Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves 10-year Talk Communications franchise and confirms water-and-sewer appointment
Summary
Council granted a 10-year cable franchise to Talk Communications to offer cable TV over its fiber network and confirmed an appointment to the water-and-sewer advisory committee; the appointment prompted a discussion of potential conflicts and recusal practice.
Wicomico County Council on March 3 approved two routine but consequential items: a 10-year cable franchise agreement with Talk Communications, Inc., and the confirmation of Steven L. Marsh, PE, to the Water and Sewer Technical Advisory Committee.
Talk Communications representatives told the council the company intends to offer cable television over its existing fiber-optic network in portions of the county where its infrastructure is built out. "The cables are already in our infrastructure... it's over our fiber optic network that's in place or being completed at this time," said Dennis Collison of Talk Communications. The franchise enables the company to provide TV service where its network exists; council approved Resolution 47-2026 unanimously.
The council also confirmed Steven L. Marsh, PE, to the county water-and-sewer technical advisory committee (Resolution 49-2026). Council members asked about possible conflicts because Marsh is employed by a private engineering firm that might later bid on county projects; staff responded that committee members can recuse themselves when a conflict arises and said similar situations have been handled previously without issue.
Votes: Resolution 47-2026 (Talk Communications franchise) — Approved unanimously. Resolution 49-2026 (appointment of Steven L. Marsh, PE) — Approved unanimously.
What happens next: Talk Communications may begin offering cable service in areas where its fiber network is operational after final contract steps; the water-and-sewer committee will include Marsh and proceed with master-plan implementation advice.
