Gowanda Spectrum cable TV franchise hearing set for July 14—review the draft

The Village of Gowanda will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, July 14 at 5:45 p.m. at 27 East Main Street to consider approval of a cable television franchise agreement between the Village of Gowanda and Spectrum Northeast, LLC (an indirect subsidiary of Charter Communications). The notice (dated June 30, 2026) says residents can review the posted draft and provide written and oral statements at the hearing; time limitations may be imposed for each oral statement if necessary.

Hearing essentials and how to participate

According to the Village’s public-hearing notice, the draft agreement is available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Village Clerk’s Office at 27 East Main Street, Gowanda.

The Clerk’s Office hours listed on the Village website are:

• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday: 8 a.m. to noon

At the hearing, the notice says all persons will be given an opportunity to be heard, and that written and oral statements will be taken.

What’s in the draft Spectrum franchise agreement (highlights)

The Village’s posted draft franchise agreement includes contract terms residents may want to read ahead of the hearing. In the draft, key provisions include:

• Nonexclusive franchise: the grant in the draft is described as nonexclusive.
• Initial term: the draft states an initial term of 10 years, beginning on the agreement’s Effective Date process.
• Franchise fee: the draft requires an annual franchise fee equal to 5% of annual Gross Revenue, and it says franchise fees may be passed through to subscribers (consistent with federal law).
• PEG access: the draft requires Spectrum to make available channel capacity for non-commercial public/educational/governmental (PEG) video programming in accordance with NYPSC regulations referenced in the agreement.
• Rate regulation language: the draft says rates and charges for cable service “shall be subject to regulation” in accordance with federal law.
• NYPSC approval and “Effective Date”: the draft states the franchise is subject to approval by the NYPSC and that it will take effect on the agreement’s Effective Date tied to that NYPSC approval.

Local caution: what this hearing can’t change on its own

Franchise discussions sometimes blur what local action can control. The NYS Department of Public Service (NYS DPS) says that, for franchise documents, rates are an area subject to separate, federally mandated methodology and are out of bounds for local franchising authority consideration. The draft agreement itself also includes the “rates and charges” language tying regulation to federal law.

What residents can do before July 14

• Read the draft agreement during Clerk’s Office hours at 27 East Main Street.
• Bring specific questions about the draft’s PEG access requirements, franchise-fee framework, and the NYPSC approval / Effective Date process.
• Plan your comments: if you want to speak, remember the notice says the Board may impose time limits for oral statements.
• Write a statement in advance if you can’t attend, so your comments are ready for the hearing record process described in the notice.

Sources

• Village of Gowanda notice: July 14 public hearing on Spectrum Northeast cable television franchise agreement
• New York State Department of Public Service (NYS DPS): Cable TV franchising guidance