Pepperell Selectmen Approve Transfer of Cable License From Charter to Comcast

PEPPERELL — August 14, 2014 — Pepperell selectmen unanimously approved the transfer of the town's cable television license from Charter Communications to Comcast, contingent on pending federal approval. Board Clerk Michelle Gallagher presided over the August 14 public hearing, where Tim Rennan, Comcast's regional vice president for government and community affairs, pledged to "adhere to all the contractual obligations that Charter has entered into with the town of Pepperell," including the existing license running through October 2021. Charter's Tom Cohan described the transfer as part of a three-way national subscriber swap tied to Comcast's simultaneous acquisition of Time Warner Cable, with Charter trading roughly 1.5 million New England, West Coast, and Southeast customers to Comcast in exchange for Midwest customers. Rennan confirmed no rate changes will result from the transaction itself but declined a board request for a rate freeze, citing rising broadcast retransmission fees and sports rights costs. Pepperell's roughly 3,200 cable subscribers — representing approximately 65 percent penetration — are not expected to see service disruptions; the transaction is projected to close by the end of 2014 or early 2015 pending FCC review.