A.  The Legislature of Louisiana finds and declares that it is the policy of this state to increase competition for cable services and video services throughout the state in order to provide the widest possible diversity of information and new resources to the general public and to encourage economic development in this state.  Increased competition in cable services and video services not only provides consumers with more choice, better prices, and better services, but also encourages and speeds the deployment of new communication technologies to the public.  The technology used to deliver cable and video service is not constrained or limited by local governmental subdivision boundaries. Accordingly, it is appropriate for the legislature to review and update the policy of this state with regard to these services and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Louisiana citizens.

B.  The Legislature of Louisiana finds that reforming and streamlining the current system of regulating cable services and video services will relieve consumers of unnecessary costs and burdens, encourage investment in advanced networks, and promote deployment of advanced and innovative services that provide competitive choices for consumers.  The Legislature of Louisiana further finds that a streamlined procedure for granting and renewing cable service and video service franchises will provide statewide uniformity to allow functionally equivalent services to compete fairly and to allow new consumer services to be deployed more quickly.

C.  The Legislature of Louisiana further finds that it is in the best interests of consumers of video programming services that access to the public rights-of-way for the provision of cable and video services to be provided on a non-exclusive, nondiscriminatory basis, that such access not be unreasonably denied, and that the fees and charges applied to video programming providers be equitable regardless of the technology used.

D.  The Legislature of Louisiana intends that this Chapter provide uniform regulation of cable and video service franchising.  Therefore, the Legislature of Louisiana intends that the Chapter occupy the entire field of cable and video service franchising regulation in the state of Louisiana and, except as provided herein, shall preempt any ordinance, resolution, or similar matter adopted by a local governmental subdivision that purports to address cable or video service franchising or regulation.  This Chapter is enacted pursuant to the police powers ultimately reserved to the state by La. Const. Art. VI, § 9 .

E.  The Legislature of Louisiana does not intend that the “opt-in” right afforded by La. Rev. Stat. 45:1365 shall release any indebtedness, liability or obligation that is owed to the state, a parish, or a municipality at the time that an incumbent service provider exercises those rights.  If a court should determine that La. Rev. Stat. 45:1365 has the effect of releasing an indebtedness, liability or obligation in contravention of La. Const. Art. VII, § 15 , then it is the intent of the legislature that La. Rev. Stat. 45:1365 be severed from this Chapter so that the remaining provisions can remain in full force and effect.

Acts 2008, No. 433, §1.