The Cable Transparency Act changes how cable company franchises work with local governments. Currently, cable companies operate under franchise agreements that expire and need to be renewed. This bill eliminates that renewal requirement—instead, franchises now continue indefinitely until they're officially revoked or the cable company asks to end them.

The bill makes it easier for cable companies to modify or remove franchise requirements. If a cable company requests changes, the local government has 120 days to approve or deny the request. The company needs to show good reason for the change, such as following new laws, adapting to technology changes, or proving it's too expensive to comply. If the local government doesn't respond within 120 days, the change is automatically approved. The only exception is for requirements related to public access channels—those can't be automatically approved if the government doesn't respond.

The bill also simplifies how cable companies can exit their franchises. Instead of waiting for a renewal period, a cable company can now submit a written request to end its franchise, and the local government must revoke it within 90 days. Local governments can still revoke a franchise if a cable company seriously violates its obligations, but they must give the company a chance to fix the problem first. If either side disagrees with a revocation decision, they can appeal to federal courts or the FCC for review. These changes take effect six months after the law passes.