The FCC has voted to confirm that a local franchise authority's (LFA) ability to regulate cable service does not extend to broadband and other non-cable services, and that in-kind commitments those authorities get from providers as part of franchise agreements count toward the 5% franchise fee cap, with the exception of providing public, educational and government (PEG) channels.  

That is according to the FCC, which deleted the item, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, from its agenda for a Sept. 26 vote at the public meeting, saying it had already been adopted. The FCC still has to vote on a final order, but with the majority in favor, that will almost certainly happen.  

The Free State Foundation whose supporters include major media companies, had hailed the FCC's planned Sept. 26 vote on an item regarding local franchising authorities (LFAs) as important pushback on localities trying to re-regulate internet access.