Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Broadband topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Selectmen continue Comcast cable-license hearing after administrator outlines new PEG and capital support terms
Summary
Town Administrator summarized a proposed 10-year Comcast renewal that adds $65,000 in capital PEG support over 10 years plus 0.25% of gross revenue and an HD channel; the board continued the public hearing to Nov. 12 so the town attorney can finalize the agreement.
The Board of Selectmen continued a public hearing on Oct. 22 on a proposed renewal of Comcast Massachusetts 2 Inc.'s cable franchise after the town administrator detailed key terms and asked the board to reopen the hearing Nov. 12 once the attorney finalizes the contract.
Town Administrator Chad told the board the proposed deal term is 10 years and updates payments to local public-access (PEG) television. "We've added in ... the capital support for PEG access. That would be $65,000 paid in 10 annual installments and then 0.25 percent of the gross annual revenue," he said, explaining the capital payment is a guaranteed minimum while the percentage share would vary with Comcast's revenues. He also said the renewal would add a high-definition channel within the first 24 months and resolves a technical question about encoders by arranging town ownership of certain equipment to preserve local carriage.
The administrator said Comcast has agreed in principle and that the town attorney will prepare the final agreement and send it to Comcast; he asked the board to continue the hearing and consider approval at the board's Nov. 12 meeting. The board voted unanimously to continue the public hearing.
What happens next: The town attorney will finalize language addressing encoder ownership and installation-charge changes; staff will make the final contract available for public review before the Nov. 12 meeting when the board expects to vote on approval.
