Comcast gets static from questioners in Philly Council hearing

A technical negotiation of Comcast's franchise with the city Thursday turned into a broad, boisterous referendum on the company's role as a corporate citizen when the proposed agreement was probed by a committee of City Council.

Subscribers waving signs called for lower prices and better broadband. Council members pushed for an expansion of the company's discount program and improved customer service. Comcast executives, more than a dozen of whom were on hand, stressed the company provides millions in charitable contributions and billions in economic impact and is also a major Philadelphia taxpayer.

Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez, midway through a marathon hearing that continued into the evening, said there was no question Council appreciated Comcast's "economic engine."

"What we're talking about at this hearing is not evaluating the value that Comcast brings," she said, "but increasing that value and adding value, given Philadelphia's reality and challenges."

At stake are four franchise agreements, each covering part of the city, that allow the telecom giant continued access to right-of-way, including space under streets to install wires. All have expired, but the terms remain in effect until new agreements are signed.

Council's vetting process is just one of many balls in the air. Talks between the city and Comcast are ongoing. And Council members, who scheduled the hearing two weeks ago, hadn't been given a copy of the franchise agreement to review before the hearing - just a list of its highlights.

That frustrated at least one member. "Do we members of Council have what we need in order to make a decision? . . . Why do I not have a copy of the franchise agreement?" Wilson Goode Jr. asked.

"Because there are still more details we need to iron out," said Adel Ebeid, the city's chief information officer and lead negotiator.

Questions from committee members were directed largely at what more Comcast can do to help the city's poor, through expanding broadband access or providing resources to schools. Without a detailed agreement to vote on, the committee will hold at least one more hearing before deciding whether to move the bill to a full Council vote. The parties are aiming to approve a deal by year's end.

Dozens of Comcast customers, some who waited more than five hours to speak, filled the gallery, waving signs calling on Comcast to "Expand Affordable Internet" or "Respect Worker Rights." Witnesses ranging from city officials and Comcast executives to public-access channel producers and consumer advocates also spoke.

Two distinct portrayals of Comcast came forward in testimony: a job creator constantly innovating to better serve the city; or a monopoly stifling competition and contributing to Philadelphia's poverty by not providing more affordable services.

Local NAACP president Rodney Muhammad said the company had made great efforts to hire minorities and contract with minority-owned firms. He said many young men and women who work for Comcast bring "well-above minimum-wage income to their homes and families."

Hannah Sassaman, policy director of the local nonprofit Media Mobilizing Project, called on Comcast to vastly expand its Internet Essentials discount program, and questioned the policy of only offering it to those without service for at least 90 days.

"I wouldn't turn off, for three months, my water, electricity, heat, phone, or my Internet, for a discount," she said. "I need them all. They are my and everybody's human rights."

Internet Essentials, now open to low-income families with school-age children, drew some of the most animated discussion. When the city announced the main terms of the franchise agreement last month, officials said Comcast had agreed to expand the program to low-income veterans and seniors.

On Thursday, that list had shrunk to only seniors.

Comcast spokesman Jeff Alexander said Comcast had never agreed to expand the program to veterans. But he said that since Internet Essentials was launched five years ago it has been improved many times, including speed increases and expansions to include charter and parochial schools.

"We are looking forward to launching a pilot for senior citizens in Philadelphia," Alexander said.

Councilman Bobby Henon, chairman of the committee, said the parties would continue to "trudge through some of the last remaining issues."

Nudging the negotiators from Comcast and the city, he said Council hopefully "will have a document in its entirety" soon.

tnadolny@phillynews.com

215-854-2730 @TriciaNadolny