Re:Starting an Internet Service Provider
by rayiner on Monday February 20, 2017 @07:16PM
(#13692177)
The 1992 Cable Act made exclusive franchises illegal, but does not retroactively apply to pre-1992 contracts. Almost all of those contracts have since expired and been renewed as non-exclusive contracts under the 1992 Act. Hazelton, for example, granted an exclusive franchise before 1992, which expired in 2005: http://articles.mcall.com/2004-03-25/business/3517245_1_fibe.... The suit in 2004 was over the last year of exclusivity.
I imagine there are some 30-year exclusive franchises granted in 1991 that are still in effect. I don't actually know of any.
Re:Starting an Internet Service Provider
by chrishacken on Tuesday February 21, 2017 @09:15AM
(#13695573)
Interesting; that clears things up. Thanks!
They definitely do. Our city has a franchise agreement with the incumbent cable provider; they're the only company allowed to provide cable television service. ~10 years ago a company called NuNet tried to come in and run fiber in a neighboring city, Hazleton, and both they and the city were sued by the incumbent for breaching the franchise.