Down To The Wire On New Cable Franchise Agreement Between Comcast And Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A second city council hearing on Philadelphia's new franchise agreement with Comcast again ended with no action, after witnesses testified that the cable giant needed to do more for its home city.
The committee on Public Works and Public Property scheduled a third hearing for Thursday morning, just hours before council's second-to-last meeting. The bill authorizing the agreement must pass then to be considered this session.
This is the only opportunity for council and the public to have input on the franchise terms in 15 years-- the length of the agreement.
The first hearing, in November, lasted hours. Today's was shorter and much of it was focused on easing access "internest essentials," Comcast's discounted internet service for low income residents.
Witness Molly Lawrence accused Comcast of rejecting most applicants.
"It is currently almost as hard to get into the internet essentials program as it is to get into the Harvard School of Law," she said, estimating the acceptance rate for internet essentials at seven percent.
Comcast spokesman Jeff Alexander called the estimate "random." Though he said it was incorrect, he declined to give the actual acceptance rate. He said Comcast has provided service to more than 70,000 customers in the Philadelphia area.
Other witnesses complained that, in order to qualify, residents must have no internet for 90 days.
Malik Jarah says she pays a premium-- about two-and-a-half times the internet essential price-- because she can't go without service that long.
"My daughter cannot go 90 days without doing her homework," she said. "I can't go 90 days without paying my bills."
Alexander says the requirement goes back to the original intent of the program. "It was to connect those who were not already connected to the internet.
But councilman Bill Greenlee said he would have a hard time voting for the bill if the requirement stays in place.
Witnesses and council members also said they wanted Comcast to increase its involvement in Career and Technical Education in the Philadelphia School District.
A third area of concern was Comcast subcontractors. Comcast has agreed to pay a family wage and provide sick leave. Council members and witnesses want that gurantee to extend to companies Comcast contracts with to do work in public rights of way.
Committee chair Bobby Henon recessed the hearing until 8:30 Thursday morning.
"If Thursday morning comes and negotiations stall or fail, then we don't have an agreement this year," he said.
