§  76.1603   Customer service—rate and service changes.

   (a) A cable franchise authority may enforce the customer service
   standards set forth in paragraph (b) of this section against cable
   operators. The franchise authority must provide affected cable
   operators 90 days written notice of its intent to enforce standards.

   (b) Cable operators shall provide written notice to subscribers of any
   changes in rates or services. Notice shall be provided to subscribers
   at least 30 days in advance of the change, unless the change results
   from circumstances outside of the cable operator's control (including
   failed retransmission consent or program carriage negotiations during
   the last 30 days of a contract), in which case notice shall be provided
   as soon as possible using any reasonable written means at the
   operator's sole discretion, including Channel Slates. Notice of rate
   changes shall include the precise amount of the rate change and explain
   the reason for the change in readily understandable terms. Notice of
   changes involving the addition or deletion of channels shall
   individually identify each channel affected.

   (c) A cable operator not subject to effective competition shall provide
   30 days' advance notice to its local franchising authority of any
   increase proposed in the price to be charged for the basic service
   tier.

   (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of part 76 of this chapter, a
   cable operator shall not be required to provide prior notice of any
   rate change that is the result of a regulatory fee, franchise fee, or
   any other fee, tax, assessment, or charge of any kind imposed by any
   Federal agency, State, or franchising authority on the transaction
   between the operator and the subscriber.

   Note 1 to § 76.1603: Section 624(h) of the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C.
   544(h), contains additional notification requirements which a
   franchising authority may enforce.

   Note 2 to § 76.1603: Section 624(d)(3) of the Communications Act, 47
   U.S.C. 544(d)(3), contains additional notification provisions
   pertaining to cable operators who offer a premium channel without
   charge to cable subscribers who do not subscribe to such premium
   channel.

   Note 3 to § 76.1603: Section 631 of the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C.
   551, contains additional notification requirements pertaining to the
   protection of subscriber privacy.

   [ 65 FR 53617 , Sept. 5, 2000, as amended at  66 FR 16554 , Mar. 26, 2001;
    77 FR 67302 , Dec. 10, 2012;  85 FR 71854 , Nov. 12, 2020]