Eugene, Ore. is asking the Ninth Circuit to undo a Federal Communications Commission order limiting cable-franchising fees that local governments can impose on cable companies.
Comcast Corp. and other cable companies are allowed under the order to subtract the cost of offering public-access channels and other in-kind services from a 5% percent franchise fee that local governments can charge cable operators. The order also prevents local franchising authorities from regulating broadband internet services offered by cable operators.
The city argues that the agency’s Aug. 1 order is unconstitutional. Spiegel & McDiarmid LLP in Washington, D.C. filed the challenge on the ...