§ 36-90-5 — Franchise agreements

(a) In providing service, a public provider shall not employ terms more favorable or less burdensome than those imposed by the public provider upon any private provider providing the same service within its jurisdiction with respect to franchise terms and conditions, conditions of access to public property, and pole attachment. (b) A franchising authority shall not impose or enforce any local regulation on any private provider which is not also made applicable to any competing public provider, nor shall a franchising authority discriminate between a public provider and private provider. (c) A public provider may not unreasonably withhold a request by a private provider to transfer, modify, or renew its existing franchise in accordance with the terms of the franchise and in accordance with the provisions of 47 U.S.C. Section 537 , 47 U.S.C. Section 545 , and 47 U.S.C. Section 546 . (d) In any action by a franchising authority to enforce any term or condition of a franchise agreement, a violation of this Code section by the public provider with respect to such respective term or condition shall be a defense in such action. (e) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be interpreted to limit the authority of the public provider, as the franchising authority, to collect franchise fees, control and regulate its streets and public ways, or enforce its powers to provide for the public health, safety, and welfare.