Carly Miller is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Windham Town Board has successfully negotiated a franchise agreement with Mid-Hudson Cable just as the current contract is scheduled to expire. The term of the agreement would increase to 15 years, from the existing 10-year pact, and also cover completion of the planned cable and broadband service expansion in the hamlet of Maplecrest. The new agreement remains largely similar to the expiring contract, including a plan to exclude franchise fees. Those fees can run up to five percent of the cable bill, excluding Internet service. Mid-Hudson Cable, Windham’s telecommunications provider for 30 years, extended service to parts of Mill Street, Begly Road and Pheasant Lane last year. The infrastructure was funded in 2016 during Phase I of the state’s New NY Broadband Program, the state’s $500 million investment in broadband expansion. A public hearing on the proposed franchise agreement will be held 6 p.m., Thu., May 24, at Windham Town Hall, 371 Route 296 in Hensonville. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.