CABLE TELEVISION REGULATION IN DELAWARE |
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- Role of the Commission
- Regulated Utilities
- Consumer Information
- Important or Pending Cases at the Commission
- Local, Regional, and National Issues
ROLE OF THE COMMISSION
Under Delaware law, the Commission is authorized to grant cable television franchises to cable system operators who provide service in the unincorporated areas of Delaware. The Commission may terminate or revoke a franchise if the operator fails to comply with the terms of its franchise agreement. Under Federal law, the PSC's ability to regulate rates for cable service and equipment is limited to the basic service level and associated equipment and installation charges, and the Commission must approve such rates if they are calculated in accordance with the rules of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The PSC does have some general regulations regarding quality of service for cable providers (see PSC Order No. 3660, entered Aug. 24, 1993, in Regulation Docket No. 31.
Although the PSC does not have regulatory authority over any upper tier offerings, other than what is provided in an operator's franchise agreement regarding the provision of public access channels, an open line of communication between the three cable providers and the PSC Staff insures that the Commission is kept aware of the latest in service offerings and technologies. The close communication and the progressive regulatory stance of the Delaware Commission has been a positive factor in encouraging the best and most innovative offerings being provided in Delaware to our citizens.
Satellite providers are not regulated at the state level.
REGULATED UTILITIES
- Atlantic Broadband (Delmar), LLC (PSC Order No. 6776 - franchise renewal)
- Comcast Cable
- Comcast of New Castle County, LLC (PSC Order No. 6775 - franchise renewal)
- Comcast of Delmarva - Dover/Salisbury Head-End and Georgetown Head-End (PSC Order No. 6773 - franchise renewal)
- Comcast of Eastern Shore - Ocean City Head-End (PSC Order No. 6774 - franchise renewal)
- MediaCom Delaware, LLC (PSC Order No. 5499 - franchise renewal)
- Verizon Delaware LLC (PSC No. Order 7074) - initial franchise agreement.
CONSUMER INFORMATION
- If you have a complaint regarding your cable television provider, please visit our Consumer Complaints page, or file your complaint on-line. The Commission's jurisdiction over regulated cable television services is limited to unincorporated areas of the state. If you reside within the municipal boundaries of a city or town, you would need to contact the municipality that granted the franchise to the cable utility.
- Delaware Public Service Commission Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) offers a number of consumer alerts and fact sheets relating to cable television regulation, including an information bulletin which describes the evolution of the cable industry.
IMPORTANT OR PENDING CASES
A complete list of all cable related cases filed with the Commission is available on the Commission's Regulated Utility Filings page.
Following is a list of cases that have, or are likely to, generate a significant amount of public interest. To assist the public with participation in these matters, links to the application or formal complaint, the procedural schedule (if applicable), and Commission Orders entered in a case may be provided here. In limited cases, additional documents are available for viewing from the website.
All case related documents are available for review by appointment at the Commission Office in Dover, Delaware, or at the Office of the Public Advocate in Wilmington, Delaware.
Comcast Cable
In the Matter of the Application of Comcast of Eastern Shore, LLC for a Change to its Basic Service Tier ("BST") Cable Television Rates and Necessary Equipment and Installation Charges in the Unincorporated Areas of Southeast Sussex County Served by the Ocean City, Maryland Head-End (Filed March 1, 2012). The new rates are scheduled to go into effect on June 1, 2012.
LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ISSUES
- Digital Television (DTV) Transition: Beginning at midnight on June 12, 2009, all full-power television stations completely ended all analog broadcasting and began digital broadcasting (DTV). Visit the FCC's webpage on the DTV Transition to find more information.
- Delaware Public Service Commission grants cable television franchise to Verizon Delaware LLC: On November 21, 2006, by PSC Order No.7074, the PSC granted Verizon Delaware LLC. a franchise to offer cable televising in the unincorporated parts of the State. Verizon defined its Initial Service Area as "those parts of the Franchise Area traditionally served by the Franchisee from the following wire centers: Angola, Dover, Hockessin, Holly Oak, Middletown, Newark, Talleyville, Penn Rose, Wrangle Hill."
