§1365. State franchise; effect on existing local franchise agreement

A. Any incumbent service provider providing cable service or video service in this state on August 15, 2008, under a franchise previously granted by a local governmental subdivision is not subject to nor may it avail itself of the state-issued certificate of franchise authority provisions of this Chapter with respect to that local governmental subdivision until such franchise expires or as provided in this Section. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any such cable service provider or video service provider may offer cable service or video service under a state-issued certificate of franchise authority in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter upon meeting one of the following circumstances:

(1) Offering service in local governmental subdivisions where it currently does not have an existing franchise.

(2) The filing of a statement of termination in the form of an affidavit with the secretary of state setting forth a mutually agreed upon date to terminate the existing franchise set by both the local governmental subdivision issuing the existing franchise and the incumbent service provider subject to the existing franchise.

(3) The expiration, prior to renewal or extension, of its existing franchise.

(4) Termination of its existing franchise, as provided in Subsection B of this Section.

B. Any incumbent service provider shall have the option to terminate an existing franchise previously issued by a local governmental subdivision and may instead offer cable service or video service in such local governmental subdivision under a certificate of state franchise issued by the secretary of state in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 45:1364, provided the following requirements are satisfied by any such incumbent service provider:

(1) An incumbent service provider exercising its termination option shall file a statement of termination with the secretary of state in the form of an affidavit containing the information required by R.S. 45:1364(B) and submit copies of such filing with any affected local governmental subdivision. Termination of existing franchises is effective immediately upon the effective date of the certificate of state franchise issued by the secretary of state.

(2) An incumbent service provider shall remain, under the terms and conditions of the terminated franchise, subject to and obligated for any indebtedness, liability, or obligation that is accrued, due, and owing to a local governmental subdivision at the time the incumbent service provider terminates the existing franchise previously issued by said local governmental subdivision. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to release an incumbent service provider exercising the option to terminate from any such accrued, due and owing indebtedness, liability, or obligation.

(3) An incumbent service provider that elects to terminate its existing franchise for a local governmental subdivision shall remain subject to the contractual rights, duties, and obligations incurred by the incumbent service provider under the terms and conditions of the terminated local franchise that are owed to any private person, including a subscriber.

Acts 2008, No. 433, §1.