Lebanon City Council adopts cable franchise agreement with Comcast

Lebanon City Council on a voice roll call adopted a resolution authorizing a cable franchise agreement with Comcast of South Incorporated, a measure councilors said will preserve the city's 5% franchise fee on cable services while adding protections for residents.

Mayor Sherry Alcapello explained the agreement covers cable (not internet) services and “we currently do assess the full 5% franchise fee,” noting the city has used audits to verify Comcast’s payments. She told the council the new contract expands the definition of gross revenue to include 25 additional revenue sources and a catchall for future sources, which the city projects will maximize franchise revenue despite long-term declines tied to cord-cutting.

The agreement adds consumer protections and technical standards, including customer-service time limits, a four-hour appointment window for service calls, requirements that bills be clear and itemized and limits on late fees during good-faith billing disputes, standards for subscriber privacy, and provisions requiring Comcast to repair damage to public rights of way within 20 business days. It also preserves a dedicated PEG (public, educational, governmental) channel and allows for delegation of PEG functions to a school district.

Council discussion focused on whether the PEG channel could be used for local emergency information and on how the contract would handle damages or delays when utilities change poles and other providers need to move wiring. A city solicitor cautioned that questions of liability in some cases could implicate sovereign-immunity issues and would require legal review. The mayor said she has reached out to other municipalities to identify costs and staffing needs for operating a PEG channel.

A resident asked how the 5% fee is calculated; Alcapello said the city had conducted an independent audit that verified Comcast’s compliance under the prior agreement and that the franchise-fee definition in the contract governs how gross revenue is calculated. The contract includes a nonexclusive clause and a “level playing field” provision requiring equal terms if a competitor such as Verizon obtains a franchise.

A council member moved to adopt Resolution No. 4 and the motion was seconded. The chair called the roll and announced the resolution adopted by a vote of 5 in favor.

The agreement will govern cable service terms, reporting and consumer protections; the mayor said the city and its solicitor favored a shorter term given rapid changes in cable technology and that Comcast requested a 10-year term.

What happens next: The resolution takes effect as of its execution; the council did not set a separate implementation timeline during this meeting.