Selectmen approve new cable company
By Andrew Sullivan Contributing Writer

Hudson - The Board of Selectmen met Oct. 6 and approved a new cable company in Hudson. This comes two weeks after the board and representatives of Verizon met in a tension-filled presentation Sept. 22 that resulted in the delaying of the license. This week brought a noticeably diff erent atmosphere with a unanimous vote to bring Verizon on board. Board members were pleased with the outcome.

"Verizon can compete in a global market and understand global pressures," Selectman Carl Leeber said. "I hope all [the public] takes advantage of it."

Speaking after the meeting, Selectman Joseph Durant was extremely happy with the outcome. He was one of the more outspoken supporters for the addition of Verizon at the Sept. 22 meeting. It was important to get this approval, according to Durant, especially considering the possibility that Verizon could have taken the off er off the table.

"It's great that it finally went through," he said. "I didn't think Verizon would walk away, but you never know. Why take that chance?"

The absence of Portuguese channel RPTI from Verizon's basic package was an issue for the board in the last meeting. Selectman Antonio Loura had been the most vocal about his concerns. After a few additional weeks to closely examine the contract, he felt better about the situation.

"It's too bad because everything was done at the last minute," Loura said. "It kind of slowed it up for a couple of weeks. But we definitely want the competition."

Loura now feels confident in Verizon's approach to the RPTI situation.

"As for as RPTI, I was very strong about it," he said. "I had several conversations with Verizon for the last two weeks. I'm very comfortable that they will bring RPTI to one of their packages.

"I know they want to work with people," he added. "I was just very careful at the beginning because once they get the contract, there are no guarantees they were going to give us anything."

The approval brings competition to the cable services in town and residents will be the beneficiaries.

"The bottom line is the bluecollar worker has to pay," Loura said. "Now with competition, it's diff erent. Now [the cable companies] have to compete with each other. I just think it's a win-win situation for everybody. The citizens of Hudson have an option."

Durant is looking forward seeing what Comcast and Verizon will do for their customers.

"Verizon trying to break into an already established Comcast community is going to off er some sort of incentive for people to change over," he said. "Hopefully that will reduce the rates, which will help people get a better deal and a better package. Then Comcast, if they start losing people, will reduce their rates. I don't see how you can lose."

In other issues, the board recognized the appointment of Dianne Cush as treasurer/ collector.

"It's well deserved," Chair Santino Parente said. "She's moving up the ladder, so congratulations to her."

In town issues, Leeber brought attention to the growing concern over charitable donation bins in town. When bins are filled to capacity, people have been taking the donated items.

"I would like regulate that in some manner," he said. "If a person is making donation, it should go to the charitable cause that it was intended to. I think it's criminal that someone takes things intended for charity."