Selectmen schedule public hearing on Comcast franchise renewal; potential 5% fee could bring ~$33,000

Town staff briefed the board on a proposed modernized franchise agreement with Comcast that updates an agreement originally executed in 1983 and reflects counsel revisions. Diane, the town administrator, explained the franchise covers use of rights-of-way for wireline video/cable services and does not apply generally to internet/streaming services.

The board discussed whether imposing a franchise fee would require applying the same fee to other franchise holders (for example, TDS). Staff confirmed parity rules: if the town imposes a franchise fee on Comcast it would need to impose the same fee on other franchisees providing wireline video services that use town rights-of-way. Board members asked for revenue estimates; staff said a 5% fee on Comcast's relevant gross revenues could generate roughly $33,000 for the town (a 1% fee would be approximately $6,600), and estimated the average subscriber impact at roughly $7 more per month under a 5% fee scenario.

After that discussion the board voted to hold a public hearing on the proposed Comcast franchise renewal pursuant to New Hampshire RSA 53‑C:3‑a on Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m. Sherry and legal counsel will be asked to finalize notice language and staff will prepare information on density and buildout obligations cited in the draft agreement for that hearing.

The franchise conversation emphasized that franchise coverage is limited to wireline video services (coax/fiber over town rights-of-way) and does not extend to over-the-top streaming services delivered via the public internet.