04/21/2026
Thanks to Knoxville Community Media and Director Oaks for your tireless leadership and advocacy in support of community television!
On Monday afternoon, the American Broadband Deployment Act (HR-2289) was pulled from floor consideration due to a lack of Republican support, news outlets are reporting. The House Rules Committee's website said it "postponed" plans to consider HR-2289, which would have set up floor debate on the measure and determined whether the panel would allow votes on anticipated amendments.
Knoxville Community Media has been leading efforts in our area to draw attention to the negative impacts the bill would have on community television not just in Knoxville, but around the country.
Below are the primary reasons being offered for opposing to the bill:
* Preemption of Local Authority: The bill limits local control over right-of-way management, zoning, and construction timelines, leading to fears that communities cannot ensure safe infrastructure deployment.
* "Shot Clocks" and Deemed Approved: It sets 60–150 day deadlines for permitting, after which projects are automatically approved, restricting local review capabilities.
* Fee Caps: The legislation caps fees that local governments can charge for using public rights-of-way.
How the bill would impact Knoxville/Knox County and other local jurisdictions
* Elimination of Funding: The act would allow cable companies to stop paying franchise fees, which are a key source of funding for Knoxville Community Media (KCM). These companies often argue that providing the channels themselves should count as in-kind donations, eliminating the need for monetary fees.
* Removal of Local Authority: The legislation, which KCM refers to as a "power grab from big business," would strip local governments of their power to negotiate with cable companies, allowing them to install infrastructure on public land without local permission.
* Threat to Local Transparency: KCM acts as a local version of C-SPAN, providing "gavel-to-gavel" coverage of local government meetings, including City Council, County Commission, and Board of Education meetings. Losing this coverage would severely impact local transparency and the public voice.
* No Guarantee of Coverage: Despite the aim of increasing broadband, KCM contends the bill does not ensure underserved communities will get access, instead serving corporate interests.
Learn more about the legislation here: https://insideofknoxville.com/2025/05/funding-cuts-and-legislation-threaten-to-silence-knoxville-community-media/ #:~:text=A%20secondary%20effect%20of%20the,television%20as%20we%20know%20it.”
In 2023, the Knoxville City Council adopted a Resolution in support of the Protecting Community Television Act, which redefines "franchise fees" to strictly mean monetary payments, ensuring that local community media,, including public, educational, and government (PEG) channels, remain funded and accessible. Read the Resolution here: A Resolution expressing support of the Protecting Community Television Act (S. 340/H.R. 907) of the 118th U.S. Congress to clarify that franchise fees are only monetary
