---
title: "What notice period does 47 CFR 76.1601 require before a cable operator drops a local broadcast channel? Answer in under 100 words."
canonical: https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/telecom/cable-broadcast-channel-drop-notice-47-cfr-76-1601
jurisdiction: "US Federal"
last_verified: 2026-08-26
license: CC BY 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
attribution: "Source: MIND (m-i-n-d.ai)"
---

# What notice period does 47 CFR 76.1601 require before a cable operator drops a local broadcast channel? Answer in under 100 words.

47 CFR 76.1601 requires a cable operator to provide written notice to any broadcast television station at least 30 days prior to deleting or repositioning that station. This rule, adopted by the FCC on November 12, 2020, applies to cable television system operators providing service to subscribers.

## Details / How it works

Under 47 CFR § 76.1601, a cable operator (i.e., a cable television system operator providing service to subscribers) must provide written notice to any broadcast television station at least 30 days before either deleting from carriage or repositioning that station. This requirement was adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in a rule published at 85 FR 71854 on November 12, 2020.

## Numbers & thresholds

| Requirement | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Minimum notice period | 30 days |
| Rule effective date | November 12, 2020 |

## Exceptions & edge cases

No exceptions or edge cases are specified in § 76.1601. The requirement applies uniformly to all cable operators deleting or repositioning broadcast television stations.

## Sources

- [1] U.S. National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — 47 CFR 76.1601 — Deletion or repositioning of broadcast signals · https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/section-76.1601 · as of 2026-08-26