The Town of Goffstown, New Hampshire Official Site

The Cable Franchise Renewal Committee will hold a public hearing at the Dr. Craig Hieber Auditorium at the Goffstown High School, 27 Wallace Road, on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 7:00 pm in response to a request by Comcast, the current cable operator, for a cable television franchise renewal agreement. This hearing will be held pursuant to the requirements of the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1934, as amended; and RSA 53-C:3-a.

The purpose of this hearing is to ascertain the future cable-related needs and interests of the community.

In addition, the Town is required by NH RSA 53-C:3-a to consider:

1. The financial ability of the franchise applicant to perform.
2. The ability of the applicant to provide adequate and technically sound facilities, equipment and signal quality.
3. Adequate channel capacity and appropriate facilities for public, educational, or governmental use, taking into account available technology, subscriber interest, and cost.
4. The prohibition of discrimination among customers of basic service.
5. Reasonable service quality in terms of available technology, subscriber interest, and cost.
6. Construction and installation which conforms to all applicable state and federal laws and regulations and the National Electric Safety Code.
7. A competent staff able to provide prompt, adequate service and to respond comprehensively to customer complaints or problems.
8. Reasonable rules and policies for line extensions and disconnects, customer deposits, and billing practices.

Copies of the existing cable television franchise agreement are available at the Selectmen’s Office and on the Town’s website (Click Here). Any interested person may present testimony related thereto and/or attend this public hearing. Testimony is restricted to items that are negotiable which means topics such as programming and Comcast service costs are not subjects for discussion.