Missouri § 67.2705 - Discrimination prohibited — defense to alleged violation — annual report required — waiver permitted, when.

§ 67.2705. Discrimination prohibited — defense to alleged violation — annual report required — waiver permitted, when.

1.  A video service provider shall not deny access to service to any group of potential residential subscribers because of the race or income of the residents in the local area in which the group resides.

2.  It is a defense to an alleged violation of subsection 1 of this section if the video service provider has met either of the following conditions:

(1)  Within three years of the date it began providing video service under the provisions of sections 67.2675 to 67.2714, at least twenty-five percent of the households with access to the provider's video service are low-income households; or

(2)  Within five years of the date it began providing video service under the provisions of sections 67.2675 to 67.2714 at least thirty percent of the households with access to the provider's video service are low-income households.

3.  If a video service provider is using telecommunication facilities to provide video service and has more than one million telecommunication access lines in this state, the provider shall provide access to its video service to a number of households equal to at least twenty-five percent of the households in the provider's telecommunications service area in the state within three years of the date it began providing video service pursuant to authorization under sections 67.2675 to 67.2714 and to not less than fifty percent of such households within six years.  A video service provider is not required to meet the fifty percent requirement provided in this subsection until two years after at least thirty percent of the households with access to the provider's video service subscribe to the service for six consecutive months.

4.  Each provider described in subsection 3 of this section shall file an annual report with the franchising entities in which each provider provides service and the public service commission regarding the progress that has been made toward compliance with the provisions of subsection 3 of this section.

5.  Except for satellite service, a video service provider may satisfy the requirements of this section through the use of alternate technology that offers service, functionality, and content which is demonstrably similar to that provided through the provider's video service network and may include a technology that does not require the use of any public right-of-way.  The technology utilized to comply with the requirements of this section shall include local public, education, and government channels as required under section 67.2703 and messages over the emergency alert system as required under section 67.2683.

6.  A video service provider may apply to the public service commission for a waiver of or an extension of time to meet the requirements of this section if one or more of the following apply:

(1)  The inability to obtain access to public and private rights-of-way under reasonable terms and conditions;

(2)  Developments or buildings not being subject to competition because of existing exclusive service arrangements;

(3)  Developments or buildings being inaccessible using reasonable technical solutions under commercially reasonable terms and conditions;

(4)  Natural disasters; or

(5)  Factors beyond the control of the video service provider.

7.  The public service commission may grant the waiver or extension only if the provider has made substantial and continuous effort to meet the requirements of this section.  If an extension is granted, the public service commission shall establish a new compliance deadline.  If a waiver is granted, the public service commission shall specify the requirement or requirements waived.

8.  Notwithstanding any other provision of sections 67.2675 to 67.2714, a video service provider using telephone facilities to provide video service shall not be obligated to provide such service outside the provider's existing telephone exchange boundaries.

9.  Except as otherwise provided in sections 67.2675 to 67.2714, a video service provider shall not be required to comply with, and a franchising entity may not impose or enforce, any mandatory build-out or deployment provisions, schedules, or requirements except as required by this section.

10.  Any franchising entity in which a video service provider operates may file a complaint in a court of competent jurisdiction alleging a violation of subsection 1 or 3 of this section.  The court shall act on such complaint in accordance with section 67.2711.

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(L. 2007 S.B. 284)

---- end of effective  28 Aug 2007 ----

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