Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Finance - Testimony of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees

Description

Testimony of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees at the Senate Committee on Finance.

On Tuesday, Senate Finance heard testimony from Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer on various aspects of H.657. At one point, Hoffer questions why CUDs and Comcast were excluded from the right-of-way charge. Sen. Chittenden asked if it wasn’t because of the cable franchise fee that goes to VAN, Hoffer responded that this shouldn’t be cause for excluding Comcast as the right-of-way fee would be in addition. Later in the same session, Rep. Sims - the sponsor of the bill - noted that CUDs were excluded because they are grant eligible, and Comcast because federal law precludes charging them anything in excess of the cable franchise fee.

H.657: As Passed by the House:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Finance/Bills/H.657/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20Other%20Legal%20Documents/H.657~Maria%20Royle~As%20Passed%20by%20the%20House~4-10-2024.pdf