Tennessee § 7-59-307 - Restrictions to specified entities concerning negotiating cable or video services — Retail interconnected voice over Internet protocol service.

§ 7-59-307. Restrictions to specified entities concerning negotiating cable or video services — Retail interconnected voice over Internet protocol service.

Nothing in this part confers authority upon a municipality or county to require any cable or video service provider to negotiate a local cable or video service franchise agreement with a municipality or county. The decision to choose whether to utilize either a state-issued certificate of franchise authority or a local franchise is within the sole discretion of the cable or video service provider. In the event an entity or person is providing cable or video service on July 1, 2008, under a local franchise previously granted by a municipality or county that has expired, the entity or person shall, as a condition of continuing to provide cable or video service within the municipality or county, either negotiate a renewal of an expired local franchise agreement or apply for a state-issued certificate of franchise authority. In the event that a municipality or county is unable to successfully negotiate a renewal of an expired local franchise with an incumbent provider within one hundred eighty (180) days after July 1, 2008, a municipality or county may require the incumbent provider to seek a state-issued certificate of franchise authority. The submission of an application for a state-issued certificate of franchise authority shall constitute interim authority to continue to provide service pending action by the department. Part 1 of this chapter is specifically preserved for providers who seek a local franchise. Parts 1 and 2 of this chapter, including, but not limited to, the provisions prohibiting more favorable terms in § 7-59-203, shall have no application to the state-issued certificate of franchise authority established in this part, and parts 1 and 2 of this chapter shall not apply in any manner or impose restrictions or obligations upon the holder operating under a state-issued certificate of franchise authority. No municipality, county, franchising authority, state agency, or political subdivision of the state may impose any additional requirements or request anything of value not provided under this part or any other state law on the provision of cable or video service by any cable or video service provider operating under a state-issued certificate of franchise authority within its jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, any requirement regulating rates charged by the cable or video service provider or any requirement to deploy any facility or equipment. No franchising authority, state agency, municipality, county or political subdivision of the state is authorized to regulate the provision of retail interconnected voice over Internet protocol service. Acts 2008, ch. 932, § 8.