HB2229 - 541R

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 9-1401, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE9-1401. Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Affiliate" means a person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a video service provider.

2. "Agreement" means any agreement or contract.

3. "Boundaries of a local government" or "boundaries" means:

(a) For a city or town, all of the area within the corporate limits of the city or town.

(b) For a county, all of the area of the county that is not within the corporate limits of any city or town, including unincorporated territory that is surrounded on all sides by a combination of one or more cities, towns or Indian reservations.

4. "Cable operator" has the same meaning prescribed in 47 United States Code section 522.

5. "Cable service" has the same meaning prescribed in 47 United States Code section 522.

6. "Cable system" has the same meaning prescribed in 47 United States Code section 522.

7. "Commercial mobile service provider" means a person that provides commercial mobile service as defined in 47 United States Code section 332(d) or commercial mobile radio service as described in 47 Code of Federal Regulations section 20.9 20.3.

8. "Day" means a calendar day, except a Saturday or Sunday or a holiday prescribed in section 1‑301.

9. "Gross revenue":

(a) Means all cash, credits, property of any kind or nature or other consideration that is received directly or indirectly by a video service provider, its affiliates, or any person, firm or corporation in which the video service provider has a financial interest or that has a financial interest in the video service provider and that is derived from the video service provider's operation of its video service network to provide video service in the service area.

(b) Includes all revenue from charges for video service to subscribers and all charges for installation, removal, connection or reinstatement of equipment necessary for a subscriber to receive video service and any other receipts from subscribers derived from the video service provider's operation of the video service network to provide video service, including receipts from forfeited deposits, sale or rental of equipment to provide video service, late charges, interest and sale of program guides.

(i) Any revenue not received, even if billed, such as bad debt net of any recoveries of bad debt or any refunds, credits, allowances or discounts to subscribers to the extent that the refund, rebate, credit, allowance or discount is attributed to video service.

(ii) Revenue from commercial advertising on the video service network, the use or lease of studio facilities of the video service network, internet access service, the use or lease of its facilities located in the highways, the use or lease of leased access channels or bandwidth, the use or lease of towers, the production of video programming by the video service provider, the sale, exchange, use or cablecast of any programming by the video service provider in the service area, sales to the video service provider's subscribers by programmers of home shopping services, reimbursements paid by programmers for launch fees or marketing expenses, license fees, taxes or other fees or charges that the video service provider collects and pays to any governmental authority, any increase in the value of any stock, security or asset, or any dividends or other distributions made from any stock or securities.

10. "Highway" means all roads, streets and alleys and other dedicated public rights-of-way that are operated and maintained by a local government.

11. "Holder" means a video service provider that has been issued a uniform video service license pursuant to this chapter.

12. "Holdover cable operator" means an incumbent cable operator that elects under sections 9‑1412 and 9‑1413 to continue to operate within its service area pursuant to its local license.

13. "Incumbent cable operator" means a cable operator or other video service provider that on December 31, 2019 is providing video service in this state pursuant to a local license.

14. "Information service" has the same meaning prescribed in 47 United States Code section 153.

15. "Interactive computer service" has the same meaning prescribed in 47 United States Code section 230(f).

16. "License" means a franchise as defined in 47 United States Code section 522.

17. "License fee" means a license fee imposed by a local government on a video service provider for using the highways to provide and for the privilege of providing video service.

18. "Local government" means any city, including a charter city, OR town or county.

19. "Local law" means any charter, code, ordinance, resolution, regulation or other law of a local government.

20. "Local license" means any license, agreement, permit or similar authorization that meets all of the following:

(a) Allows a person to construct or operate a video service network within the boundaries of a local government.

(b) Is issued, granted, approved, extended or renewed by the local government before January 1, 2020 pursuant to the authority of any federal, state or local law in effect at the time of the issuance, grant, approval, extension or renewal.

(c) Is effective under federal, state or local law on December 31, 2019 for the person to continue to construct or operate a video service network within the boundaries of a local government.

21. "Multichannel video programming distributor" has the same meaning prescribed in 47 United States Code section 522.

22. "Service area" means that part of the boundaries of a local government within which a video service provider is authorized to provide video service pursuant to a uniform video service license or a local license.

23. "Subscriber" means any person in this state that purchases video service. Subscriber does not include any person that purchases video service for resale and that, on resale, is required to pay a license fee pursuant to this chapter or the terms of a local license.

24. "Telecommunications":

(a) Means the transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user's choosing, without change in the form or content of the information sent and received, regardless of the facilities, equipment or technology used.

(b) Does not include commercial mobile radio service, pay phone service, interstate service or cable service.

25. "Telecommunications provider" means a person that is required to obtain from the corporation commission a certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide telecommunications service.

26. "Telecommunications service" means the offering of telecommunications for a fee directly to the public, or to such users as to be effectively available directly to the public, regardless of the equipment, facilities or technology used.

27. "Uniform video service license" means a license that is issued by a local government in the form of a uniform video service license agreement as adopted pursuant to section 9‑1411.

28. "Video service":

(a) Means the provision of multichannel video programming generally considered comparable to video programming delivered by a television broadcast station, video service or other digital television service, whether provided as part of a tier, on demand or on a per-channel basis, without regard to the technology used to deliver the video service, including internet protocol technology or any successor technology.

(b) Includes cable service.

(i) Video programming provided solely as part of, and through, a service that enables users to access content, information, e‑mail, messaging or other services that are offered via the public internet.

(ii) Direct broadcast satellite service.

(iii) Wireless multichannel video programming that is provided by a commercial mobile service provider.

29. "Video service network":

(a) Means a wireline network, or any component of a wireline network, that is located in this state, constructed in whole or in part in, on, under or over any highway and used to provide video service.

(b) Includes a cable system.

30. "Video service provider":

(a) Means any person that provides or offers to provide video service over a video service network to subscribers in this state.

(b) Includes an incumbent cable operator that elected pursuant to sections 9‑1412 and 9‑1413 to terminate its local license and a multichannel video programming distributor.

Sec. 2. Section 9-1415, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE9-1415. Authority granted by uniform video service license; conditions and limitations prohibited; providing video service

A. Not later than thirty days after the date an applicant files a completed application and affidavit pursuant to section 9‑1414, the local government shall issue a uniform video service license to the applicant in the form prescribed by section 9‑1411. If the local government does not notify the applicant about the completeness of the uniform video service license agreement within the time period prescribed by section 9‑1414, subsection D or issue the agreement within the time period required under this subsection, the agreement shall be considered complete and issued to the applicant in the form submitted.

B. The uniform video service license issued to an applicant, including an incumbent cable operator, by a local government is a nonexclusive license granting to the holder of the uniform video service license the authority for the term requested in the application to do all of the following:

1. Provide video service in all service areas designated in the application and affidavit filed with the local government.

2. Construct and operate a video service network in the highways in each service area in compliance with this chapter and all local laws that are not in conflict or otherwise do not conform to this chapter or and the purposes and objectives of this chapter.

3. Operate and maintain facilities installed in the highways in the service area under a local license pursuant to all of the following:

(a) Section 9‑506, subsections I and J.

(b) Section 9‑584.

C. A local government may not condition or limit a uniform video service license by imposing any obligation or requirement that is not authorized by this chapter, including any of the following:

1. Any office location, institutional network or other build-out, line extension, investment or other requirements relating to the overall scope, extent and timing of infrastructure, facilities or deployment of equipment.

2. Any requirements to pay to any person any application, document, license, service or other fee, tax, charge or assessment that is not authorized by this chapter.

D. A holder of a uniform video service license shall provide video service in accordance with the certifications made by the holder in each application and affidavit that the holder files with a local government pursuant to this article. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 9-1441, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE9-1441. Management of highways; local governments; permits or licenses

A. In managing a highway under local laws as prescribed in section 9‑1411, subsection C, paragraph 9, a local government may manage the use of the highway, including all of the following:

1. Requiring a video service provider that is constructing, installing, working within, maintaining or repairing facilities in, on, under or over any highway to obtain a construction, encroachment or occupancy permit for the work.

2. Inspecting the construction, installation, maintenance or repair work performed on such facilities.

3. Limiting the installation of new aerial facilities.

B. If a video service provider requests a permit or inspection, the local government shall grant or deny the request within the time frame that the local government has in place under section 9‑835 or 11‑1605.

C. If emergency response work or repair becomes necessary in, on, under or over any highway, a video service provider may begin that work or repair without prior approval from a local government if the video service provider notifies the local government as promptly as reasonably possible after learning that the work or repair is necessary. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Section 9-1442, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE9-1442. Fees and charges; emergency alert; damage; undergrounding; wireless facilities; definition

A. Except the license fee on gross revenue authorized by section 9‑1443 and transaction privilege taxes as provided in subsection B of this section, a local government may not levy a tax, rent, fee or charge, however denominated, on a video service provider for the use of the highways to provide video service or levy a tax, fee or charge on the privilege of engaging in the business of providing video service in the service area. Taxes, rents, fees and charges include all of the following:

1. Access channel support except for in-kind services, goods or payments as provided in subsection C of this section.

2. Rental, application, construction, permit, inspection, inconvenience and other fees and charges related to a video service provider's use of the highways, including the use authorized by subsection D of this section except that a local government may impose on a video service provider some or all of the fees and charges described in this paragraph. A video service provider shall offset the fees and charges imposed pursuant to this paragraph against the next license fee payment made pursuant to section 9‑1443.

B. Any transaction privilege taxes otherwise authorized by local law to be levied on the business of providing video service or in relation to use of the highways to provide video service may be levied on a video service provider if the taxes are levied only on gross revenue and the rate of the taxes is subject to this subsection. This subsection does not authorize the imposition of transaction privilege taxes on interstate telecommunications service. The license fee and any transaction privilege taxes levied on gross revenue constitute a franchise fee within the meaning of the term in 47 United States Code section 542(g). The total of the rates of the license fee and of any transaction privilege taxes on gross revenue levied or assessed by a local government for the privilege of providing video service and related use of the highways to provide video service may not exceed a rate of five percent.

C. Subsection A of this section does not prohibit a local government from levying fees and charges on a video service provider or its affiliates pursuant to section 9‑584 or pursuant to chapter 5, article 8 of this title or title 11, chapter 13, article 1 without an offset against license fees.

D. A local government may not require a video service provider to provide in‑kind goods or services, make in‑kind payments, assessments or obligations or pay a fee in addition to the monetary license fee levied or assessed as provided in section 9‑1443, except for any of the following:

1. A local law may impose and enforce obligations equally and uniformly on all video service providers that are operating within the boundaries of a local government and on all holdover cable operators that hold a local license that remains in effect under section 9‑1414, subsection A. Under the local law, a local government:

(a) May require all video service providers to provide channel capacity for the video service provider to transmit programming over which the video service provider exercises no editorial control except as authorized by 47 United States Code section 531(e). The channel capacity shall be limited to one of the following:

(i) Not more than two channels of public, educational or governmental access programming in the basic service tier of the video service network and not more than two channels of noncommercial governmental programming, at least one of which may be programmed by the federal government, in the digital programming tier of the video service network.

(ii) Not more than two lines of access programming with each line of programming carried on up to two standard definition channels and two switched digital high-definition channels.

(b) Shall specify the programming and the video service provider may require that the channels regularly display an unobtrusive logo or other suitable identifier of the video service provider, if the local government requires channel capacity pursuant to subdivision (a) of this paragraph.

(c) May require all video service providers to incur costs and expenses to provide, maintain and operate facilities and equipment of the video service network, including facilities and equipment for signal carriage, processing, reformatting and interconnection for all of the following:

(i) To connect the video service network or cable system, as it may be relocated from time to time, to transmit programming to and from existing locations of public, educational or governmental access facilities and to allow monitoring of access programming at the facilities.

(ii) To transmit public, educational and governmental access channels to subscribers with the same prevailing quality, functionality and identification as other channels.

(d) May require all video service providers and incumbent cable operators to provide at no initial or recurring charge the basic service tier of video service to one outlet and one receiving device at each building occupied by the local government if the building is not more than two hundred feet from the nearest technically and commercially feasible point of connection on the video service network.

2. A local government may retain nonreceiving equipment that it owns without charge for the equipment's use and at the local government's expense, including equipment previously provided by an incumbent cable operator.

E. A local law may not impose any obligation on a video service provider under subsection D of this section that is more burdensome than the least burdensome requirement under any local license with a service area within the boundaries of the local government that was in effect on February 1, 2019.

F. None of the annual fair market value of any channel capacity provided pursuant to subsection D, paragraph 1, subdivision (a), the annual costs and expenses incurred pursuant to subsection D, paragraph 1, subdivision (c) and the annual fair market value of basic service and line extension provided pursuant to subsection D, paragraph 1, subdivision (d) may be offset against the license fee levied or assessed under this section.

G. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, by a nondiscriminatory local law that imposes and enforces the obligations equally and uniformly on all video service providers operating within the boundaries of a local government, a local government may require that a video service provider bear all of the reasonable costs that are associated with repair and restoration of damage caused to private property or highways by the repair, replacement, installation, construction, maintenance or operation of the video service provider's facilities in the highways and that are imposed on a competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory basis in relation to costs borne by telecommunications corporations under section 9‑582, subsection C.

H. On application, a local government shall issue to a video service provider or its affiliate a permit to attach allowed Wi‑Fi radio equipment to the video service network in the highways within the boundaries of the local government. The permit shall allow installation, operation and maintenance of allowed Wi-Fi radio equipment. A local government may require that all of the allowed Wi‑Fi radio equipment at a single location fit within a fifteen‑inch cube and be contained entirely within a ground‑mounted pedestal or be connected directly to and mounted at the same height as one of the video service provider's aerial horizontal conductors. This subsection does not do any of the following:

1. Prohibit a local government from requiring a video service provider to place underground aerial facilities to which allowed Wi‑Fi equipment is attached.

2. Prohibit the imposition of a tax, rent, fee or charge on revenue from services provided through allowed Wi-Fi radio equipment.

3. Affect the authority of a local government to manage the highways within its boundaries or to exercise its police powers, including review and approval of an application before issuing a permit.

4. Affect any authority of a political subdivision, including an agricultural improvement district or any other special taxing district, the local government or any other person controlling utility poles in the highways to deny, limit, restrict or determine the terms and conditions for the use of or attachment to the utility poles or attachments to other poles of the political subdivision, local government or other person by a video service provider.

I. This section does not prohibit a video service provider from agreeing with a local government to provide in‑kind services or goods or make in‑kind payments in the service area that are otherwise prohibited by this section if the agreement with the local government is not entered into as a condition of operating in the service area under a uniform video service license issued pursuant to this chapter. The agreement may authorize the video service provider to retain license fees and taxes collected from its subscribers in the amount of any offset to license fees specified in the agreement.

J. For the purposes of this section, "allowed Wi‑Fi radio equipment" means radio equipment that uses only unlicensed radio spectrum and that enables wireless communication with a communications network for unlicensed services such as Wi‑Fi service. END_STATUTE

Sec. 5. Section 9-1444, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE9-1444. Ownership of a video service network

A. A city or town local government may not acquire an ownership interest in a video service network unless the ownership interest is acquired at not less than fair market value.

B. Except for the purposes of acting as an intermediary in a transfer of a uniform video service license, a county may not own a video service network. END_STATUTE

Sec. 6. Section 9-1445, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE9-1445. Review and audit; bundling discounts; action to recover underpayment or overpayment

A. Not more than once every three years, a local government, may on reasonable written notice, may audit the business books and records of a video service provider to the extent necessary to ensure payment of license fees pursuant to this chapter. The local government may not audit any period that ends more than three years before the date that the notice of audit is received. Any audits audit of a period of time before issuance of a uniform video service license shall be conducted pursuant to the local laws in effect during the period of time.

B. Except as otherwise provided by federal law, if a video service provider offers video service bundled with other services that are not video service for a single discounted price, all of the following apply:

1. The method that the video service provider uses to determine gross revenue subject to license fees by allocating the single discounted price among the bundle of video service and nonvideo services shall be reasonable and supported by the video service provider's books and records.

2. The local government shall accept as reasonable, for purposes of meeting the video service provider's burden of proof, an allocation based on an objective and verifiable method using the books and records that the video service provider kept in the regular course of business for other purposes, including nontax purposes.

3. A video service provider may not use bundled offerings as a means to evade paying license fees.

C. The local government and the video service provider shall each pay its own costs and fees relating to each audit performed pursuant to subsection A of this section. If the sum determined to be underpaid exceeds five percent of the total fees that the audit determines should have been paid for the period, the video service provider shall pay the local government's reasonable costs of the audit.

D. The rate of interest for both underpayments and overpayments is the federal short-term rate determined pursuant to 26 United States Code section 6621(b), plus three percentage points.

E. A person that performs a review and audit under subsection A of this section may not receive compensation that is based, in whole or in part, on either of the following:

1. Finding a particular result.

2. The amount of any underpayment or overpayment of the license fee that is identified because of the review and audit.

F. A complaint by a local government for underpayment of a license fee from a video service provider or by a video service provider for overpayment of a license fee to a local government shall be made pursuant to article 5 of this chapter.

G. A complaint for a violation of the license fee obligations under this chapter may not be made unless a written demand by a local government for payment of the license fees or a written demand by a video service provider for refund of license fees is made within four months after the local government or video service provider realizes it has been damaged or knows or reasonably should know of the damage caused by the alleged violation.

H. A complaint must be filed pursuant to article 5 of this chapter within two years after the written demand is made pursuant to this subsection g of this section but not sooner than four months after the written demand. END_STATUTE

Sec. 7. Section 9-1451, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE9-1451. Enforcement; office of administrative hearings; fees; fund

A. A local government may file a written complaint against a video service provider and a video service provider may file a written complaint against a local government alleging a violation of this chapter or the uniform video service license agreement. Unless otherwise provided in section 9‑1445, subsections F, G and H or this section:

1. All complaints must be filed with the office of administrative hearings.

2. The complainant must serve a copy of the complaint on the party that is the subject of the complaint by personal delivery or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by any other method reasonably calculated to effect actual notice to the local government's last address of record for the party that is the subject of the complaint.

3. The party that is the subject of the complaint may file a response to the complaint with the office of administrative hearings within twenty days after service pursuant to paragraph 2 of this subsection. Responses shall be served pursuant to paragraph 2 of this subsection.

B. Before filing a complaint pursuant to this section all both of the following apply:

1. The complainant must provide notice of the alleged violation of this chapter to the party that is the subject of the complaint.

2. The party that is the subject of the complaint must have a period of not less than twenty days after the date it receives the notice to resolve the alleged violation.

C. Subsection B of this section does not apply to a complaint made in a written demand pursuant to section 9-1445, subsection G.

C. D. A hearing before the office of administrative hearings shall be held if a complaint that complies with this section is filed with the office of administrative hearings. Unless other deadlines are established for a particular complaint, all of the following apply:

1. The hearing shall be held within two months after the date that the complaint is filed and service is completed pursuant to subsection A of this section.

2. The date scheduled for the hearing may be advanced or delayed on the agreement of the parties or on a showing of good cause.

D. E. The office of administrative hearings shall prepare and serve a notice of hearing on all parties at least one month before the hearing that states the time and place of the hearing.

E. F. A prehearing conference may be held pursuant to section 41‑1092.05.

F. G. Unless it conflicts with the requirements of this section, the hearing shall be conducted pursuant to section 41-1092.07.

G. H. The complainant has the burden of persuasion at a hearing under this section.

H. I. The decision of the administrative law judge is the final administrative decision with respect to the complaint. The office of administrative hearings shall serve a copy of the administrative law judge's decision on all parties. The final administrative decision may be appealed to the superior court pursuant to title 12, chapter 7, article 6. Notwithstanding section 12‑910, The superior court proceeding shall be a trial de novo.

I. J. A party may move for rehearing pursuant to section 41‑1092.09 and the office of administrative hearings shall rule on the motion. Moving for rehearing or review is not necessary for the party to seek judicial review of the decision of the administrative law judge under subsection H I of this section.

J. K. Service is complete on personal service or five days after the date that the office of administrative hearings mails the final administrative decision to each party's last known address of record with the local government.

K. L. The office of administrative hearings shall adopt rules pursuant to title 41, chapter 6 to administer hearings under this chapter and title 11, chapter 14. The rules shall apply uniformly to hearings involving local governments and counties.

L. M. The office of administrative hearings shall establish, administer and collect fees in an amount to be determined by the director of the office of administrative hearings. The director shall deposit, pursuant to sections 35‑146 and 35‑147, all monies in the video service provider complaint fund established by subsection M N of this section.

M. N. The video service provider complaint fund is established consisting of monies collected pursuant to subsection L M of this section and section 11-1951, subsection M. The office of administrative hearings shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated. The office of administrative hearings shall use the monies in the fund for the purpose of administering the duties specified in this article and title 11, chapter 14, article 5. END_STATUTE

Sec. 8. Title 11, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding chapter 14, to read:

CHAPTER 14

VIDEO SERVICE

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

START_STATUTE11-1901. Definitions

A. In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Affiliate" means a person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a video service provider.

2. "Agreement" means any agreement or contract.

3. "Boundaries of a county" or "boundaries" means all of the area of the county that is not within the corporate limits of any city or town, including unincorporated territory that is surrounded on all sides by a combination of one or more cities, towns or Indian reservations.

4. "Cable operator" has the same meaning prescribed in 47 United States Code section 522.

5. "Cable service" has the same meaning prescribed in 47 United States Code section 522.

6. "Cable system" has the same meaning prescribed in 47 United States Code section 522.

8. "Day" means a calendar day, except a Saturday or Sunday or a holiday prescribed in section 1-301.

9. "Gross revenue":

(i) any revenue not received, even if billed, such as bad debt net of any recoveries of bad debt or any refunds, rebates, credits, allowances or discounts to subscribers to the extent that the refund, rebate, credit, allowance or discount is attributed to video service.

(ii) Revenue from commercial advertising on the video service network, the use or lease of studio facilities of the video service network, internet access service, the use or lease of its facilities located in the highways, the use or lease of leased access channels or bandwidth, the use or lease of towers, the production of video programming by the video service provider, the sale, exchange, use or cablecast of any programming by the video service provider in the service area, sales to the video service provider's subscribers by programmers of home shopping services, reimbursements paid by programmers for launch fees or marketing expenses, license fees, taxes or other fees or charges that the video service provider collects and pays to any governmental authority, any increase in the value of any stock, security or asset or any dividends or other distributions made from any stock or securities.

10. "Highway" means all roads, streets and alleys and other dedicated public rights-of-way that are operated and maintained by the county.

11. "Holder" means a video service provider that has been issued a uniform video service license pursuant to this chapter.

12. "Holdover cable operator" means an incumbent cable operator that elects under sections 11-1912 and 11-1913 to continue to operate within its service area pursuant to its local license.

13. "Incumbent cable operator" means a cable operator or other video service provider that on December 31, 2019 is providing video service in this state pursuant to a local license.

14. "Information service" has the same meaning prescribed in 47 United States Code section 153.

15. "Interactive computer service" has the same meaning prescribed in 47 United States Code section 230(f).

16. "License" means a franchise as defined in 47 United States Code section 522.

17. "License fee" means a license fee imposed by a county on a video service provider for using the highways to provide and for the privilege of providing video service.

18. "Local law" means any code, ordinance, resolution, regulation or other law of a county.

19. "Local license" means any license, agreement, permit or similar authorization that meets all of the following:

(a) Allows a person to construct or operate a video service network within the boundaries of a county.

(b) Is issued, granted, approved, extended or renewed by the county before January 1, 2020 pursuant to the authority of any federal, state or local law in effect at the time of the issuance, grant, approval, extension or renewal.

(c) Is effective under federal, state or local law on December 31, 2019 for the person to continue to construct or operate a video service network within the boundaries of a county.

20. "Multichannel video programming distributor" has the same meaning prescribed in 47 United States Code section 522.

21. "Service area" means that part of the boundaries of a county within which a video service provider is authorized to provide video service pursuant to a uniform video service license or a local license.

22. "Subscriber" means any person in this state that purchases video service. Subscriber does not include any person that purchases video service for resale and that, on resale, is required to pay a license fee pursuant to this chapter or the terms of a local license.

23. "Telecommunications":

(b) Does not include commercial mobile radio service, pay phone service, interstate service or cable service.

24. "Telecommunications provider" means a person that is required to obtain from the corporation commission a certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide telecommunications service.

25. "Telecommunications service" means the offering of telecommunications for a fee directly to the public, or to such users as to be effectively available directly to the public, regardless of the equipment, facilities or technology used.

26. "Uniform video service license" means a license that is issued by a county in the form of uniform video service license agreement as adopted pursuant to section 11-1911.

27. "Video service":

(b) Includes cable service.

(i) Video programming provided solely as part of, and through, a service that enables users to access content, information, e-mail, messaging or other services that are offered via the public internet.

(ii) Direct broadcast satellite service.

(iii) Wireless multichannel video programming that is provided by a commercial mobile service provider.

28. "Video service network":

(b) Includes a cable system.

29. "Video service provider":

(a) Means any person that provides or offers to provide video service over a video service network to subscribers in this state.

(b) Includes an incumbent cable operator that elected pursuant to sections 11-1912 and 11-1913 to terminate its local license and a multichannel video programming distributor.

START_STATUTE11-1902. State preemption; uniform regulation and licensing

A. The licensing of video service providers and the regulation and use of video service are matters of statewide concern. Except as provided in this chapter, the licensing of video service providers and the regulation and use of video service are not subject to further regulation by a county. The regulation of video service pursuant to this chapter, including application to the local licenses of incumbent cable operators, is reasonable and necessary to promote all of the following:

1. Provision of competitive video, telecommunications and information service throughout this state.

2. More uniform regulation of competitive video service throughout this state.

3. Streamlined licensing by counties and more uniform terms and conditions for video service providers that use highways to provide video and other services over video service networks.

4. Continued management by counties of use of their highways with reasonable burdens on construction and maintenance across boundaries for video service providers to use highways to provide video and other services over video service networks.

5. Continued levying of license fees by counties on subscriber service revenues derived from operating video service networks to provide video service.

6. Support for federal subscriber service standards.

B. To the fullest extent allowed by federal law, this chapter occupies the entire field of licensing and regulation of video service.

C. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, from and after December 31, 2019 this chapter preempts and limits the ability of a county to regulate or enforce all of the following:

1. The application of title 9, chapter 5, article 1.1 to video service providers.

2. Any local law and any agreement with a county that does any of the following:

(a) Requires a person other than a holdover cable operator to obtain or hold from a county any license, permit or similar authorization that is a prerequisite to providing video service or to constructing, maintaining or using the highways to operate a video service network in the highways within its boundaries.

(b) Regulates the provision of video service or the construction or operation of a video service network if the local law does not conform to this chapter.

(c) Imposes on a video service provider any requirement that is related to infrastructure, facilities or deployment of equipment that does not conform to this chapter, including office location, institutional network, build-out, line extension, investment or other operational requirements that are not directly related to the county's management of development, use and occupancy of the highways.

(d) Requires a video service provider to obtain a license or other authorization from the county to provide telecommunications service, information service, interactive computer service or other service if the video service provider uses its video service network within the boundaries of the county to provide the service.

(e) Requires a video service provider to pay to locate in ducts or conduits or on poles owned by the county if the county requires installation in the ducts or conduits or on the poles. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1903. Limited application

This chapter does not:

1. Prevent a telecommunications provider from exercising any rights or authority that the telecommunications provider has as a public utility under federal or state law.

2. Affect any authority of a county, an agricultural improvement district, any special taxing district or any other person that controls utility poles on the highways to deny, limit, restrict or determine the rates, terms and conditions for the use of or attachment by a video service provider to utility or other poles owned by the county or other person. For the purposes of this paragraph, "authority of a county" includes police powers.

3. Vest in the corporation commission any authority or jurisdiction over video service, video service providers or video service networks or over the rates, terms and conditions of pole attachments under 47 United States Code section 224.

4. Affect or preempt any generally applicable local laws, including a county's police power, to manage use and occupancy of the highways within the county's boundaries or to exercise the county's police powers if the county applies the local laws and exercise of police powers to all users of the highways in a nondiscriminatory manner. END_STATUTE

ARTICLE 2. LOCAL LICENSES

START_STATUTE11-1911. Counties; uniform video service license agreement; forms; provisions

A. From and after December 31, 2019, a county has the exclusive authority to issue a uniform video service license to a person to provide video service and to construct and operate a video service network in any service area within its boundaries.

B. Not later than the effective date of this section, each county shall adopt a standard form of uniform video service license agreement for video service providers to be used by the county and a standard form of application and affidavit as described in section 11-1914. A county shall prescribe other forms only as necessary to implement this chapter.

C. The uniform video service license agreement adopted under subsection B of this section must include all of the following provisions in substantially the following form and may not include any other provisions:

1. The name of the video service provider, its type of entity and its jurisdiction of formation.

2. The address and telephone number of the video service provider's principal place of business.

3. The name and address of the video service provider's principal executive officers or general partners and any persons authorized to represent the video service provider before the county.

4. If the video service provider is not an incumbent cable operator, the date on which the provider expects to provide video service in the area identified under paragraph 5 of this subsection.

5. An exact description of the service area to be served, as identified by a geographic information system digital boundary that meets or exceeds national map accuracy standards.

6. A requirement that the video service provider pay the license fees required under this chapter and all other lawful fees and charges imposed by the county.

7. A requirement that the video service provider file in a timely manner with the federal communications commission all forms required by that agency before offering video service in the service area, including the forms required by 47 Code of Federal Regulations section 76.1801.

8. A requirement that the video service provider agrees to comply with and be subject to all valid and enforceable federal and state laws.

9. A requirement that the video service provider agrees to comply with all generally applicable, nondiscriminatory local laws, including highway use, mapping, insurance, performance bonds, security fund, indemnification or similar requirements that apply to the use and occupation of any highway and that conform to this chapter.

10. A requirement that the video service provider comply with the public, education and government programming requirements of this chapter.

11. A requirement that the video service provider comply with all customer service rules of the federal communications commission under 47 Code of Federal Regulations section 76.309(c) applicable to cable operators.

12. A requirement that the video service provider comply with the consumer privacy requirements of 47 United States Code section 551 applicable to cable operators.

13. A grant of authority by the county to provide video service in the service area as described under paragraph 5 of this subsection.

14. A grant of authority by the county to use and occupy the highways in the delivery of the video service, subject to the laws of this state and the police powers of the county.

15. The term of the uniform video service license.

16. A requirement that the parties to the agreement are subject to and must comply with this chapter.

D. except as otherwise provided in this chapter, from and after December 31, 2019 a person may not act as a video service provider or construct or operate a video service network within the boundaries of a county without first having been issued and continuing to hold a uniform video service license with a service area encompassing the boundaries.

E. A local license shall remain enforceable in accordance with its terms until terminated under section 11-1912, subsection B. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1912. Incumbent cable operator; election on local license; procedure to obtain uniform video service license and terminate local license

A. From and after December 31, 2019, an incumbent cable operator may elect to do either of the following:

1. Continue to operate within a service area as defined in the local license pursuant to section 11-1913.

2. Terminate the incumbent cable operator's local license for a service area by applying for and obtaining a uniform video service license pursuant to this article.

b. On or before July 1, 2020, to elect to terminate a local license under subsection a of this section in the same manner as any other video service provider, an incumbent cable operator shall apply for a uniform video service license that includes only the service area that is defined in the local license. If an incumbent cable operator obtains a uniform video service license for the service area, both of the following apply:

1. The applicant's local license is terminated as to the service area by operation of law from and after the date the county issues the uniform video service license.

2. The incumbent cable operator shall operate within the service area defined in the local license unless the incumbent cable operator elects under section 11-1914, subsection C to apply for a uniform video service license for a service area that consists of the boundaries of the county. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1913. Incumbent cable operator; procedure to continue operating under local license

A. If an incumbent cable operator does not timely elect to terminate a local license for a service area pursuant to section 11-1912, subsection B, the person shall continue to operate the cable system as a holdover cable operator within the service area defined in the local license and shall comply with the local license for as long as it remains in effect for the service area. The local license is not effective for the service area from and after the date the local license expires by its terms. The county may not unilaterally renew or extend the term of the local license for the service area. The county and the holdover cable operator shall comply with all of the following, which shall continue to apply to the local license:

1. Title 9, chapter 5, article 1.1.

2. Section 9-584.

3. Title 9, chapter 5, article 8.

4. Chapter 13, article 1 of this title.

B. To operate within a service area from and after the date the local license expires, the holdover cable operator must apply for and obtain a uniform video service license in the same manner as any other video service provider.

C. If a holdover cable operator is issued a uniform video service license with a service area that includes the service area defined under the local license while operating pursuant to the local license under subsection a of this section, the uniform video service license does not become effective until the local license expires.

D. A holdover cable operator that elects to apply for a uniform video service license shall do so at least one month before the local license expires. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1914. Uniform video service license; application; fees

A. To obtain a uniform video service license, a person shall file with the clerk of the county an application and affidavit that are signed by one of the principal executive officers or general partners of the applicant and that comply with this section.

B. The application and affidavit shall be in the form required by the county and shall be required to contain all of and not more than the following:

1. Each service area in which the applicant intends to provide video service in the format as described in section 11-1911, subsection C. Except as provided in section 11-1912, subsection B, paragraph 2, under a uniform video service license the boundaries of the county are a single service area and the service area consists of all of the territory within the boundaries of that county.

2. The information prescribed by section 11-1911, subsection C, paragraphs 1 through 4. The holder shall notify the county in writing of changes to this information within thirty days after the change occurs.

3. The term of the uniform video service license, which may not exceed ten years.

4. An agreement to pay all lawful fees and charges imposed by the county.

C. An incumbent cable operator described in section 11-1912, subsection B, paragraph 2 may elect to apply for a uniform video service license for a service area that consists of the boundaries of a county.

D. If the county determines that the application and affidavit are incomplete or otherwise deficient for failure to comply with this section, the county shall provide written notice to the applicant not later than fifteen days after the date of filing of the application and affidavit. The written notice shall do both of the following:

1. Explain the incompleteness or deficiency in detail.

2. Specify the information or other items that are necessary under this section for proper completion of the application and affidavit.

E. The county may not do any of the following:

1. Charge a fee for filing or processing an application, affidavit, notice or other document under this chapter.

2. Vote on or take other official action regarding the application, affidavit, notice or other document.

3. Require the applicant to obtain the approval of the county regarding the application, affidavit, notice or other document.

4. Require the applicant to enter into an agreement as described in section 11-1942, subsection I. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1915. Authority granted by uniform video service license; conditions and limitations prohibited; providing video service

A. Within the time frame that the county has in place under section 11-1605 but not later than forty-five days after the date an applicant files a completed application and affidavit pursuant to section 11-1914, the county shall issue a uniform video service license to the applicant in the form prescribed by section 11-1911. If the county does not notify the applicant about the completeness of the uniform video service license agreement within the time period prescribed by section 11-1914, subsection D or issue the agreement within the time period required under this subsection, the agreement shall be considered complete and issued to the applicant in the form submitted.

B. The uniform video service license issued to an applicant, including an incumbent cable operator, by a county is a nonexclusive license granting to the holder of the uniform video service license the authority for the term requested in the application to do all of the following:

1. Provide video service in all service areas designated in the application and affidavit filed with the county.

2. Construct and operate a video service network in the highways in each service area in compliance with this chapter and all local laws that conform to this chapter and the purposes and objectives of this chapter.

c. A county may not condition or limit a uniform video service license by imposing any obligation or requirement that is not authorized by this chapter, including any of the following:

2. Any requirements to pay to any person any application, document, license, service or other fee, tax, charge or assessment that is not authorized by this chapter.

START_STATUTE11-1916. Amendment of uniform video service license to add service area

A. To add one or more new service areas to a uniform video service license, the holder shall file with the clerk of the county an application for an amendment to the uniform video service license to add each new service area.

b. The application is subject to the same procedures, requirements, limitations and time periods as an application for issuance of a uniform video service license pursuant to sections 11-1914 and 11-1915. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1917. Termination of service

A. To terminate the authority to provide video service to an existing service area authorized under the uniform video service license, the holder of the uniform video service license shall file with the clerk of the county written notice of the termination.

B. The holder may terminate service on and after the date that the holder files the written notice with the clerk of the county.

c. The holder shall:

1. Comply with applicable federal laws, including rules and regulations of the federal communications commission.

2. Give all affected subscribers and counties notice at least ninety days before termination of service in all of a service area that consists of the boundaries of the county. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1918. Boundary change

Each county whose boundaries change shall notify in a timely manner each video service provider that operates in the boundaries. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1919. Transfer of uniform video service license

A. Except as otherwise provided in this section or otherwise required by federal law, including rules and regulations of the federal communications commission, a uniform video service license is fully transferable to any person whether the transfer arises through merger, sale, assignment, restructuring, change of control or other type of transaction. A transfer does not include an assignment of a uniform video service license for the purpose of securing indebtedness. A transfer may include less than all service areas associated with a uniform video service license.

B. The holder shall file with the clerk of the county written notice of the transfer of the uniform video service license. On the filing of notice under this subsection, the transferee becomes the holder. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1920. Extension

A. To extend the term of a uniform video service license, the holder of the uniform video service license shall file with the clerk of the county at least one month before the end of the term of the uniform video service license a notice to extend the term for a specified period not to exceed ten years.

B. Effective on the date the holder files the written notice with the clerk of the county, the term is extended for the specified period from and after the date of the end of the then-current term.

C. Transferring, amending or modifying a uniform video service license under other sections of this article does not extend the term of the uniform video service license. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1921. Subscriber complaints

A. A subscriber may submit complaints about video service to any of the following:

1. The county where the subscriber resides.

2. The attorney general.

3. The federal communications commission.

4. Other authorities as provided by law.

B. A county may choose to monitor and assist subscribers with the subscriber service standards pursuant to 47 Code of Federal Regulations section 76.309(c) or to be identified on bills to subscribers as the local franchise authority for a service area consistent with rules of the federal communications commission. END_STATUTE

ARTICLE 3. DUTIES OF VIDEO SERVICE PROVIDERS

START_STATUTE11-1931. Video service; revocation for nonuse

A. Not later than twenty-four months after the date that a county issues a uniform video service license pursuant to sections 11-1914 and 11-1915 or an amended uniform video service license pursuant to section 11-1916, the holder of the uniform video service license shall offer and provide video service to at least one subscriber within each service area authorized by the uniform video service license or amended uniform video service license unless the holder cannot meet the requirement for reasons beyond the holder’s control.

B. If a holder fails to comply with subsection A of this section, a county may revoke the holder's uniform video service license for affected service areas. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1932. Reports; confidentiality; definition

A. A video service provider that is not an incumbent cable operator and that holds a uniform video service license with a service area within the boundaries of a county shall prepare and submit to the county a semiannual report that identifies the locations within the boundaries that are able to receive video service from the video service provider. This reporting requirement applies until the video service provider has constructed all of the facilities the video service provider intends to construct within the boundaries of the county.

B. The video service provider shall file the report with the county not later than twenty days after the last day of the second and fourth calendar quarters of each year.

C. Information contained in a report that is submitted to a county pursuant to this section:

1. Is confidential proprietary information of the video service provider.

2. Is not a public record.

3. Must be managed so that any critical infrastructure information contained in the report is protected as provided by law.

4. May not be disclosed to any person who is not an officer or employee of the county unless the video service provider has consented in writing to the disclosure.

D. For the purposes of this section, "critical infrastructure information" has the same meaning prescribed in section 41-1801. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1933. Nondiscriminatory manner; compliance with standards and federal law

A. A video service provider shall activate and offer video service in a nondiscriminatory manner within each service area and may not deny access to video service to any group of potential residential subscribers within a particular part of a service area because of the income profile of the persons who reside in that part of the service area.

B. In providing video service, a video service provider shall comply with all of the following:

1. 47 United States Code section 551.

2. All engineering and safety codes applicable to the video service provider's construction practices and installation of equipment.

3. Any technical standards governing the design, construction and operation of a video service network required by federal law.

4. 47 code of federal regulations part 11, as adopted and as may be amended by the federal communications commission, to the extent those provisions require a video service provider to participate in the emergency alert system.

5. 47 Code of Federal Regulations sections 76.309, 76.1601, 76.1602, 76.1603, 76.1604, 76.1618, 76.1619, 76.1620, 76.1621 and 76.1622, as adopted and as may be amended by the federal communications commission, on standards governing the quality of video service and subscriber service. A video service provider may not be required to comply with any subscriber service standards that are more burdensome than those set forth in this paragraph. END_STATUTE

ARTICLE 4. COUNTIES

START_STATUTE11-1941. Management of highways; counties; permits or licenses

A. In managing a highway under local laws described in section 11‑1911, subsection C, paragraph 9, a county may manage the use of the highway including all of the following:

2. Inspecting the construction, installation, maintenance or repair work performed on such facilities.

3. Limiting installation of new aerial facilities.

b. If a video service provider requests a permit or inspection, the county shall grant or deny the request within the time frame that the county has in place under section 11-1605.

c. If emergency response work or repair becomes necessary in, on, under or over any highway, a video service provider may begin that work or repair without prior approval from a county if the video service provider notifies the county as promptly as reasonably possible after learning that the work or repair is necessary. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1942. Fees and charges; emergency alert; damage; undergrounding; wireless facilities; definition

A. Except the license fee on gross revenue authorized by section 11-1943 and excise taxes as provided in subsection B of this section, a county may not levy a tax, rent, fee or charge, however denominated, on a video service provider for the use of the highways to provide video service or levy a tax, fee or charge on the privilege of engaging in the business of providing video service in the service area. Taxes, rents, fees and charges include all of the following:

1. Access channel support except for in-kind services, goods or payments as provided in subsection c of this section.

2. Rental, application, construction, permit, inspection, inconvenience and other fees and charges related to a video service provider's use or occupancy of the highways, including the use authorized by subsection D of this section except that a county may impose on a video service provider some or all of the fees and charges described in this paragraph. A video service provider shall offset the fees and charges imposed pursuant to this paragraph against the next license fee payment made pursuant to section 11-1943.

B. Any excise taxes otherwise authorized by local law to be levied on the business of providing video service or in relation to use of the highways to provide video service may be levied on a video service provider if the taxes are levied only on gross revenue and the rate of the taxes is subject to this subsection. This subsection does not authorize the imposition of excise taxes on interstate telecommunications service. The license fee and any excise taxes levied on gross revenue constitute a franchise fee within the meaning of the term in 47 United States Code section 542(g). The total of the rates of the license fee and of any excise taxes on gross revenue levied or assessed by a county for the privilege of providing video service and related use of the highways to provide video service may not exceed a rate of five percent.

c. Subsection A of this section does not prohibit a county from levying fees and charges on a video service provider or its affiliates pursuant to section 9-584 or chapter 13, article 1 of this title without an offset against license fees.

D. A county may not require a video service provider to provide in‑kind goods or services, make in-kind payments, assessments or obligations or pay a fee in addition to the monetary license fee levied or assessed as provided in section 11-1943, except for any of the following:

1. A local law may impose and enforce obligations equally and uniformly on all video service providers that are operating within the boundaries of a county and on all holdover cable operators that hold a local license that remains in effect under section 11-1914, subsection A. Under the local law, a county:

(ii) Not more than two lines of access programming with each line of programming carried on up to two standard definition channels and two switched digital high-definition channels.

(b) Shall specify the programming and the video service provider may require that the channels regularly display an unobtrusive logo or other suitable identifier of the video service provider, if the county requires channel capacity pursuant to subdivision (a) of this paragraph.

(ii) To transmit public, educational and governmental access channels to subscribers with the same prevailing quality, functionality and identification as other channels.

(d) May require all video service providers and incumbent cable operators to provide at no initial or recurring charge the basic service tier of video service to one outlet and one receiving device at each building occupied by the county if the building is not more than two hundred feet from the nearest technically and commercially feasible point of connection on the video service network.

2. A county may retain nonreceiving equipment that it owns without charge for the equipment's use and at the county's expense, including equipment previously provided by an incumbent cable operator.

G. Notwithstanding subsection a of this section, by a nondiscriminatory local law that imposes and enforces the obligations equally and uniformly on all video service providers operating within the boundaries of a county, a county may require that a video service provider bear all of the reasonable costs that are associated with repair and restoration of damage caused to private property or highways by the repair, replacement, installation, construction, maintenance or operation of the video service provider's facilities in the highways and that are imposed on a competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory basis in relation to costs borne by telecommunications corporations under section 9-582, subsection C.

H. On application, a county shall issue to a video service provider or its affiliate a permit to attach allowed wi-fi radio equipment to the video service network in the highways within the boundaries of the county. The permit shall allow installation, operation and maintenance of allowed wi-fi radio equipment. A county may require that all of the allowed wi-fi radio equipment at a single location fit within a fifteen-inch cube and be contained entirely within a ground-mounted pedestal or be connected directly to and mounted at the same height as one of the video service provider's aerial horizontal conductors. This subsection does not do any of the following:

1. Prohibit a county from requiring a video service provider to place underground aerial facilities to which allowed wi-fi equipment is attached.

2. Prohibit the imposition of a tax, rent, fee or charge on revenue from services provided through allowed wi-fi radio equipment.

3. Affect the authority of a county to manage the highways within its boundaries or to exercise its police powers, including review and approval of an application before issuing a permit.

4. Affect any authority of a political subdivision, including an agricultural improvement district or any other special taxing district, the county or any other person controlling utility poles in the highways to deny, limit, restrict or determine the terms and conditions for the use of or attachment to the utility poles or attachments to other poles of the political subdivision, county or other person by a video service provider.

I. This section does not prohibit a video service provider from agreeing with a county to provide in-kind services or goods or make in‑kind payments in the service area that are otherwise prohibited by this section if the agreement with the county is not entered into as a condition of operating in the service area under a uniform video service license issued pursuant to this chapter. The agreement may authorize the video service provider to retain license fees and taxes collected from its subscribers in the amount of any offset to license fees specified in the agreement.

J. For the purposes of this section, "allowed wi-fi radio equipment" means radio equipment that uses only unlicensed radio spectrum and that enables wireless communication with a communications network for unlicensed services such as wi-fi service. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1943. License fee; requirements; conditions and limitations; pass through to subscribers

A. For the privilege of a video service provider to occupy or use, in whole or in part, any highway within the boundaries of a county to provide video service through a video service network, the county may require a video service provider to pay a license fee to the county based on the gross revenue that the video service provider receives from its subscribers located within the boundaries of the county. The license fee both:

1. Is subject to the limit prescribed by section 11-1942, subsection B and to offset, including amounts collected from subscribers, as prescribed by section 11-1942, subsections A and i and subsection d of this section.

2. Shall be due no more often than quarterly.

B. If the county requires a license fee pursuant to subsection a of this section, the county shall adopt a local law that imposes the license fee equally and uniformly on all of the following that are operating within the boundaries of the county:

1. Video service providers.

2. Holdover cable operators.

C. A video service provider shall pay the entire amount of the license fee directly to the county in a check, draft or note or automated clearinghouse transaction that is payable in legal tender as defined in section 43-1021.

D. A video service provider may do all of the following:

1. Pass the license fee through to and collect the license fee from its subscribers within the boundaries of the county, including for an incumbent cable operator any change in license fees that results from a change in the applicable definition of gross revenue.

2. Designate the amount of the license fee collected from each subscriber as a separate line item on the subscriber's bill. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1944. Ownership of a video service network

Except for the purposes of acting as an intermediary in a transfer of a uniform video service license, a county may not own a video service network. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1945. Review and audit; bundling discounts; action to recover underpayment or overpayment

A. Not more than once every three years, a county, on reasonable written notice, may audit the business books and records of a video service provider to the extent necessary to ensure payment of license fees pursuant to this chapter. The county may not audit any period that ends more than three years before the date that the notice of audit is received. Any audit of a period of time before issuance of a uniform video service license shall be conducted pursuant to the local laws in effect during the period of time.

2. The county shall accept as reasonable, for purposes of meeting the video service provider's burden of proof, an allocation based on an objective and verifiable method using the books and records that the video service provider kept in the regular course of business for other purposes, including nontax purposes.

3. A video service provider may not use bundled offerings as a means to evade paying license fees.

C. The county and the video service provider shall each pay its own costs and fees relating to each audit performed pursuant to subsection a of this section. If the sum determined to be underpaid exceeds five percent of the total fees that the audit determines should have been paid for the period, the video service provider shall pay the county's reasonable costs of the audit.

D. The rate of interest for both underpayments and overpayments is the federal short-term rate, determined pursuant to 26 united states code section 6621(b), plus three percentage points.

E. A person that performs a review and audit under subsection a of this section may not receive compensation that is based, in whole or in part, on either of the following:

1. Finding a particular result.

2. The amount of any underpayment or overpayment of the license fee that is identified because of the review and audit.

F. A complaint by a county for underpayment of a license fee from a video service provider or by a video service provider for overpayment of a license fee to a county shall be made pursuant to article 5 of this chapter.

G. A complaint for a violation of the license fee obligations under this chapter may not be made unless a written demand by a county for payment of the license fees or a written demand by a video service provider for refund of license fees is made within four months after the county or video service provider realizes it has been damaged or knows or reasonably should know of the damage caused by the alleged violation.

H. A complaint must be filed pursuant to article 5 of this chapter within two years after the written demand is made pursuant to subsection G of this section but not sooner than four months after the written demand. END_STATUTE

ARTICLE 5. ENFORCEMENT

START_STATUTE11-1951. Enforcement; office of administrative hearings; fees

A. A county may file a written complaint against a video service provider and a video service provider may file a written complaint against a county alleging a violation of this chapter or the uniform video service license agreement. Unless otherwise provided in section 11-1945, subsections F, G and H or this section:

1. All complaints must be filed with the office of administrative hearings.

2. The complainant must serve a copy of the complaint on the party that is the subject of the complaint by personal delivery or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by any other method reasonably calculated to effect actual notice to the county's last address of record for the party that is the subject of the complaint.

B. Before filing a complaint pursuant to this section both of the following apply:

1. The complainant must provide notice of the alleged violation of this chapter to the party that is the subject of the complaint.

2. The party that is the subject of the complaint must have a period of not less than twenty days after the date it receives the notice to resolve the alleged violation.

C. Subsection B of this section does not apply to a complaint made in a written demand pursuant to section 11-1945, subsection g.

D. A hearing before the office of administrative hearings shall be held if a complaint that complies with this section is filed with the office of administrative hearings. Unless other deadlines are established for a particular complaint, all of the following apply:

1. The hearing shall be held within two months after the date that the complaint is filed and service is completed pursuant to subsection A of this section.

2. The date scheduled for the hearing may be advanced or delayed on the agreement of the parties or on a showing of good cause.

E. The office of administrative hearings shall prepare and serve a notice of hearing on all parties at least one month before the hearing that states the time and place of the hearing.

F. A prehearing conference may be held pursuant to section 41‑1092.05.

G. Unless it conflicts with the requirements of this section, the hearing shall be conducted pursuant to section 41-1092.07.

H. The complainant has the burden of persuasion at a hearing under this section.

I. The decision of the administrative law judge is the final administrative decision with respect to the complaint. The office of administrative hearings shall serve a copy of the administrative law judge's decision on all parties. The final administrative decision may be appealed to the superior court pursuant to title 12, chapter 7, article 6. The superior court proceeding shall be a trial de novo.

J. A party may move for rehearing pursuant to section 41-1092.09, and the office of administrative hearings shall rule on the motion. Moving for rehearing or review is not necessary for the party to seek judicial review of the decision of the administrative law judge under subsection I of this section.

K. Service is complete on personal service or five days after the date that the office of administrative hearings mails the final administrative decision to each party's last known address of record with the county.

L. The office of administrative hearings shall adopt rules pursuant to title 41, chapter 6 to administer hearings under this chapter and title 9, chapter 13. The rules shall apply uniformly to hearings involving local governments as defined in section 9-1401 and counties.

M. The office of administrative hearings shall establish, administer and collect fees in an amount to be determined by the director of the office of administrative hearings. The director shall deposit, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, all monies in the video service provider complaint fund established by section 9-1451, subsection N. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE11-1952. Statute of limitations; costs and attorney fees; federal subscriber service requirements

A. Except as provided in section 11-1945, subsections F, G and H, a complaint under this article must be filed within two years after the complainant realizes it has been damaged and knows or reasonably should know the cause, source, act, event, instrumentality or condition that caused or contributed to the alleged violation.

B. Each party to a dispute under this chapter shall bear its own attorney fees and costs.

C. This article does not apply to claims that a video service provider has failed to meet subscriber service standards prescribed by section 11-1933, subsection B, paragraph 5 or has violated title 44, chapter 10, article 7. Claims of violations of federal subscriber service standards shall be made pursuant to the procedure established under federal law. END_STATUTE

Sec. 9. Section 41-1092.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE41-1092.01. Office of administrative hearings; director; powers and duties; fund

A. An office of administrative hearings is established.

B. The governor shall appoint the director pursuant to section 38‑211. At a minimum, the director shall have the experience necessary for appointment as an administrative law judge. The director also shall possess supervisory, management and administrative skills, as well as knowledge and experience relating to administrative law.

C. The director shall:

1. Serve as the chief administrative law judge of the office.

2. Make and execute the contracts and other instruments that are necessary to perform the director's duties.

3. Subject to chapter 4, article 4 of this title, hire employees, including full‑time administrative law judges, and contract for special services, including temporary administrative law judges, that are necessary to carry out this article. An administrative law judge employed or contracted by the office shall have graduated from an accredited college of law or shall have at least two years of administrative or managerial experience in the subject matter or agency section the administrative law judge is assigned to in the office.

4. Make rules that are necessary to carry out this article, including rules governing ex parte communications in contested cases.

5. Submit a report to the governor, speaker of the house of representatives and president of the senate by November 1 of each year describing the activities and accomplishments of the office. The director's annual report shall include a summary of the extent and effect of agencies' utilization of administrative law judges, court reporters and other personnel in proceedings under this article and recommendations for changes or improvements in the administrative procedure act or any agency's practice or policy with respect to the administrative procedure act. the director shall provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state.

6. Secure, compile and maintain all decisions, opinions or reports of administrative law judges issued pursuant to this article and the reference materials and supporting information that may be appropriate.

7. Develop, implement and maintain a program for the continuing training and education of administrative law judges and agencies in regard to their responsibilities under this article. The program shall require that an administrative law judge receive training in the technical and subject matter areas of the sections to which the administrative law judge is assigned.

8. Develop, implement and maintain a program of evaluation to aid the director in the evaluation of administrative law judges appointed pursuant to this article that includes comments received from the public.

9. Annually report the following to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state by December 1 for the prior fiscal year:

(a) The number of administrative law judge decisions rejected or modified by agency heads.

(b) By category, the number and disposition of motions filed pursuant to section 41‑1092.07, subsection A to disqualify office administrative law judges for bias, prejudice, personal interest or lack of expertise.

10. Schedule hearings pursuant to section 41‑1092.05 upon on the request of an agency or the filing of a notice of appeal pursuant to section 41‑1092.03.

D. The director shall not require legal representation to appear before an administrative law judge.

E. Except as provided in subsection F of this section, all state agencies supported by state general fund sources, unless exempted by this article, and the registrar of contractors shall use the services and personnel of the office to conduct administrative hearings. All other agencies shall contract for services and personnel of the office to conduct administrative hearings.

F. An agency head, board or commission that directly conducts an administrative hearing as an administrative law judge is not required to use the services and personnel of the office for that hearing.

G. Each state agency, and each political subdivision contracting for office services pursuant to subsection I of this section, shall make its facilities available, as necessary, for use by the office in conducting proceedings pursuant to this article.

H. The office shall employ full‑time administrative law judges to conduct hearings required by this article or other laws as follows:

1. The director shall assign administrative law judges from the office to an agency, on either a temporary or a permanent basis, at supervisory or other levels, to preside over contested cases and appealable agency actions in accordance with the special expertise of the administrative law judge in the subject matter of the agency.

2. The director shall establish the subject matter and agency sections within the office that are necessary to carry out this article. Each subject matter and agency section shall provide training in the technical and subject matter areas of the section as prescribed in subsection C, paragraph 7 of this section.

I. If the office cannot furnish an office administrative law judge promptly in response to an agency request, the director may contract with qualified individuals to serve as temporary administrative law judges. These temporary administrative law judges are not employees of this state.

J. The office may provide administrative law judges on a contract basis to any governmental entity to conduct any hearing not covered by this article. The director may enter into contracts with political subdivisions of this state, and these political subdivisions may contract with the director for the purpose of providing administrative law judges and reporters for administrative proceedings or informal dispute resolution. The contract may define the scope of the administrative law judge's duties. Those duties may include the preparation of findings, conclusions, decisions or recommended decisions or a recommendation for action by the political subdivision. For these services, the director shall request payment for services directly from the political subdivision for which the services are performed, and the director may accept payment on either an advance or reimbursable basis.

K. The office shall apply monies received pursuant to subsections E and J of this section to offset its actual costs for providing personnel and services.

L. The office shall receive complaints against A COUNTY, a local government AS DEFINED IN SECTION 9-1401 or a video service provider as defined in section 9‑1401 or 11-1901 and shall comply with the duties imposed on the office pursuant to title 9, chapter 13 for complaints involving local governments and title 11, chapter 14 for complaints involving counties. END_STATUTE

Sec. 10. Legislative findings

The legislature has determined that it is reasonable and necessary to promote a matter of statewide concern by regulating the licensure and provision of video service to promote all of the following:

1. Provision of competitive video, telecommunications and information service throughout this state.

2. More uniform regulation of competitive video service throughout the state.

3. Streamlined licensing by local governments and counties.

4. More uniform terms and conditions for video service providers that use highways to provide video and other services over video service networks.

5. Continued highway management by local governments and counties with reasonable burdens on video service providers for construction and maintenance across boundaries.

6. Continued levying of license fees by local governments and counties on subscriber service revenues derived from operating video service networks to provide video service.

7. Support for federal subscriber service standards.