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letter from philadelphia city council to comcast

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Kathleen Sullivan Vice President, Government Affairs, Comcast Ms. Sullivan, The franchise negotiations with Comcast give the City of Philadelphia a chance to renew the City’s four cable franchise agreements with Comcast. To that end, agreements negotiated between Comcast and the City will come before City Council for review and approval. I anticipate that the legislation authorizing the agreement will be referred to the Committee on Public Property and Public Works, of which I am the Chair. Broadly, my Committee members will be focused on issues related to quality, affordability and accessibility of services. And, while a hearing on any proposed legislation will only be scheduled after all members of City Council have adequate time to review and consider the details of the agreement, I have identified a number of key issues and questions based on my conversations with my colleagues. In order to facilitate a transparent and efficient process, I ask that you respond to each of the issues raised in this letter in writing by September 1, 2015. Myself and many of my colleagues consider Comcast to be an integral member of the Philadelphia family. You are a major employer. You have demonstrated your commitment to your home by building two skyscrapers in Center City. You contribute to local nonprofits and charities. We thank you for your dedication to our home. But we also recognize that the current negotiations are an incredible opportunity for the citizens of Philadelphia and Comcast to move Philadelphia forward. While it is true that the Federal Communications Commission has a narrow view of the scope of these types negotiations, we know that Comcast is a committed corporate citizen and member of the Philadelphia family. Internet access has gone from luxury to a necessary public utility. The affordability and quality of the services you provide have a demonstrated impact on communities and individuals; access to service is a civil rights issue. Like you, I want the best for Philadelphia and expect that this negotiation will result in an agreement that will define our future and establish us the national model. If you have any questions about my expectations or the City Council process, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Thank you for your openness and partnership in this process thus far,

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As Philadelphia and Comcast negotiate a new franchise deal, City Council has some questions.

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KathleenSullivanVicePresident,GovernmentAffairs,ComcastMs.Sullivan,ThefranchisenegotiationswithComcastgivetheCityofPhiladelphiaachancetorenewtheCitysfourcablefranchiseagreementswithComcast.Tothatend,agreementsnegotiatedbetweenComcastandtheCitywillcomebeforeCityCouncilforreviewandapproval.IanticipatethatthelegislationauthorizingtheagreementwillbereferredtotheCommitteeonPublicPropertyandPublicWorks,ofwhichIamtheChair.Broadly,myCommitteememberswillbefocusedonissuesrelatedtoquality,affordabilityandaccessibilityofservices.And,whileahearingonanyproposedlegislationwillonlybescheduledafterallmembersofCityCouncilhaveadequatetimetoreviewandconsiderthedetailsoftheagreement,Ihaveidentifiedanumberofkeyissuesandquestionsbasedonmyconversationswithmycolleagues.Inordertofacilitateatransparentandefficientprocess,IaskthatyourespondtoeachoftheissuesraisedinthisletterinwritingbySeptember1,2015.MyselfandmanyofmycolleaguesconsiderComcasttobeanintegralmemberofthePhiladelphiafamily.Youareamajoremployer.YouhavedemonstratedyourcommitmenttoyourhomebybuildingtwoskyscrapersinCenterCity.Youcontributetolocalnonprofitsandcharities.Wethankyouforyourdedicationtoourhome.ButwealsorecognizethatthecurrentnegotiationsareanincredibleopportunityforthecitizensofPhiladelphiaandComcasttomovePhiladelphiaforward.WhileitistruethattheFederalCommunicationsCommissionhasanarrowviewofthescopeofthesetypesnegotiations,weknowthatComcastisacommittedcorporatecitizenandmemberofthePhiladelphiafamily.Internetaccesshasgonefromluxurytoanecessarypublicutility.Theaffordabilityandqualityoftheservicesyouprovidehaveademonstratedimpactoncommunitiesandindividualsaccesstoserviceisacivilrightsissue.Likeyou,IwantthebestforPhiladelphiaandexpectthatthisnegotiationwillresultinanagreementthatwilldefineourfutureandestablishusthenationalmodel. IfyouhaveanyquestionsaboutmyexpectationsortheCityCouncilprocess,pleasedonthesitatetoletmeknow.Thankyouforyouropennessandpartnershipinthisprocessthusfar,andfortakingthetimetorespondtothequestionsandissuesoutlinedhere.CityCouncilwilllookforwardtoengaginginproductive,thoughtfulconsiderationofthefranchiseagreementandratifyinganewagreementthatbothwidensaccesstotheInternetforourcitizensandstrengthensthebondbetweenComcastanditshomeCity.Sincerely,BobbyHenonCouncilman,6thDistrictandChair,CommitteeonPublicPropertyandPublicWorksInordertofacilitateatransparentandefficientprocess,IaskthatyourespondtoeachoftheissuesraisedinbelowinwritingbySeptember1,2015.CityCounciliscommittedtoexpandingaccesstohighquality,affordableInternetservicesforourconstituents.ComcastrecentlyannouncedanexpansionofthepopularInternetEssentialsprogramtoexpandopportunitiesforlowincomefamiliestoaccessInternet.Canyoupleaseprovidedetailsabouttheimprovementsthatyoumadetotheprogram? TowhatextentareyouwillingtofurtherexpandtheInternetEssentialsprogramtoprovidereducedpricehighspeedInternetaccesstoseniorcitizensandpersonswithdisabilities?Doyouseeanyopportunitiestoprecertifylowincomecustomersforreducepriceservices,suchasresidentsinpublicorpubliclysubsidizedaffordablehousingdevelopmentsorindividualsalreadyreceivingmeanstestedpublicbenefits?PleasecomparethereducedprogramsandservicesofferedinotherjurisdictionstotheprogramsandservicesofferedtoPhiladelphiacustomers. Pleasedescribe,indetail,howComcastcomparesintermsofpricingforbothhighspeedInternetandcabletelevisionservicesinPhiladelphia,relativetootherjurisdictionsandmunicipalities. TowhatextentisComcastabletoofferPhiladelphiacustomersaratefreezeorrollbackofratesorratereductionaspartofthesuiteofbenefitsofferedtoconsumersaspartofthenegotiationprocess?Followingmediacoveragedetailingcustomerserviceissuescompanywide,pleasedescribehowComcasthasadoptedstrategiestoimprovecustomerserviceandresponsestocomplaintsandtoensuretransparencyinpricingandserviceterms. PleaseseetheattachedComcastbill.Pleaseexplainthepricestructuresandservicetermsinplainlanguage.TowhatextentdoesComcastnotifycustomersbeforespecialpricingorstartupdealsareending?WillComcastcommittonotifyingcustomersatleast30dayspriortochangestoservicecosts? PleasedetailanyplanstobetteraddressmaintenanceissuesrelatingtophysicalcableinfrastructureinPhiladelphianeighborhoods.CanyoudiscussthefeasibilityofprovidingforfreeorsubstantiallydiscountedhighspeedwirelessInternetaccessineveryrecreationcenter,healthcenter,homelessshelter,womensshelter,municipalbuilding,policebuilding,firehouse,prison,publicpark,KeySpotlocationandanyfacilityorstructurewheremunicipalservicesareprovidedtothegeneralpublic?PleasedescribeanyandalleffortsComcastiswillingtoundertaketopartnerwiththeCityofPhiladelphiatoaddresscomplexmunicipalchallenges,particularlybysupportinginitiativestoconnectCityassetsandimprovepublicsafety,includingthesharingofdataandinformationthatwillfacilitatepartnershipsandimprovedservices.Pleaseprovidedetailondifference,ifany,insignalqualityorfunctionalitybetweenlocalbroadcastchannelsandPEG(public,educationalandgovernment)channelsanddescribetheextenttowhichComcastprovidesandiswillingtoexpandsupportforPEGprogramming.AmongthegoalssharedbymanyinCityCouncilistopositionPhiladelphiapublicschoolstudentsasamongthemostdigitallyliterateandjobreadystudentsinthecountry.CanyouspeaktowaysComcastcansupportthisgoal,includingthroughnewinvestmentsinhardware,software,serviceconnections,staffing,and/orapprenticeshipprograms?PleasedetailhowComcastcancontinueworkingtogetherwithPhiladelphiasburgeoningtechnologysectorandgroupsthereinonmakingPhiladelphiaaleaderindigitalentrepreneurshipandsupportingaclimateoftechnologicaladvancementandcreativity.AsComcastgrowsinitshometownwithboththeconstructionofitssecondskyscraperandtheexpansionofitsbusinessandhumancapital,pleasedescribehowthecompanyhas,orplansto,increasecontractingopportunitiesforwomen,minoritiesandPhiladelphiabasedbusinesses,ensurelivablewagesandlaborconditionsforallComcastworkers(includingindependentcontractors),respectworkersrightstoformaunionwithoutinterference,andcommittotransparencyintheseareas.ComcastrecentlyannouncedinvestmentinnewCustomerCallCenters.DoyouplantoopenanysuchcentersinPhiladelphia.PleasedescribehowComcastplanstosustainengagementwithCouncilasawhole,Councilmembersindividually,stakeholdersandthegeneralpublicasthefranchisenegotiationsprogress.


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