---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 557"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "557"
heading: "Existing franchises"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/557"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication"
  - "Subchapter V–A — Cable Communications"
  - "Part IV — Miscellaneous Provisions"
---

# §557. Existing franchises

- (a) The provisions of—
  - (1) any [franchise](/usc/47/522.md?p=9) in effect on the effective date of this subchapter, including any such provisions which relate to the designation, use, or support for the use of [channel](/usc/47/522.md?p=4) capacity for public, educational, or governmental use, and
  - (2) any law of any [State](/usc/47/522.md?p=18) (as defined in [section 153 of this title](/usc/47/153.md)) in effect on October 30, 1984, or any regulation promulgated pursuant to such law, which relates to such designation, use or support of such [channel](/usc/47/522.md?p=4) capacity,

  shall remain in effect, subject to the express provisions of this subchapter, and for not longer than the then current remaining term of the [franchise](/usc/47/522.md?p=9) as such [franchise](/usc/47/522.md?p=9) existed on such effective date.

- (b) For purposes of [subsection (a)](#a) and other provisions of this subchapter, a [franchise](/usc/47/522.md?p=9) shall be considered in effect on the effective date of this subchapter if such [franchise](/usc/47/522.md?p=9) was granted on or before such effective date.

## Source credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VI, § 637, 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

For “the effective date of this subchapter” and “such effective date”, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), as 60 days after Oct. 30, 1984, except where otherwise expressly provided, see section 9(a) of Pub. L. 98–549, set out as an Effective Date note under section 521 of this title.

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a)(2). 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.