9-1413. Incumbent cable operator; procedure to continue operating under local license

A. If an incumbent cable operator does not timely elect to terminate a local license for a service area pursuant to section 9-1412, subsection B, the person shall continue to operate the cable system as a holdover cable operator within the service area defined in the local license and shall comply with the local license for as long as it remains in effect for the service area. The local license is not effective for the service area from and after the date the local license expires by its terms. The local government may not unilaterally renew or extend the term of the local license for the service area. The local government and the holdover cable operator shall comply with all of the following, which shall continue to apply to the local license:

1. Chapter 5, article 1.1 of this title.

2. Section 9-584.

3. Chapter 5, article 8 of this title.

4. Title 11, chapter 13, article 1.

B. To operate within a service area from and after the date the local license expires, the holdover cable operator must apply for and obtain a uniform video service license in the same manner as any other video service provider.

C. If a holdover cable operator is issued a uniform video service license with a service area that includes the service area defined under the local license while operating pursuant to the local license under subsection A of this section, the uniform video service license does not become effective until the local license expires.

D. A holdover cable operator that elects to apply for a uniform video service license shall do so at least one month before the local license expires.