Comcast buys 2 small municipal internet businesses in Massachusetts

Braintree Electric Light Department (BELD) — a nonprofit, publicly owned power utility and broadband internet provider — announced it has sold its internet business to Comcast. The sales price was not disclosed. BELD said the deal will have no impact on its electric division. BELD’s approximately 2,500 internet and phone customers will have their service transferred to Comcast, beginning this year. Comcast has already been an incumbent provider in Braintree (MA) for 18 years. Comcast also announced it was buying Russell Municipal Cable TV in Springfield (MA). The city of Russell (population 1,800) has owned and operated the service since 1988. Terms of the deal with Comcast were not revealed. Comcast plans to transition residents and businesses to its Xfinity and Comcast Business suite of services through the end of 2021. It will offer its complete portfolio of Xfinity services, including Xfinity Internet, its X1 platform for video service, Xfinity Home security and automation services, Xfinity Voice and Xfinity Mobile.