W. Va. Code §§ 24D-2-1 to 24D-2-10 § 24D-2-2
Definitions.
Operative Text
As used in this article: (a) "Cable operator" means any person or group of persons: (1) Who provides cable service over a cable system and directly or through one or more affiliates owns a significant interest in the cable system; or (2) who otherwise controls or is responsible for, through any arrangement, the management and operation of a cable system. (b) "Cable service" or "cable television service" means: (1) The one-way transmission to subscribers of video programming or other programming service; and (2) subscriber interaction, if any, which is required for the selection of video programming or other programming service. (c) "Cable system" means any facility within this state consisting of a set of closed transmission paths and associated signal generation, reception and control equipment that is designed to provide cable service which includes video programming and which is provided to multiple subscribers within a community, but does not include: (1) A facility that serves only to retransmit the television signals of one or more television broadcast stations; (2) a facility that serves only subscribers in one or more multiple unit dwellings under common ownership, control or management, unless that facility or facilities uses any public right-of-way; or (3) a facility of a public utility subject, in whole or in part, to the provisions of chapter twenty-four of this code, except to the extent that those facilities provide video programming directly to subscribers. (d) "Cable television facilities" includes all antennas, poles, supporting structures, wires, cables, conduits, amplifiers, instruments, appliances, fixtures and other personal property used by a cable operator in providing service to its subscribers. (e) "Commission" or "Public Service Commission" shall mean the Public Service Commission of West Virginia. (f) "Landlord" means a person owning, controlling, leasing, operating or managing the multiple dwelling premises. (g) "Multiple dwelling premises" means any area occupied by dwelling units, appurtenances thereto, grounds and facilities, which dwelling units are intended or designed to be occupied or leased for occupation, or actually occupied, as individual homes or residences for three or more households. The term includes mobile home parks. (h) "Person" means an individual, partnership, associate, joint stock company, trust, corporation or governmental agency. (i) "Tenant" means a person occupying single or multiple dwelling premises owned or controlled by a landlord but does not include an inmate or any person incarcerated or housed within any state institution.
West Virginia Code § 24D-2-2 establishes the foundational vocabulary for the state's tenant cable-service rights article. It defines key terms — including 'cable operator,' 'cable system,' 'landlord,' 'multiple dwelling premises,' and 'tenant' — that govern how the rest of the article is interpreted and applied. Notably, 'multiple dwelling premises' covers properties with three or more households, including mobile home parks, while 'tenant' explicitly excludes incarcerated individuals housed in state institutions. These definitions set the boundaries for who and what falls under the article's protections and obligations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 24D-2-2, a 'landlord' is broadly defined as any person who owns, controls, leases, operates, or manages a multiple dwelling premises — meaning operators of properties with three or more households, including mobile home parks, are covered. Property managers and owners should be aware that this definition is expansive enough to capture a range of management arrangements, not just direct ownership. Understanding whether a property qualifies as 'multiple dwelling premises' under this section is a foundational step for determining whether the cable-access rights provisions in the rest of Article 2 apply to a given property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 24D-2-2 defines 'tenant' as any person occupying single or multiple dwelling premises owned or controlled by a landlord, which means residents of qualifying properties — including mobile home parks with three or more households — may be entitled to the cable-service rights established elsewhere in Article 2. The definition does exclude inmates or persons housed in state institutions, but most residential renters will fall within its scope. Tenants who believe their rights under Article 2 are being affected can look to the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, which is named in § 24D-2-2 as the 'Commission' with oversight authority, or consult a tenant-rights organization for general guidance on how these definitions apply.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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