Weymouth Mayor Initiates Competitive Cable Licensing to Challenge Comcast Monopoly

Cable Licensing Proposals · Meeting of July 22, 2026

Weymouth Mayor Michael Melese formally opened the town's cable market to competition at a public hearing July 22, citing chronic Comcast service failures and bills residents described as rising as high as $300 per month. Invoking his authority as statutory cable license issuing authority under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 166A, Melese issued a written determination directing the town to begin a competitive licensing process, solicit proposals from any cable provider, and seek approval of the procedural framework from the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable. Five residents testified in person, describing unresolved billing disputes, signal failures affecting multiple technician visits, and a 661 percent price increase documented over 26 years by one resident, Jeff Cohn of Coolidge Avenue.

Legal counsel Bill August, Esq., appearing via Zoom, noted that Verizon Fios already operates fiber infrastructure in parts of Weymouth and has entered other Massachusetts markets at no cost to host towns. Henry Buckley, co-chair of the Hingham Cable TV Advisory Committee, appearing in a personal capacity, backed the initiative but warned that "the town really has one chance" to negotiate strong franchise protections before the contract renewal cycle begins.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 1,520 words

Source: the Cable Licensing Proposals meeting of July 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.