Section 107.7 Of Chapter 1. Construction From California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 1. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 1.
107.7
. (a) When valuing possessory interests in real property
created by the right to place wires, conduits, and appurtenances
along or across public streets, rights-of-way, or public easements
contained in either a cable franchise or license granted pursuant to
Section 53066 of the Government Code (a "cable possessory interest")
or a state franchise to provide video service pursuant to Section
5840 of the Public Utilities Code (a "video possessory interest"),
the assessor shall value these possessory interests consistent with
the requirements of Section 401. The methods of valuation shall
include, but not be limited to, the comparable sales method, the
income method (including, but not limited to, capitalizing rent), or
the cost method.
(b) (1) The preferred method of valuation of a cable television
possessory interest or video service possessory interest by the
assessor is capitalizing the annual rent, using an appropriate
capitalization rate.
(2) For purposes of this section, the annual rent shall be that
portion of that franchise fee received that is determined to be
payment for the cable possessory interest or video service possessory
interest for the actual remaining term or the reasonably anticipated
term of the franchise or license or the appropriate economic rent.
If the assessor does not use a portion of the franchise fee as the
economic rent, the resulting assessments shall not benefit from any
presumption of correctness.
(c) If the comparable sales method, which is not the preferred
method, is used by the assessor to value a cable possessory interest
or video service possessory interest when sold in combination with
other property, including, but not limited to, intangible assets or
rights, the resulting assessments shall not benefit from any
presumption of correctness.
(d) Intangible assets or rights of a cable system or the provider
of video services are not subject to ad valorem property taxation.
These intangible assets or rights include, but are not limited to:
franchises or licenses to construct, operate, and maintain a cable
system or video service system for a specified franchise term
(excepting therefrom that portion of the franchise or license which
grants the possessory interest); subscribers, marketing, and
programming contracts; nonreal property lease agreements; management
and operating systems; a workforce in place; going concern value;
deferred, startup, or prematurity costs; covenants not to compete;
and goodwill. However, a cable possessory interest or video service
possessory interest may be assessed and valued by assuming the
presence of intangible assets or rights necessary to put the cable
possessory interest or video service possessory interest to
beneficial or productive use in an operating cable system or video
service system.
(e) If a change in ownership of a cable possessory interest or
video service possessory interest occurs, the person or legal entity
required to file a statement pursuant to Section 480, 480.1, or 480.2
shall, at the request of the assessor, provide as a part of that
statement the following, if applicable: confirmation of the sales
price, allocation of the sales price among the counties, and gross
revenue and franchise fee expenses of the cable system or video
service system by county. Failure to provide the statement
information shall result in a penalty as provided in Section 482,
except that the maximum penalty shall be five thousand dollars
($5,000).