Cable and Video Franchise Certificates

About

A business or individual planning to offer cable or video franchise service shall obtain a franchise from a municipality or a certificate of franchise authority from the Iowa Utilities Board.  A franchise issued by the Iowa Utilities Board allows the recipient to provide cable or video services for a period of 10 years. A municipality may issue a franchise for a period of up to 25 years pursuant to the provisions of Iowa Code § 364.2.  Both franchises require the payment of a franchise fee of up to 5% to the local municipality and provide authorization to use the public right-of-ways in the designated service territory. A holder of a cable or video certificate of franchise authority shall provide public, educational and governmental channels.

Code Citation Iowa Code Chapter 477A and Iowa Administrative Code chapter 44 for a state franchise and Iowa Code § 364.2 for a municipal franchise.

Who Applies Anyone planning to provide cable or video service.

When To Apply Before services are provided via an Iowa Utilities Board franchise or prior to expiration of an existing Iowa Utilities Board or municipal franchise (municipality).

Initial Requirements For application requirements for a certificate of franchise authority issued by the Iowa Utilities Board, see Iowa Code § 477A.3 and Iowa Administrative Code 199—44. See notice of intent to provide service at Iowa Administrative Code 199—44.4 and 44.4(1).

Duration Certificates of franchise authority issued by the Iowa Utilities Board – 10 years. For a municipal franchise – varies.

Processing Time Certificates of franchise authority issued by the Iowa Utilities Board – 30 to 90 days. For a municipal franchise – varies.

Fee Structure No application fee for certificates of franchise authority issued by the Iowa Utilities Board, but applicants are subject to Iowa Utilities Board assessment for cost of issuing certificate pursuant to Iowa Code § 477A.3(3)(c). For a municipal franchise – varies.

Renewal Requirements Thirty days prior to the tenth anniversary of the issuance of the original certificate and every ten years thereafter, the certificate holder shall file with the Iowa Utilities Board 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 service or video service or both 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. The notice of renewal shall be filed using the VCA docket number in which the initial certificate was issued. The Iowa Utilities Board will acknowledge the renewal by letter.

Exam Does not pertain.

Additional Information None.