MetroCast Communications, the cable company serving the Belmont and Rochester areas, on Thursday laid off 16 of its 240 New Hampshire employees, according to Andrew J. Walton, vice president of marketing and communications for Harron Communications, MetroCast's parent company based in Frazer, Pa.

Seven of the positions were in Belmont and nine in Rochester.

"Our market position is strong and we are encouraged by our business outlook," he said. "Still, like any business, we must from time to time analyze our work force and make organizational decisions, however difficult, that we believe are appropriate and necessary for our business, and to best serve our customers."

All of the affected employees were installer/technicians, according to Walton, who said the company will now outsource some of the technical work. "We will rely on our in-house employees as well as some contract labor to ensure that customers continue to be well-served," he said.

Employees were notified this morning and the layoffs took effect immediately.

MetroCast has operated in New Hampshire since 1998 in the Belmont area, and since 2000 in Rochester. The company provides cable television, Internet and telephone services to 25 communities in the Belmont area and five in the Rochester area, with customers in nearby Sanford, Maine, as well, for a total reach of about 70,000 households.

MetroCast offices in Belmont and Rochester remain open and fully staffed, Walton said.