HB375 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joe LovvornRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Class 6 municipality, certain telecommunications services authorized in county where Class 6 municipality located and within corp. limits and police jurisdiction of other municipalities located in same county

Summary

HB375 would let Class 6 municipalities in Alabama provide cable, internet, and related telecom services across the county, including into other towns, but only with written consent from the other municipality or the county for specific areas.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes Class 6 municipalities to furnish and operate cable, interactive computer service, Internet access, other Internet services, advanced telecommunications service, and related functions throughout the county, even into other municipalities' areas, subject to consent. It allows these municipalities to acquire, establish, purchase, construct, maintain, enlarge, extend, lease, improve, and operate telecom systems and equipment anywhere in the county or in other municipalities' jurisdictions. It requires that such powers only be used if the municipality is already providing these services under existing law. It requires written consent from the other municipality to provide services within that municipality, and it requires county consent to serve unincorporated areas. It preserves rights-of-way management, imposes standard franchise and tax obligations, allows debt financing through warrants, and treats these powers as cumulative with existing law, with immediate effect after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Class 6 municipalities: gain authority to provide and expand cable, Internet, and advanced telecom services across the county and into other municipalities’ jurisdictions, subject to consent and existing service status.
• Residents and other governmental entities in the county: could receive these expanded services if the required consents are obtained; unincorporated areas require county consent; other municipalities retain consent rights and local control over access.

Key Provisions

• Class 6 municipalities may furnish and make available cable service, interactive computer service, Internet access, other Internet services, advanced telecommunications service, meter reading, alarm monitoring, surveillance or monitoring services, and related financial services throughout the county, including other municipalities' jurisdictions, with consent.
• They may acquire, establish, purchase, construct, maintain, enlarge, extend, lease, improve, and operate cable systems and telecommunications equipment anywhere in the county or in the corporate limits or police jurisdiction of other municipalities.
• Powers may be exercised only if the municipality is already furnishing these services to its inhabitants under governing law.
• No cross-jurisdiction provision within another municipality’s corporate limits without prior written consent of that municipality; county consent is not a substitute for this consent.
• Providing services in unincorporated areas requires prior written consent of the county’s governing body.
• Public rights-of-way management remains unaffected; franchises and nondiscriminatory taxes/fees apply as usual.
• Debt financing for these services is allowed through warrants under specified Alabama code sections.
• Powers are cumulative with existing law, and actions taken before the act’s effective date are ratified.
• The act is effective immediately after governor approval; not applicable to municipal instrumentalities.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Telecommunications