Bill Text: NC S134 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended

North Carolina Senate Bill 134 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Winston-Salem Franchises

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-27 - Ref To Com On State and Local Government [S134 Detail]

Download: North_Carolina-2013-S134-Amended.html

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2013

S 1

SENATE BILL 134

Short Title: Winston‑Salem Franchises.		(Local)
Sponsors:	Senators Brunstetter and Parmon (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:	State and Local Government.

February 27, 2013

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT CONCERNING UTILITY FRANCHISES IN THE CITY OF WINSTON‑SALEM AND OTHER INCORPORATED MUNICIPALITIES AS TO THEIR TERRITORY WITHIN FORSYTH COUNTY.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1. G.S. 160A‑319 reads as rewritten:

"§ 160A‑319. Utility franchises.

(a) A city shall have authority to grant upon reasonable terms franchises for a telephone system and any of the enterprises listed in G.S. 160A‑311, except a cable television ~~system.~~ systems and those enterprises listed in G.S. 160A‑311(2) and (3). A franchise granted by a city authorizes the operation of the franchised activity within the city. No franchise shall be granted for a period of more than 60 years, except that a franchise for solid waste collection or disposal systems and facilities shall not be granted for a period of more than 30 years. Except as otherwise provided by law, when a city operates an enterprise, or upon granting a franchise, a city may by ordinance make it unlawful to operate an enterprise without a franchise.

(b) For the purposes of this section, "cable television system" means any system or facility that, by means of a master antenna and wires or cables, or by wires or cables alone, receives, amplifies, modifies, transmits, or distributes any television, radio, or electronic signal, audio or video or both, to subscribing members of the public for compensation. "Cable television system" does not include providing master antenna services only to property owned or leased by the same person, firm, or corporation, nor communication services rendered to a cable television system by a public utility that is regulated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission or the Federal Communications Commission in providing those services."

SECTION 2. This act applies only to the City of Winston‑Salem and to the area of any other incorporated municipality as to its territory within Forsyth County.

SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law.