477A) Notice to municipality and incumbent cable provider.

44.4(1) Notice of intent to provide service. At least 30 days before providing service in any part of a competitive cable or video service provider’s service area in which the provider has not yet offered service pursuant to a commission-issued certificate of franchise authority, a competitive cable or video service provider shall notify each municipality and incumbent cable provider pursuant to Iowa Code section 477A.2(4).

44.4(2) Notice of application. In addition to the notice of intent to provide service, an applicant shall notify each municipality with authority to grant a franchise in the applicant’s proposed service area that the applicant has filed an application with the commission for a certificate of franchise authority. This notice shall be mailed by certified mail on the date the application is filed with the commission.

199—44.5(17A,476,477A) Conversion of municipal franchise by incumbent cable provider. If a competitive cable or video service provider applies for a certificate of franchise authority to operate within a municipality, the incumbent cable provider in that municipality may apply for a certificate of franchise authority for that same municipality pursuant to Iowa Code section 477A.2(6).

199—44.6(17A,476,477A) Renewal of certificate of franchise authority.

44.6(1) Sixty days prior to the expiration date of a certificate, the certificate holder shall file with the commission a notice of renewal containing the following:

a.An acknowledgment that the certificate holder continues to hold the certificate;

b.A statement that the certificate holder continues to provide cable or video service in all or a portion of its approved service territory;

c.Any necessary updates to the address of the principal place of business, the telephone number for customer service, and the names and titles of the principal executive officers with direct authority over and responsibility for the cable or video operations;

d.A list of the approved areas the certificate holder currently is serving; and

e.A list of the areas in which the certificate holder was previously authorized to offer service but where service has ceased or never commenced.

44.6(2) The notice of renewal shall be filed using the VCA docket number in which the initial certificate was issued. The commission will acknowledge the renewal by letter.

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 477A.

[Filed 2/11/25, effective 4/9/25]

[Published 3/5/25]

EDITOR’S NOTE: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 3/5/25.

Utilities Division


This Organization is a part of the Commerce Department

Official Document

  • Certificates of franchise authority for cable and video service, ch 44
  • Published on 3/5/2025
  • 70 Views
  • Adopted and Filed

The official published PDF of this document is available from the Iowa General Assembly’s Administrative Rules page.

View Official PDF

View the Iowa Administrative Bulletin for 3/5/2025.

View Bulletin

Related Notices

Administrative Rule References

The following administrative rule references were added to this document. You may click a reference to view related notices.

Rule 199-44.1 Rule 199-44.2 Rule 199-44.3 Rule 199-44.4 Rule 199-44.5 Rule 199-44.6
Click To Comment