You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons:

This IP address has been blocked from editing Wikipedia.
This does not affect your ability to read Wikipedia pages.
Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong. Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.

The IP address or range 54.163.0.0/16 has been blocked (disabled) by ‪Blablubbs‬ for the following reason(s):

The IP address that you are currently using has been blocked because it is believed to be a web host provider or colocation provider. To prevent abuse, web hosts and colocation providers may be blocked from editing Wikipedia.
You will not be able to edit Wikipedia using a web host or colocation provider because it hides your IP address, much like a proxy or VPN.
We recommend that you attempt to use another connection to edit. For example, if you use a proxy or VPN to connect to the internet, turn it off when editing Wikipedia. If you edit using a mobile connection, try using a Wi-Fi connection, and vice versa. If you are using a corporate internet connection, switch to a different Wi-Fi network. If you have a Wikipedia account, please log in.
If you do not have any other way to edit Wikipedia, you will need to request an IP block exemption.

How to appeal if you are confident that your connection does not use a colocation provider's IP address:
If you are confident that you are not using a web host, you may appeal this block by adding the following text on your talk page: ((unblock|reason=Caught by a colocation web host block but this host or IP is not a web host. My IP address is _______. Place any further information here. ~~~~)). You must fill in the blank with your IP address for this block to be investigated. Your IP address can be determined here. Alternatively, if you wish to keep your IP address private you can use the unblock ticket request system. There are several reasons you might be editing using the IP address of a web host or colocation provider (such as if you are using VPN software or a business network); please use this method of appeal only if you think your IP address is in fact not a web host or colocation provider.

Administrators: The IP block exemption user right should only be applied to allow users to edit using web host in exceptional circumstances, and requests should usually be directed to the functionaries team via email. If you intend to give the IPBE user right, a CheckUser needs to take a look at the account. This can be requested most easily at SPI Quick Checkuser Requests. Unblocking an IP or IP range with this template is highly discouraged without at least contacting the blocking administrator.

This block will expire on 17:28, 10 March 2024.

Even when blocked, you will usually still be able to edit your user talk page, as well as email administrators and other editors.

For information on how to proceed, please read the FAQ for blocked users and the guideline on block appeals. The guide to appealing blocks may also be helpful.

Other useful links: Blocking policy · Help:I have been blocked
Your IP address is in a range that has been blocked on all Wikimedia Foundation wikis. The block was made by ‪Jon Kolbert‬. The reason given is Open proxy/Webhost: See the help page if you are affected .
- Start of block: 18:27, 12 November 2023
- Expiry of block: 18:27, 12 November 2028
Your current IP address is 54.163.179.242. The blocked range is 54.163.0.0/16. Please include all above details in any queries you make. If you believe you were blocked by mistake, you can find additional information and instructions in the No open proxies global policy. Otherwise, to discuss the block please post a request for review on Meta-Wiki. You could also send an email to the stewards VRT queue at stewards@wikimedia.org including all above details.

You can view and copy the source of this page:

((Multiple issues|
((refimprove|date=March 2013))
((one source|date=March 2013))
((primary sources|date=March 2013))
((cleanup reorganize|date=August 2013))
))

In the [[United States]] [[cable television]] industry, a '''cable television franchise fee''' is an annual fee charged by a local government to a private cable television company as compensation for using [[public property]] it owns as [[easement|right-of-way]] for its cable.<ref name="Linder">((cite book   
  | last = Linder
  | first = Laura R. Linder
  | title = Public Access Television: America's Electronic Soapbox
  | publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group
  | year = 1999
  | pages = 51–53
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Bc4UayNbIz8C&pg=PA52
  | isbn = 0275964884))</ref>  In the US, cable television services are provided by private for-profit companies, cable television providers, which sign a franchise agreement with cities and counties to provide cable television to its residents.  The franchise fee is set during initial negotiation of the franchise agreement, usually by a process in which the government requests bids from cable providers to serve their community. This fee can be renegotiated when the franchise agreement comes up for renewal, usually at intervals of 10 to 12 years.    Although it is paid to a government, it is not a tax.

Franchise fees are governed under Section 622 of the [[Cable Communications Act of 1984]].<ref name=CCA>((cite web|title=Section 622 |url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Cable_Communications_Policy_Act_of_1984#.60.60FRANCHISE_FEES |work=Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 |accessdate=30 March 2013 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6FVXBV3fo?url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Cable_Communications_Policy_Act_of_1984 |archive-date=30 March 2013 |url-status=dead ))</ref> Section 622, states that municipalities are entitled to a maximum of 5% of gross [[revenue]]s derived from the operation of the cable system for the provision of cable services such as [[Public, educational, and government access]] (PEG) TV channels.

==Controversy==
Section 542(f) of the Communications Act says "A cable operator may designate that portion of a subscriber's bill attributable to the franchise fee as a separate item on the bill."<ref name="Linder" />  Most cable providers choose to list this item on customer's bills, so every customer will see it each time they pay their bill. This fee has become a source of contention and controversy, since how franchise fees are characterized and billed can have a profound effect on public attitudes toward cable television.

Local governments generally would prefer this item not be listed on the bill.<ref name="Linder" />  Since the fee is paid to the government, when it is broken down on a per-customer basis on the bill it appears to be a tax on the customer, possibly igniting antipathy against government officials.<ref name="Linder" />  If it just appeared on accounting statements as a lump sum payment by the cable provider, it would be perceived by the public more as a fee-for-service,<ref name="Linder" /> which is how governments tend to regard it. However, the Communications Act provides the transparency of the franchise fee so that customers of the cable company understand the fee imposed by the government upon the cable company.

Cable providers, in contrast, see the fee as a cost of doing business which they are passing along to the customer.<ref name="Linder" />  By listing on their bill the portion attributable to the fee, customers may feel that government is responsible for that portion, not the cable provider. Also, since customers will notice any increase in the fee, and may interpret it as a "tax increase", listing it on the bill may discourage governments from pushing for an increase in the fee when the franchise agreement is renewed.

Justifications or rationales for the franchise fee fall into six basic categories:<ref name="Linder" /> 
*''Revenue'' - a source of general revenue for the government which can be raised without raising taxes.
*''Rent'' - rent for the use of public land as right-of-way by the company for its cables.
*''Exclusivity'' - compensation to the government for allowing the cable operator to maintain a de facto monopoly on cable service in the area.
*''Diversity'' - it is in the public interest to fund government facilities providing [[public, educational, and government access]] (PEG) channels that promote diversity in the community.  
*''Benefit'' - compensation for the public relations benefits the cable provider gains by having public, educational, and governmental channels on the cable.
*''Regulatory'' - compensation to the government for the cost of regulating cable television: consultants, auditors, administrators, and inspectors.

==References==
((Reflist|30em))

== See also==
*[[List of communities serviced by Comcast]]

[[Category:Cable television in the United States]]
[[Category:Television terminology]]

Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page (help):

Cable television franchise fee (edit)
Template:Ambox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Cite book (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite web (view source) (protected)
Template:Cleanup reorganize (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main other (view source) (protected)
Template:More citations needed (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Multiple issues (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Multiple issues/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:One source (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Primary sources (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Refimprove (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Reflist (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Arguments (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/blacklist (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/shared (view source) (protected)
Module:Check for unknown parameters (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1 (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Find sources (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/links (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/templates/Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Message box (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/ambox.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

Return to Cable television franchise fee.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_television_franchise_fee"