By Nathan Duke
Staff Writer

Following unanimous support by the board of selectmen, Goffstown is trying to work out a franchise agreement with The Merton Group, a broadband provider that focuses on delivering enhanced data and video services.

Currently, the town already has a franchise agreement with telephone, Internet and cable provider Comcast.

In a franchise agreement, the town collects a fee, or a percentage of the company’s gross to put into a general town fund. However, the town does not regulate or collect fees from the company’s phone service because the company is already regulated by the Public Utilities Commission.

Selectmen Chairman Gossett McRae Jr., Town Administrator Sue Desruisseaux, attorneys Jim Cook and Tony Marts and Goffstown information technology director Neil Funcke make up the committee that will be negotiating with the Merton Group.

Desruisseaux said the arrival of the new provider could benefit Goffstown.

“It will be another source of revenue for the town,” she said.

However, McRae said the most important aspect of the company’s presence in town will be more options for data services.

“I think the real benefit the company will offer will be additional data services,” he said. “There is not much enthusiasm for the little extra bit of money the town will gain. (The company) will offer more and different data capabilities for business and residential users.”

McRae, a business owner who uses Comcast, said his service was down on a recent night. If the Merton Group gets a franchise agreement with Goffstown, he said he would use both providers. That way, if one is not working on a given night, a backup system would be available.

“If one system goes down while you are using it, you can switch over to the other,” he said.

The Merton Group’s original plan to begin a franchise in Goffstown did not garner much support with the town’s board.

Originally, the group came to the selectmen with a proposal to run a physical fiber cable through the community. The original plan would have potentially cost community taxpayers.

“Now, the proposal is for a private company,” said Desruisseaux. “There will be no expense to the taxpayers or the town.”

McRae said after the board refused the accept the financial burden on the community of the original plan, the Merton Group found out that grants were available to wire a town with a population under 25,000.

McRae said he is satisfied with the work Comcast does for Goffstown, but the possibility for competition would be good for the community.

“It will be good to have another video carrier and potential broadband data service provider in town,” he said. “We are always looking for some little edge to make competition with bigger cities in the area. (Multiple providers) give us a data infrastructure that is attractive to businesses, which is a plus for Goffstown.”

DSCI Corporation Engineering VP and Goffstown resident Rick Girardin, who was opposed to the original plan by Merton Group, is not completely convinced by the newer proposal.

“To come in and string cable to provide service to residents requires no approval by the town – they do not need a license or permits,” he said. “Why does the Merton Group need to ask for permission if they are not asking for money? I think it is a fair question.”

Girardin said he originally expressed interest in taking part in the committee to study the Merton Group proposals, but was not contacted by the board of selectmen.

“They will probably want someone on the committee who understands cyber construction,” he said.