Wayland Cable Committee nears Verizon license matching Comcast at $125,000 over five years

WAYLAND — January 26, 2023 — Wayland closes in on a five-year Verizon cable license matching Comcast. Attorney Bill Hewig told the Cable Advisory Committee Thursday that Verizon has verbally committed to $125,000 in capital over five years plus a 5 percent franchise fee, pending verification that Comcast's payments — about $23,776 annualized, based on $3,500 plus 95 cents across roughly 1,886 subscribers — are equivalent. Hewig said Verizon will pay the full capital amount before year three, when it can exit the market, and pledged to push for a 365-day termination notice and a 15 percent capital premium modeled on Lexington's license. WayCAM Executive Director Jim Mullane separately reported invoicing the town roughly $7,000 and the school district roughly $8,000 for streaming-membership access; Select Board member David Watkins said he would route the bills to the board's ARPA subcommittee. The committee approved May 24 and Sept. 29, 2022 minutes 3-0.