Comcast has applied for a cable franchise in Laconia, N.H., where it would compete against incumbent Atlantic Broadband to offer businesses and consumers video, voice and data service.

This is the second time in less than a year that Comcast has applied for a cable franchise in New Hampshire that was already served by an incumbent cable company. The first time was in Rochester, N.H., also served by Atlantic Broadband. Comcast serves about 104 separate communities in the state,

The Rochester franchise was awarded last December, and according to the Laconia Daily Sun,Comcast expects to complete building out its network in that town sometime next year.

Comcast has made a recent practice of overbuilding incumbents in small markets adjacent to its existing systems. Earlier this year it did the same in New London, Conn. (overbuilding Atlantic Broadband again) and in five communities in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (overbuilding Blue Ridge Communications). 

Comcast has said that on occasion it will expand its network into communities near existing operations where it sees demand and opportunity.