Wakefield Cable Advisory Committee Meeting - September 16th, 2026

The Wakefield Cable Advisory Committee held a meeting on September 16, 2026, focused on the negotiation and determination of priorities for cable television access services in the town of Wakefield. The meeting included public hearings for Comcast Xfinity and Verizon FiOS regarding their cable television licenses. Discussions emphasized the importance of the franchise fee, currently at 4.5%, which funds public educational and government programming through WCAT. Committee members highlighted the challenges posed by declining cable subscriber bases and the need for continued funding and partnership with cable providers to maintain services, including emergency information broadcasts. The committee encouraged public participation through a survey to inform the ascertainment report that will guide future negotiations and license renewals. There was also mention of ongoing efforts to engage Verizon, which had been less communicative than Comcast. Motions to open and close the public hearings were passed unanimously, and the meeting concluded with plans to make the ascertainment report publicly available and to continue community engagement.