Westborough hearing backs Spectrum franchise renewal while pressing for better support and missing PEG fiber

The Westborough Cable Television Advisory Committee on Nov. 15 opened a public hearing on whether to renew Spectrum Northeast LLC's (Charter) 10-year cable franchise and heard broad public support for continued funding of Westborough TV, the town's public-education-government (PEG) station.

Committee chair Brian McLaughlin said the hearing will inform the town's recommendation to the Select Board and cited Massachusetts General Laws chapter 166A as the statutory basis for the proceeding. "This public hearing is now open," McLaughlin said at the meeting's start.

Why it matters: Westborough TV provides live broadcasts and archives of town meetings, school sports, civic events and public-safety messaging that many residents and town departments said they rely on to stay informed. Speakers representing civic groups, the school district, veterans organizations, the police department and the town manager urged the committee to negotiate a contract that sustains the station.

Steven Hart, chair of the Westborough TV board, told the committee the nonprofit has seen declining revenue as cable subscriptions fall and urged the town to seek an increase in the franchise fee share from Charter from the current 4% to the regulatory maximum of 5%. "We believe that the station plays an important role in our town and has proven to be an excellent steward of the funds," Hart said. He estimated the station needs about $50,000 a year in capital investment to maintain equipment and production quality.

Residents gave in-person testimony underscoring the station's local role. "I think it's very important for the sake of competition that we renew the charter license," said Michael Barreti of Adam Street, who also told the committee his understanding that Westborough TV receives most of its operating revenue from the Charter and Verizon contracts.

Institutional supporters read letters into the record. A letter from Todd Menardi, chief of police, said, "Westborough TV plays a vital role in fostering community engagement, amplifying diverse voices, and ensuring access to information for everyone," and noted the station's use by the police department for recruitment and community outreach.

Compliance concern: McLaughlin announced the advisory committee's assessment that Charter has not fulfilled a specific contract obligation requiring a fiber-optic PEG origination network. Quoting the existing agreement, he cited the provision that the licensee "shall provide, maintain, and operate a fiber optic PEG channel origination network" (section 7 and subsection 7.1/7.10.3) and said the town will pursue the matter in continuing negotiations with Spectrum Charter. The committee specifically noted the contract requires origination connectivity for three PEG sites, including Mill Pond Elementary School and the fire station, and that the town has not received the required fiber origination channel for Mill Pond.

Next steps: McLaughlin said the advisory committee will forward the record of comments, Westborough TV's business plan and the committee's proposal to Charter in the coming days, then meet with counsel to prepare a recommendation for the Select Board. The committee moved and seconded to adjourn the public hearing; the motion passed by voice and the hearing was closed.

What the hearing did not decide: The Select Board, as the issuing authority, has the final say on franchise renewal. The committee did not record a formal vote on license renewal during the hearing. The committee's findings about contractual noncompliance are an assessment to be taken into negotiations and are not a judicial or administrative finding of law.

Claims and uncertainties: Several commenters made factual claims that were not independently verified during the hearing. For example, a speaker said the station receives "95%" of its revenue from Charter and Verizon; the committee recorded that as a public comment rather than a verified figure. The committee's statement that the fiber-optic PEG origination channel has not been provided is presented as the advisory committee's assessment and will be the subject of negotiation with Charter.

The committee thanked Westborough TV staff and counsel William Hewig of KP Law and said they would present a recommended license draft to the Select Board after further meetings with counsel.