477A.3 - APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS -- CERTIFICATE OF FRANCHISE AUTHORITY. - Iowa Statutes

477A.3 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS -- CERTIFICATE OF FRANCHISE AUTHORITY. 1. The board shall issue a certificate of franchise authority under this chapter within fifteen business days after receipt of a completed application and affidavit submitted by the applicant and signed by an officer or general partner of the applicant. The application and affidavit shall provide all of the following information: a. That the applicant has filed or will timely file with the federal communications commission all forms required by the commission in advance of offering cable service or video service in this state. b. That the applicant agrees to comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations, and rules. c. That the applicant agrees to comply with all applicable state laws and nondiscriminatory municipal ordinances and regulations regarding the use and occupation of a public right-of-way in the delivery of the cable service or video service, to the extent consistent with this chapter, including the police powers of the municipalities in which the service is delivered. d. A description of the service area to be served and the municipalities to be served by the applicant which may include certain designations of unincorporated areas. This description shall be updated by the applicant prior to the expansion of cable service or video service to a previously undesignated service area and, upon such expansion, notice shall be given to the board of the service area to be served by the applicant. e. The address of the applicant's principal place of business and the names of the applicant's principal executive officers. 2. The failure of the board to notify the applicant of the completeness of the applicant's affidavit or issue a certificate of franchise authority before the fifteenth business day after receipt of a completed affidavit shall constitute issuance of the certificate of franchise authority applied for by the applicant without further action by the applicant. 3. The certificate of franchise authority issued by the board shall contain all of the following: a. A grant of authority to provide cable service or video service in the service area designated in the application. b. A grant of authority to use and occupy the public right-of-way in the delivery of cable service or video service, subject to the laws of this state, including the police powers of the municipalities in which the service is delivered. c. A statement that the grant of authority provided by the certificate is subject to the lawful operation of the cable service or video service by the applicant or the applicant's successor. d. A statement that the franchise is for a term of ten years, is renewable under the terms of this section, and is nonexclusive. 4. A certificate of franchise authority issued by the board is fully transferable to any successor of the applicant to which the certificate was initially issued. A notice of transfer shall be filed by the holder of the certificate of franchise authority with the board and the affected municipality and shall be effective fourteen business days after submission. The notice of transfer shall include the address of the successor's principal place of business and the names of the successor's principal executive officers. The successor shall assume all regulatory rights and responsibilities of the holder of the certificate. Neither the board nor an affected municipality shall have authority to review or require approval of such transfer. 5. The certificate of franchise authority issued by the board may be terminated by a person providing cable service or video service by submitting written notice to the board and any affected municipality. Neither the board nor an affected municipality shall have authority to review or require approval of such termination. 6. The board shall only have the authorization to issue a certificate of franchise authority as provided in this section, and shall not impose any additional requirements or regulations upon an applicant.          Section History: Recent Form 2007 Acts, ch 201, §4, 15 Referred to in § 477A.2