Streamlined Section 214 Authorization for Stand-alone Cable Systems

Section 214 of the Communications Act requires local exchange telephone companies (LECs) to obtain authorization from the Federal Communications Commission before constructing or acquiring a cable system in their service territories. Although section 613(b) of the Act generally prohibits LECs from providing video programming directly to subscribers in their service areas, various court decisions have enjoined the Commission from enforcing this telco-cable cross-ownership ban against virtually all LECs. This order concludes that it is in the public interest to streamline the section 214 process with respect to those LECs against whom the Commission is not enforcing the cross- ownership ban that seek authorization to construct facilities to provide cable service in their service areas on a stand-alone basis.