Sec. 17. (a) Not later than fifteen (15) business days after the commission receives an application under section 16 of this chapter, the commission shall determine whether the application is complete and properly verified. If the commission determines that the application is incomplete or is not properly verified, the commission shall notify the applicant of the deficiency and allow the applicant to resubmit the application after correcting the deficiency. If the commission determines that the application is complete and properly verified, the commission shall issue the applicant a certificate of franchise authority. A certificate issued under this section must contain:

(1) a grant of authority to provide the video service requested in the application;

(2) a grant of authority to use and occupy public rights-of-way in the delivery of the video service, subject to:

(A) state and local laws and regulations governing the use and occupancy of public rights-of-way; and

(B) the police powers of local units to enforce local ordinances and regulations governing the use and occupancy of public rights-of-way; and

(3) a statement that the authority granted under subdivisions (1) and (2) is subject to the holder's lawful provision and operation of the video service.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) and sections 16(d) and 28 of this chapter, the commission may not require a provider to:

(1) satisfy any build-out requirements;

(2) deploy, or make investments in, any infrastructure, facilities, or equipment; or

(3) pay an application fee, a document fee, a state franchise fee, a service charge, or any fee other than the franchise fee paid to a local unit under section 24 of this chapter;

as a condition of receiving or holding a certificate under this chapter.

(c) This section does not limit the commission's right to enforce any obligation described in subsection (b) that a provider is subject to under the terms of a settlement agreement approved by the commission before July 29, 2004.

(d) The general assembly, a state agency, or a unit may not adopt a law, rule, ordinance, or regulation governing the use and occupancy of public rights-of-way that:

(1) discriminates against any provider, or is unduly burdensome with respect to any provider, based on the particular facilities or technology used by the provider to deliver video service; or

(2) allows a video service system owned or operated by a unit to use or occupy public rights-of-way on terms or conditions more favorable or less burdensome than those that apply to other providers.

A law, a rule, an ordinance, or a regulation that violates this subsection is void.

As added by P.L.27-2006, SEC.58. Amended by P.L.1-2007, SEC.77; P.L.86-2018, SEC.141.