47 USC § 571 - Regulatory treatment of video programming services

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s571"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "47 USC § 571 - Regulatory treatment of video programming services"
title_number: 47
title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
section_number: "571"
section_name: "Regulatory treatment of video programming services"
chapter_number: 5
chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
subchapter_number: "V–A"
subchapter_name: "CABLE COMMUNICATIONS"
part_number: "V"
part_name: "Video Programming Services Provided by Telephone Companies"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2025-08-11"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VI, § 651, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title III, § 302(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 118.)"
---


# § 571. Regulatory treatment of video programming services

**(a)** **Limitations on cable regulation**

**(1)** **Radio-based systems** section 572 of this title

To the extent that a common carrier (or any other person) is providing video programming to subscribers using radio communication, such carrier (or other person) shall be subject to the requirements of subchapter III and , but shall not otherwise be subject to the requirements of this subchapter.

**(2)** **Common carriage of video traffic** section 572 of this titlesection 522(7)(C) of this title

To the extent that a common carrier is providing transmission of video programming on a common carrier basis, such carrier shall be subject to the requirements of subchapter II and , but shall not otherwise be subject to the requirements of this subchapter. This paragraph shall not affect the treatment under  of a facility of a common carrier as a cable system.

**(3)** **Cable systems and open video systems** To the extent that a common carrier is providing video programming to its subscribers in any manner other than that described in paragraphs (1) and (2)—

**(A)** such carrier shall be subject to the requirements of this subchapter, unless such programming is provided by means of an open video system for which the Commission has approved a certification under section 573 of this title; or

**(B)** if such programming is provided by means of an open video system for which the Commission has approved a certification under section 573 of this title, such carrier shall be subject to the requirements of this part, but shall be subject to parts I through IV of this subchapter only as provided in 573(c) of this title.

**(4)** **Election to operate as open video system** section 573 of this titlesection 573 of this title

A common carrier that is providing video programming in a manner described in paragraph (1) or (2), or a combination thereof, may elect to provide such programming by means of an open video system that complies with . If the Commission approves such carrier’s certification under , such carrier shall be subject to the requirements of this part, but shall be subject to parts I through IV of this subchapter only as provided in 573(c) of this title.

**(b)** **Limitations on interconnection obligations** A local exchange carrier that provides cable service through an open video system or a cable system shall not be required, pursuant to subchapter II of this chapter, to make capacity available on a nondiscriminatory basis to any other person for the provision of cable service directly to subscribers.

**(c)** **Additional regulatory relief** section 214 of this title

A common carrier shall not be required to obtain a certificate under  with respect to the establishment or operation of a system for the delivery of video programming.

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**Source Credit**: (June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VI, § 651, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title III, § 302(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 118.)