Cable License Renewal - Phase 1

Charter Communications has contacted the Town of Westport regarding renewal proceedings as outlined in Section 626(a) through 626(g) of Title VI of the Communications Act of 1934 (the “Cable Act”). In addition, Charter has highlighted Section 626(h) which allows the extensive formal process to be sidestepped in favor of a more expedited renewal process. We are taking all of this into consideration, and will have more information to share with the public after our September 2020 meeting.

At this time, no decision has been made regarding standard or expedited renewal processing. We anticipate a mixture of public and private meetings with Charter to get the best renewal agreement possible.

In the years ahead, much of what we know now about cable television, high-speed internet and voice-over-internet telephone service is likely to change. Just a few of the factors steering this change, include:

  • Improvements in internet speed and data capacity.
  • Cord-cutting and internet streaming of audio and video content.
  • Rollout of 5G wireless (broadband-level) technologies..

It is very likely that we will see the pressure of these factors and the emergence of new concerns arrive well ahead of the 2023 renewal deadline for our current contract with Charter.

Please stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.