---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 571"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "571"
heading: "Regulatory treatment of video programming services"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/571"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication"
  - "Subchapter V–A — Cable Communications"
  - "Part V — Video Programming Services Provided by Telephone Companies"
---

# §571. Regulatory treatment of video programming services

- (a) **Limitations on cable regulation—**
  - (1) **Radio-based systems—** To the extent that a [common carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) (or any other [person](/usc/47/153.md?p=39)) is providing video programming to subscribers using [radio communication](/usc/47/153.md?p=40), such [carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) (or other [person](/usc/47/153.md?p=39)) shall be subject to the requirements of subchapter III and [section 572 of this title](/usc/47/572.md), but shall not otherwise be subject to the requirements of this subchapter.
  - (2) **Common carriage of video traffic—** To the extent that a [common carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) is providing transmission of video programming on a [common carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) basis, such [carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) shall be subject to the requirements of subchapter II and [section 572 of this title](/usc/47/572.md), but shall not otherwise be subject to the requirements of this subchapter. This paragraph shall not affect the treatment under [section 522(7)(C) of this title](/usc/47/522.md) of a facility of a [common carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) as a [cable system](/usc/47/153.md?p=9).
  - (3) **Cable systems and open video systems—** To the extent that a [common carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) is providing video programming to its subscribers in any manner other than that described in paragraphs [(1)](#a-1) and [(2)](#a-2)—
    - (A) such [carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) shall be subject to the requirements of this subchapter, unless such programming is provided by means of an open video system for which the Commission has approved a certification under [section 573 of this title](/usc/47/573.md); or
    - (B) if such programming is provided by means of an open video system for which the Commission has approved a certification under [section 573 of this title](/usc/47/573.md), such [carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) shall be subject to the requirements of this part, but shall be subject to parts I through IV of this subchapter only as provided in [573(c)](/usc/47/573.md?p=c) of this title.
  - (4) **Election to operate as open video system—** A [common carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) that is providing video programming in a manner described in paragraph [(1)](#a-1) or [(2)](#a-2), or a combination thereof, may elect to provide such programming by means of an open video system that complies with [section 573 of this title](/usc/47/573.md). If the Commission approves such [carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11)’s certification under [section 573 of this title](/usc/47/573.md), such [carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) shall be subject to the requirements of this part, but shall be subject to parts I through IV of this subchapter only as provided in [573(c)](/usc/47/573.md?p=c) of this title.
- (b) **Limitations on interconnection obligations—** A [local exchange carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=32) that provides [cable service](/usc/47/153.md?p=8) through an open video system or a [cable system](/usc/47/153.md?p=9) shall not be required, pursuant to subchapter II of this chapter, to make capacity available on a nondiscriminatory basis to any other [person](/usc/47/153.md?p=39) for the provision of [cable service](/usc/47/153.md?p=8) directly to subscribers.
- (c) **Additional regulatory relief—** A [common carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) shall not be required to obtain a certificate under [section 214 of this title](/usc/47/214.md) with respect to the establishment or operation of a system for the delivery of video programming.

## Source credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VI, § 651, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title III, § 302(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 118.)