Budget and Finance Committee, Bellingham City Council

The Bellingham City Council Budget and Finance Committee met on October 5, 2026, for a focused single-item session chaired by Council Member Lisa Anderson. The committee considered and recommended approval of an ordinance extending the City of Bellingham's cable television franchise agreement with Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC for an additional five years, maintaining the same terms and conditions established in the original 2011 franchise agreement. The extension is the second since the original 10-year franchise was signed in 2011. That agreement expired in 2021 and was extended for five years to 2026; the new extension, if approved by the full City Council, would carry the franchise through 2031. The item was presented by Technology Services Director Don Burdick and Matthew Stamps of the City Attorney's Office. The discussion surfaced a recurring tension in cable franchise negotiations: the scope of what cities can actually negotiate is significantly constrained by state and federal law. Council Member Michael Lilliquist, who participated in the 2011 negotiations, noted that community priorities such as improved customer service or a local service presence were off the table at that time. Stamps confirmed that while cable franchises allow somewhat more municipal leeway than other utility franchises, he could not speak to the precise current parameters without additional research. A secondary but forward-looking topic emerged during discussion: the erosion of franchise-related tax revenue as consumers shift from traditional cable to streaming services. Technology Services Director Burdick explained that federal law currently permits franchise fees only on cable subscription services — not on streaming or internet services. He noted that Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Minnesota have pursued or are pursuing state-level solutions, and that Washington State legislation on the topic has reached committee but has not advanced. The committee