The law › Title 47, Telecommunications › Chapter 5

47 U.S.C. 542: Franchise fees

Created in 1984 by Public Law 98-549. Changed by 2 later laws. No bill we track in this Congress changes it.

1 other section of the Code cite this one, including 47 U.S.C. 573.

How it got hereLaws that created or changed it, newest first

1996Telecommunications Act of 1996

1992Pub. L. 102-385

1984Pub. L. 98-549added it

47 U.S.C. 542Franchise fees

(a)Payment under terms of franchise

(b)Amount of fees per annum

(c)Itemization of subscriber bills

(d)Court actions; reflection of costs in rate structures

(e)Decreases passed through to subscribers

(f)Itemization of franchise fee in bill

(g)"Franchise fee" defined

(h)Uncompensated services; taxes, fees and other assessments; limitation on fees

(i)Regulatory authority of Federal agencies

This CongressBills that change it or would

None we track

past change
enacted this Congress
proposed

This Congress

No bill we track in the 119th Congress changes this section.

How it got here

1996

Pub. L. 104–104 inserted "to provide cable services" before period at end of first sentence. (Telecommunications Act of 1996) Law text · (b)

1992

Pub. L. 102–385 amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) read as follows: "A cable operator may pass through to subscribers the amount of any increase in a franchise fee, unless the franchising authority demonstrates that the rate structure specified in the franch… · (c)

Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.