CABLE Expansion Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5311
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-11: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-24T15:04:34Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends the Communications Act of 1934 to preserve the role of local franchising authorities in decisions about cable facilities, while establishing clear timelines and procedures for reviewing requests to place, construct, or modify such facilities.
Key Provisions
- Adds a new subsection (j) to Section 624 of the Communications Act of 1934.
- Affirms that, with limited exceptions, federal law does not restrict local franchising authorities' power over the placement, construction, and modification of covered facilities in their jurisdiction.
- Requires that local regulations must not block or effectively prevent a cable operator from providing or improving cable service under an existing franchise.
- Sets decision deadlines for complete requests: 90 days if the facility uses existing eligible support infrastructure, or 150 days otherwise.
- Mandates that denials must be in writing, based on substantial evidence in the record, and made public at the same time as the decision.
- Defines when a request is considered complete (no written notice of missing information within 10 business days) and received (based on submission method).
- Prohibits local moratoriums from pausing the required timeframes.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill introduces specific federal timelines and procedural requirements for local cable facility approvals that were not previously detailed in the Communications Act. It maintains local authority but limits it by preventing actions that would stop cable service and by requiring timely, documented decisions.
Potential Impacts
- Local governments (franchising authorities) must process requests within fixed periods, which may accelerate cable infrastructure projects.
- Cable operators gain predictable review processes, potentially easing expansion.
- Subscribers may see faster rollout of cable services in areas using public rights-of-way or easements.
- No direct effects on international relations are addressed.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Local franchising authorities responsible for cable franchises.
- Cable operators seeking approvals for new or modified facilities.
- Residents and businesses who subscribe to cable service.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure balances federal oversight with local control by imposing uniform time limits and documentation rules, which could reduce delays from local processes while respecting existing franchise agreements. It avoids tolling timeframes through moratoriums, ensuring consistent application across jurisdictions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-11: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Connecting And Building Lines for Expedited Expansion Act — issued 2025-09-11 — PDF (8 pages)