Since the town of Hooksett renewed its contract with Comcast in 2004, cable subscribers in Hooksett pay about $100,000 in franchise fees every year to have public-access television to cover various town meetings.

But since no public access television currently exists, the Hooksett Town Council is debating the option of abolishing the franchise fee altogether.

“I think it’s an example of a hidden tax,” said Town Councilor David Ross at a recent meeting. “It should be something that’s put before the voters to see what they have to think.”

Comcast currently bills its cable subscribers 3 percent monthly, including in that bill a line item labeled as a franchise fee. In full, those fees are collected and deposited in the town’s general fund account, amounting to about $100,000 a year.

If the Town Council eventually decides to cease collecting the franchise fees, another franchise fee could not be reinstated until Comcast renegotiates its town contract in 2012. That pushes the possibility of installing public access television to at least that year.

Town Councilor Nancy VanScoy said she had not personally resolved the issue yet but said she understands it is something that merits discussion.

“I do think it’s important that we talk about it,” VanScoy said. “I’m waiting to be convinced one way or the other. Both sides have to be looked at. If we have this fee, what is the purpose of it?”

Town Councilor Jim Gorton, also a Comcast subscriber, said he does not mind paying the nominal fee each month and gathers that other cable subscribers probably feel similarly.

“I knew about the fee and it doesn’t bother me,” Gorton said. “The subscriber knowingly agrees to pay that fee. I really don’t think they’re hidden at all. They are spelled out pretty clearly in your contract.”

The many members of the council have voiced their desire to see public access television installed in the town, but no action has been taken on the issue.

“I don’t think people mind paying the tax if it were for public television,” Town Councilor Mike Pischetola said. “But it’s just going into the general fund.”

Earlier this year, voters were asked whether to establish cable-access TV but not whether to remove the franchise fee. The warrant article failed 551-442 in the May 13 vote, and the public-access TV committee disbanded.

Had it passed, committee chairman Peter Farwell said the station would have been located at old the Village School, now the Hooksett Town Hall. Fiber optic cables would run from buildingl up to the Comcast head station in Manchester.

Buying and installing the cables alone was expected to run around $30,000, Farwell said. Additional equipment needed to run the station was estimated at around $27,000, rounding out the one-time expenses at close to $60,000 for the first year.

Two part-time positions, a technician and a programming coordinator, would have added an extra $25,000 to $30,000 combined which would be a yearly expense and would have become part of the station’s operating budget.

– Ginger Kozlowski contributed to this story.