Cable bill weakens local government's grip on broadband deals
H.R. 4927 — CABLE Competition Act · Filed by Erin Houchin (R-IN) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Aug 8, 2025 · Referred to committee
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill amends the Communications Act to require that when a local government revokes a cable operator's franchise and takes over or sells the cable system, it must do so at fair market value. It also prevents local governments from blocking a cable operator from transferring its franchise to a new owner, as long as that new owner agrees to accept all existing franchise terms. The bill requires 15 days' notice before such transfers.
Why we flagged it
The bill's primary functional effect is to restrict local government authority over cable franchise transfers and conditions, reducing regulatory friction for cable operators seeking to restructure or sell assets. The fair-market-value provision is secondary and applies only to revocation scenarios.
What the text implies
- Prevents local governments from using franchise renewal or transfer as leverage to demand service upgrades, network investment, or consumer protections—weakening a primary tool for local broadband accountability.
- The 15-day notice requirement is minimal and may not give local authorities meaningful time to evaluate new owners' qualifications or financial stability before transfer occurs.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
cable operators (Comcast, Charter, Cox, etc.); cable system owners seeking to restructure or divest; private equity firms acquiring cable assets