---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 556"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "556"
heading: "Coordination of Federal, State, and local authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/556"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication"
  - "Subchapter V–A — Cable Communications"
  - "Part IV — Miscellaneous Provisions"
---

# §556. Coordination of Federal, State, and local authority

- (a) **Regulation by States, political subdivisions, State and local agencies, and franchising authorities—** Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to affect any authority of any [State](/usc/47/522.md?p=18), political subdivision, or agency thereof, or [franchising authority](/usc/47/522.md?p=10), regarding matters of public health, safety, and welfare, to the extent consistent with the express provisions of this subchapter.
- (b) **State jurisdiction with regard to cable services—** Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to restrict a [State](/usc/47/522.md?p=18) from exercising jurisdiction with regard to [cable services](/usc/47/522.md?p=6) consistent with this subchapter.
- (c) **Preemption—** Except as provided in [section 557 of this title](/usc/47/557.md), any provision of law of any [State](/usc/47/522.md?p=18), political subdivision, or agency thereof, or [franchising authority](/usc/47/522.md?p=10), or any provision of any [franchise](/usc/47/522.md?p=9) granted by such authority, which is inconsistent with this chapter shall be deemed to be preempted and superseded.
- (d) **“State” defined—** For purposes of this section, the term “[State](/usc/47/522.md?p=18)” has the meaning given such term in [section 153 of this title](/usc/47/153.md).

## Source credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VI, § 636, as added Pub. L. 98–549, § 2, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2800; amended Pub. L. 104–104, § 3(d)(3), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 61.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–104 substituted “section 153” for “section 153(v)”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 60 days after Oct. 30, 1984, except where otherwise expressly provided, see section 9(a) of Pub. L. 98–549, set out as a note under section 521 of this title.