§844.42.  Legislative findings and declarations of intent

The legislature finds and declares that it is the policy of this state:

(1)  To ensure that cable television services and telecommunications and advanced services are provided through fair competition consistent with the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-104, in order to provide the widest possible diversity of information and news sources to the general public.

(2)  To advance the exercise of rights under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

(3)  To enhance the development and widespread use of technological advances in providing cable television services and telecommunications and advanced services.

(4)  To encourage improved customer service of cable television services and telecommunications and advanced services at competitive rates.

(5)  To ensure that cable television services and telecommunications and advanced services are each provided within a consistent, comprehensive, and nondiscriminatory federal, state, and local government framework.

(6)  To ensure that when a local government provides to its inhabitants cable television services, telecommunications services or advanced services, or any combination thereof, and competes with private providers whose activities are regulated by the local governmental entity, the local government does not discriminate against the competing providers of the same services.

(7)  To ensure that when a local government provides to its inhabitants cable television services, telecommunications services or advanced services, or any combination thereof, it will not be precluded from engaging in "bundling" those services or engaging in any other lawful business practice that its private-sector competitors are legally permitted to engage in.

Acts 2004, No. 736, §1, eff. July 6, 2004.