(a) When valuing possessory interests in real property created by the right to place wires, conduits, and appurtenances along or across public streets, rights-of-way, or public easements contained in either a cable franchise or license granted pursuant to Section 53066 of the Government Code (a “cable possessory interest”) or a state franchise to provide video service pursuant to Section 5840 of the Public Utilities Code (a “video possessory interest”), the assessor shall value these possessory interests consistent with the requirements of Section 401. The methods of valuation shall include, but not be limited to, the comparable sales method, the income method (including, but not limited to, capitalizing rent), or the cost method.

(b) (1) The preferred method of valuation of a cable television possessory interest or video service possessory interest by the assessor is capitalizing the annual rent, using an appropriate capitalization rate.

(2) For purposes of this section, the annual rent shall be that portion of that franchise fee received that is determined to be payment for the cable possessory interest or video service possessory interest for the actual remaining term or the reasonably anticipated term of the franchise or license or the appropriate economic rent. If the assessor does not use a portion of the franchise fee as the economic rent, the resulting assessments shall not benefit from any presumption of correctness.

(c) If the comparable sales method, which is not the preferred method, is used by the assessor to value a cable possessory interest or video service possessory interest when sold in combination with other property, including, but not limited to, intangible assets or rights, the resulting assessments shall not benefit from any presumption of correctness.

(d) Intangible assets or rights of a cable system or the provider of video services are not subject to ad valorem property taxation. These intangible assets or rights include, but are not limited to: franchises or licenses to construct, operate, and maintain a cable system or video service system for a specified franchise term (excepting therefrom that portion of the franchise or license which grants the possessory interest); subscribers, marketing, and programming contracts; nonreal property lease agreements; management and operating systems; a workforce in place; going concern value; deferred, startup, or prematurity costs; covenants not to compete; and goodwill. However, a cable possessory interest or video service possessory interest may be assessed and valued by assuming the presence of intangible assets or rights necessary to put the cable possessory interest or video service possessory interest to beneficial or productive use in an operating cable system or video service system.

(e) If a change in ownership of a cable possessory interest or video service possessory interest occurs, the person or legal entity required to file a statement pursuant to Section 480, 480.1, or 480.2 shall, at the request of the assessor, provide as a part of that statement the following, if applicable: confirmation of the sales price, allocation of the sales price among the counties, and gross revenue and franchise fee expenses of the cable system or video service system by county. Failure to provide the statement information shall result in a penalty as provided in Section 482, except that the maximum penalty shall be five thousand dollars ($5,000).

(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 179, Sec. 197. Effective January 1, 2009.)