Cable franchise authority companies' programming and rate changes

(a) Except when otherwise required by federal law, a company issued a certificate of cable franchise authority shall inform the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority of any planned programming or rate changes not less than thirty days before implementing such changes unless (1) such changes are required by law to be made in less than thirty days, or (2) in appropriate circumstances where a shorter notice period is in the best interest of the company's subscribers. (b) Except when otherwise required by federal law, a company issued a certificate of cable franchise authority shall inform each of its subscribers, the chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to technology and the chairperson of the applicable advisory council of any planned elimination or reduction in programming or planned rate increases not less than thirty days before implementing such changes unless (1) such changes are required by law to be made in less than thirty days, or (2) the authority prescribes a longer or shorter notice period in appropriate circumstances where such longer or shorter notice period is in the best interest of the company's subscribers. The advisory council may hold an advisory public hearing concerning the planned changes and may then make a recommendation to the company before the planned implementation date.