Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

47 U.S.C. § 556

Coordination of Federal, State, and local authority

(a)

Regulation by States, political subdivisions, State and local agencies, and franchising authorities

Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to affect any authority of any State, political subdivision, or agency thereof, or franchising authority, regarding matters of public health, safety, and welfare, to the extent consistent with the express provisions of this subchapter.

(b)

State jurisdiction with regard to cable services

Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to restrict a State from exercising jurisdiction with regard to cable services consistent with this subchapter.

(c)

Preemption

section 557 of this titleExcept as provided in , any provision of law of any State, political subdivision, or agency thereof, or franchising authority, or any provision of any franchise granted by such authority, which is inconsistent with this chapter shall be deemed to be preempted and superseded.

(d)

“State” defined

section 153 of this titleFor purposes of this section, the term “State” has the meaning given such term in .

June 19, 1934, ch. 652Pub. L. 98–549, § 298 Stat. 2800Pub. L. 104–104, § 3(d)(3)110 Stat. 61(, title VI, § 636, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act June 19, 1934, ch. 65248 Stat. 1064section 609 of this titleThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 104–1041996—Subsec. (d). substituted “section 153” for “section 153(v)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

section 9(a) of Pub. L. 98–549section 521 of this titleSection effective 60 days after , except where otherwise expressly provided, see , set out as a note under .