Small, Mid-Sized Cable ISPs Urge FCC Adoption of LFA FNPRM

Small and mid-sized cable ISPs are asking the FCC to support tentative conclusions of the draft Further NPRM that would treat cable operators' in-kind contributions required by local franchise authorities as franchise fees and subject to a cap (see 1809250017). In a docket 05-311 posting Monday, 19 operators said LFAs increasingly demand they pay for new rights-of-way authority for offering broadband and other services over their already authorized facilities and for in-kind exactions above the 5 percent cap. Signatories included Cable One, Full Channel, Mediacom, Midcontinent, RCN Grande Wave, Shentel and TDS.