Spectrum Ruling Reversed in Favor of Maine Law Requiring Refunds

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on Tuesday ruled a Maine law requiring cable operators to provide eligible subscribers refunds is not preempted by federal law.

Maine’s Pro Rata Act is not preempted by the federal Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 because the state law does not regulate “rates for the provision of cable service,” the First Circuit wrote in its ruling.

The appeals court reversed U.S. District Court for the District of Maine Judge Jon D. Levy’s October 2020 ruling in favor of Spectrum Northeast LLC and its parent company Charter Communications Inc. challenge ...