{
  "node_id": "us-cable-communications-policy-act",
  "title": "US Cable Communications Policy Act (47 USC ch 5 subch V-A): Franchising, Franchise Fees and Subscriber Privacy",
  "domain": "Telecoms & Digital Infrastructure",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "last_updated": "2026-05-26",
  "bluf": "The Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 (47 U.S.C. ch. 5, subchapter V-A) established the federal framework for the regulation of cable television systems and the relationship between cable operators and local franchising authorities, administered by the Federal Communications Commission alongside local authorities. Section 521 states the purposes, including establishing a national policy for cable communications and a franchise process. Section 522 supplies the definitions, including cable operator and cable system. Section 531 authorizes a franchising authority to require channel capacity for public, educational or governmental (PEG) use, and section 532 provides for commercial leased-access channels. Section 541 sets the general franchise requirements, including that a cable operator generally needs a franchise to provide service and limits on exclusive franchises. Section 542 limits franchise fees to no more than 5 percent of the operator's gross revenues from the cable service. Section 543 governs the regulation of rates. Section 551 protects subscriber privacy, restricting the collection and disclosure of personally identifiable information about subscribers, and section 552 addresses consumer protection and customer-service standards. The Act is the legal foundation of US cable franchising, the franchise-fee cap, and cable-subscriber privacy.",
  "paywall": {
    "status": "LOCKED",
    "unlock_cost_usd": "0.01",
    "skyfire_id": "41779894-ece2-4163-9761-b3b1b76e19b0"
  },
  "crosswalks": {
    "_available_keys": [
      "industry_mapping",
      "related_frameworks"
    ],
    "_note": "Full crosswalk values included in vault response"
  },
  "primary_citations_count": 8
}