What does Philadelphia need from our Comcast Cable Franchise?

8/13/2019 What does Philadelphia need from our Comcast Cable Franchise?

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What Does

Philadelphia

Need From OurComcast Cable

Franchise?

by

A Guide to Philadelphias Initial Comcast Cable

Franchise Survey and Comment Form

Media Mobilizing Project, February 2014

http://www.mediamobilizing.org,[email protected]

(215) 821-9632

he Comcast Center under construction before its opening in June 2008. The outline next to it represents

e new tower Comcast plans to build in Center City, Philadelphia beginning in Summer 2014.
http://www.mediamobilizing.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.mediamobilizing.org/


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WHAT IS THE CABLE FRANCHISE RENEWAL PROCESS AND WHY

DOES IT MATTER TO OUR COMMUNITIES?

Philadelphia has a rare opportunity to speak out for the resources we need from

corporations like Comcast, if these companies want the right to deliver services in

Philadelphia and to profit off our communities. While Philly schools are broke, business

is booming for Comcast, partly because of a franchise agreementone that is highly

favorable for Comcastwhich the company signed with the city.

While Verizon builds out cable service in the city, Comcast is currently the City of

Philadelphias major cable provider; holding a franchise to sell us cable service in all 4 of

the Citys franchise areas. Comcast signs special contracts with the City, called

f ranchise agreements, in order to be allowed to provide cable service in Philadelphia.

These franchise agreements give Comcast access to the public rights-of-way under

our streets where they lay cables, for examplethat they need to provide cable television

in our homes. In exchange for access to our public rights of way, the City of Philadelphia

negotiates a deal with Comcast to provide money into our public coffers, as well as

certain community benefits, that stay in place for fifteen years.

As our Citys franchise agreements with Comcast expire in 2015, the City is

engaging in a public needs assessment process to see what Philadelphians want to

negotiate for in this franchise. This public comment period and survey will likely be

followed byup to three public hearings and more opportunities to be heard.

Community input has begun with a public survey and comment form hosted at the

Citys Office of Innovation and Technology site, forany Philly residents to fill out.

Both the public survey and the short comment formare

here: www.phila.gov/cablefranchises/Pages/default.aspx

Philadelphia stands as a canary in the coalmine for dozens of American cities strugglingto survive in the wake of the economic crisis. In 2013, Philadelphia was the poorest of

Americas ten largest cities1. The percentage of city workers living in poverty has

1Poverty dips in city, but need for food stamps rises.Philadelphia Inquirer, September 20th, 2013.http://articles.philly.com/2013-09-20/news/42222047_1_poverty-rate-poverty-dips-food-stamps

Tina Kluetmeier, a mother of two in

Philadelphia, protested corporate tax

breaks at the Comcast Center. (Photo

by Kimberly Paynter, WHYY, taken

from

http://thenotebook.org/blog/136270/fig

t-philly-takes-comcast-philly-school-

funding-bologna-sandwiches
http://www.phila.gov/cablefranchises/Pages/default.aspxhttp://www.phila.gov/cablefranchises/Pages/default.aspxhttp://articles.philly.com/2013-09-20/news/42222047_1_poverty-rate-poverty-dips-food-stampshttp://thenotebook.org/blog/136270/fight-philly-takes-comcast-philly-school-funding-bologna-sandwicheshttp://thenotebook.org/blog/136270/fight-philly-takes-comcast-philly-school-funding-bologna-sandwicheshttp://thenotebook.org/blog/136270/fight-philly-takes-comcast-philly-school-funding-bologna-sandwicheshttp://thenotebook.org/blog/136270/fight-philly-takes-comcast-philly-school-funding-bologna-sandwicheshttp://thenotebook.org/blog/136270/fight-philly-takes-comcast-philly-school-funding-bologna-sandwicheshttp://thenotebook.org/blog/136270/fight-philly-takes-comcast-philly-school-funding-bologna-sandwicheshttp://articles.philly.com/2013-09-20/news/42222047_1_poverty-rate-poverty-dips-food-stampshttp://www.phila.gov/cablefranchises/Pages/default.aspx


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doubled since 20072. 24 public schools were closed, and thousands of workers have been

laid off3. Almost 1/3 of Philly residents, primarily the poorest4are offline, with little

ability to advocate or alleviate the crises that bloom when resources disappear.

The City of Philadelphia and Comcast are about to begin the negotiation process to

renew the franchise agreement that expires in 2015. Philadelphia is the fourth biggest

television market in the nation. 2.1 million people in the Philadelphia area subscribe tocable, relying on Comcast for basic news and information, and nationally, Comcast

internet subscriptions rose 64% over the past 6 years5. Comcast profits were $1.91 billion

in the last quarter of 20136, with an over 5% increase in cable subscriptions alone in the

last quarter of 2013. Amidst skyrocketing profits, Comcast fights Philadelphians

basic needsleading and paying the largest amount in lobbying costs to oppose a

campaign to guarantee earned sick days for Philadelphians7, and paying little in

taxes to the city that gives it so much8- a rate of 3.4%, when the average in

Pennsylvania is 9.99%. Comcasts outsized political power in Philadelphia impacts us

dailywith their senior executives encouraging the city to dismantle the school district9,

and contributing millions to both parties in political contributions 10.

Public engagement in the franchise agreement process will help hold Comcast

accountable to provide much needed resources for a city in need. Your voices can help

the city ask for far more for our communications and human rights, if Comcast is to

profit more from our communities.

SPEAK OUT: WHAT DO WE NEED FROM PHILADELPHIAS CABLE

FRANCHISE?

In the last cable franchise negotiation with Comcast, Philadelphia secured:

1.Funds for community access television,PhillyCAM, which supports

community members and non-profits with access to training, equipment,

television studios and cable time slots to air their own local content.

2 City workers in poverty double under Mayor Nutter.Philadelphia Public Record, May 23rd, 2013.http://www.phillyrecord.com/2013/05/city-workers-in-poverty-double-under-mayor-nutter/3 Saying goodbye to 24 Philadelphia schools.Philadelphia Public School Notebook.October 2013.http://thenotebook.org/october-2013/136420/saying-goodbye-24-philadelphia-schools4Ten facts about internet access in Philadelphia, November12th, 2013,http://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_report_detail_wide.aspx?id=858995188335After 50 years, Comcast still looks forward.Philadelphia Inquirer, November 11th, 2013.http://articles.philly.com/2013-11-11/news/43889689_1_comcast-corp-other-cable-tv-companies-roberts6Comcast halts subscriber losses; NBCUniversal profit soars.Los Angeles Times, January 28th, 2014.http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-comcast-halts-subscriber-losses-nbcuniversal-

profit-soars-20140128,0,557409.story #axzz2rtcKqpDh7Advocates: Comcast is trying to block Phillys paid sick leave law.Metro Philadelphia, March 12th, 2013.http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/news/2013/03/12/advocates-comcast-is-trying-to-block-phillys-paid-sick-leave-law/#sthash.1vv1RUjS.dpuf8Political power and consumer pain in Comcasts Philadelphia. City Paper, March 27th, 2013.http://www.citypaper.net/article.php?Polsitical-Power-and-Consumer-Pain-in-Comcast-s-Philadelphia-120369Pa. budget would help Phila. Schools, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 8th, 2013.http://articles.philly.com/2013-07-08/news/40422968_1_state-budget-city-schools-state-funds10The ten companies making the biggest political donations, July 5th, 2012.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-ten-companies-making-the-biggest-political-donations.html

Chris Fillipone trains new

filmmakers on the storyboarding

process. Community members

were able to build and grow our

public access television station,

PhillyCAM, by organizing around

the public franchise process. What

else could we win in our

communities if we tell the City what

we need from Comcast? (Photo by

Media Mobilizing Project)
http://www.phillyrecord.com/2013/05/city-workers-in-poverty-double-under-mayor-nutter/http://thenotebook.org/october-2013/136420/saying-goodbye-24-philadelphia-schoolshttp://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_report_detail_wide.aspx?id=85899518833http://articles.philly.com/2013-11-11/news/43889689_1_comcast-corp-other-cable-tv-companies-robertshttp://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-comcast-halts-subscriber-losses-nbcuniversal-profit-soars-20140128,0,557409.story#axzz2rtcKqpDhhttp://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-comcast-halts-subscriber-losses-nbcuniversal-profit-soars-20140128,0,557409.story#axzz2rtcKqpDhhttp://www.metro.us/philadelphia/news/2013/03/12/advocates-comcast-is-trying-to-block-phillys-paid-sick-leave-law/#sthash.1vv1RUjS.dpufhttp://www.metro.us/philadelphia/news/2013/03/12/advocates-comcast-is-trying-to-block-phillys-paid-sick-leave-law/#sthash.1vv1RUjS.dpufhttp://www.citypaper.net/article.php?Polsitical-Power-and-Consumer-Pain-in-Comcast-s-Philadelphia-12036http://articles.philly.com/2013-07-08/news/40422968_1_state-budget-city-schools-state-fundshttp://articles.philly.com/2013-07-08/news/40422968_1_state-budget-city-schools-state-fundshttp://articles.philly.com/2013-07-08/news/40422968_1_state-budget-city-schools-state-fundshttp://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-ten-companies-making-the-biggest-political-donations.htmlhttp://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-ten-companies-making-the-biggest-political-donations.htmlhttp://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-ten-companies-making-the-biggest-political-donations.htmlhttp://articles.philly.com/2013-07-08/news/40422968_1_state-budget-city-schools-state-fundshttp://articles.philly.com/2013-07-08/news/40422968_1_state-budget-city-schools-state-fundshttp://www.citypaper.net/article.php?Polsitical-Power-and-Consumer-Pain-in-Comcast-s-Philadelphia-12036http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/news/2013/03/12/advocates-comcast-is-trying-to-block-phillys-paid-sick-leave-law/#sthash.1vv1RUjS.dpufhttp://www.metro.us/philadelphia/news/2013/03/12/advocates-comcast-is-trying-to-block-phillys-paid-sick-leave-law/#sthash.1vv1RUjS.dpufhttp://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-comcast-halts-subscriber-losses-nbcuniversal-profit-soars-20140128,0,557409.story#axzz2rtcKqpDhhttp://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-comcast-halts-subscriber-losses-nbcuniversal-profit-soars-20140128,0,557409.story#axzz2rtcKqpDhhttp://articles.philly.com/2013-11-11/news/43889689_1_comcast-corp-other-cable-tv-companies-robertshttp://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_report_detail_wide.aspx?id=85899518833http://thenotebook.org/october-2013/136420/saying-goodbye-24-philadelphia-schoolshttp://www.phillyrecord.com/2013/05/city-workers-in-poverty-double-under-mayor-nutter/


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2. A yearly disbursement of 5% of cable profits to Philadelphias general

fund,although there is little public input over how its spent . Both of these

things are vital, but Comcast owes Philadelphia more.

We have a chance to share what we want out of the next negotiation now. The more

clear, respectful, well-informed opinions the City can collectthe more likely officials

will be able to ask Comcast for the resources our communities need to thrive.

1) IF YOU ARE A CUSTOMER OF COMCAST, TELL THEM WHAT YOU

THINK OF THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDE. In the survey itself, the City

asks multiple choice and open-ended questions about your experience with

Comcast products and services. Your feedback here helps keep them

accountable in providing increasingly affordable, flexible service you can

use.

If you are not a customer of Comcast, tell them why you choose to not

subscribe. Issues of cost, language accessibility, and Comcasts lack of

accountability to pay their fair share are all fair game to describe.

2) USE THE FREE WRITING BOXES IN THE SURVEY, or JUST FILL

OUT THE SIMPLE COMMENT FORM, to TELL YOUR STORY AS TO

WHY YOU THINK WE NEED MORE FROM COMCAST. The public

comment formand comment boxesin the survey offer space for your personal

reflections and expressions on what Comcast could do for our city. If youre

concerned that Comcasts resources are not being fairly invested in Philadelphia,

consider writing something in the appropriate box.

3) SOME TOPICS TO CONSIDER:

a. Support Local Access ChannelsThe survey asks a series of questions

about local access channels and programming, which Comcast is obligatedto fund as part of its franchise agreement. These are vital community

resources that Comcast has fought and underfunded. PhillyCAM, the Citys

public access TV station, operates a community access media center that

unites people to make and share media for creative expression, democratic

values, and civic participation. Comcast should not discriminate against

local Access Channels with respect to the functionality and signal

quality of those channels as compared to those of the local broadcast

digital format channels carried on the cable system. This includes

transmission of local access channels in HD and making public access

content available On Demand.

b. Expand Affordable Internet AccessAlmost 1/3 of Philly residents areoffline, primarily the poorest. Comcast could create a fund to provide more

free and affordable internet access for poor communities and underfunded

schools. That could support students to learn and workers to seek jobs.


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c. Pay Your Fair Share- Comcasts top executive salaries alone could pay off

the school districts three hundred milliondollar budget deficit in a few

years11. The company earned over $64 billion in revenues in 201312, while

students suffer, Comcast was just awarded forty million in city and state tax

payer dollars to build a second record-setting skyscraper in Center City,

Philadelphia. Instead of draining our resources, Comcast could use more of

its profits to support services for the people of Philadelphia in need.

d. Respect workerrights. Comcast paid over $100,000 in lobbying fees to

oppose a City Council bill that would have expanded access to paid sick

days to hundreds of thousands of us and our neighbors13. The ratio for CEO

pay to average employee pay at Comcast is 370:1,14and few Comcast

workers have the benefits and protections afforded by membership in a

union. Comcast should state its support for its workers, and all workers,

rights to form unions, and support efforts to build dignity for workers.

e. Dont pass on the fee to us. Comcast subscribers pay the franchise fee in

tiny installments every month as a part of their cable bill. If Comcast agrees

to pay its fair share, these extra/supplemental funds should come from their

record profits, not from charging already struggling consumers more, or

taking resources from important Philly services like public access TV.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AND BUILD THE MOVEMENT

Please take some time to complete the survey and fill out the short comment form. The

more people express their voices, the louder well be heard.

Both the public survey and the short comment formare

here. The survey is on top. Scroll down for the comment

form. www.phila.gov/cablefranchises/Pages/default.aspx

After you complete the form and survey please share this guide with at least five

Philadelphians. You can also get a print copy of the survey at your local Free Library of

Philadelphia branch, and at selected KEYSPOT Public Computer Centers citywide.The

City is hoping to collect as many survey responses and comments as possible by

February 7th

so act fast -though it is likely they will continue to collect comments

throughout the community feedback process. This is the start of an engagement period

where we can shape policy, protect and expand our communitys resources, and hold

Comcast accountable. Make your voice heard! For more information, email

[email protected],visithttp: //www.mediamobilizing.org or call us at (215)

821-9632, and keep checkinghttp:/ /www.phil a.gov/cablefr anchises/ for updates.

11Comcast Execs 2012 Earnings Revealed,Philadelphia Business Journal, April 11th, 2013.http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2013/04/11/comcast-execs-2012-earnings-revealed.html12Comcast 2013 Financial Report, http://www.cmcsa.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=82143813Advocates: Comcast Is Trying To Block Phillys Paid Sick Leave Law,Metro Philadelphia, March 12th,2013. metro.us/philadelphia/news/2013/03/12/advocates-comcast-is-trying-to-block-phillys-paid-sick-leave-law/1413 CEOs Who Get Paid Shockingly More Than Their Employees,Business Insider, March 29th, 2013.http://www.businessinsider.com/ceos-who-get-paid-much-more-than-workers-2013-3?op=1

Audra Traynham and Miguel Esteban

Andrade prepare to host local public

affairs program MMPTV on public

access station PhillyCAM.
http://www.phila.gov/cablefranchises/Pages/default.aspxhttp://www.phila.gov/cablefranchises/Pages/default.aspxmailto:[email protected]://www.mediamobilizing.org/http://www.phila.gov/cablefranchises/http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2013/04/11/comcast-execs-2012-earnings-revealed.htmlhttp://www.cmcsa.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=821438http://www.businessinsider.com/ceos-who-get-paid-much-more-than-workers-2013-3?op=1http://www.businessinsider.com/ceos-who-get-paid-much-more-than-workers-2013-3?op=1http://www.businessinsider.com/ceos-who-get-paid-much-more-than-workers-2013-3?op=1http://www.cmcsa.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=821438http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2013/04/11/comcast-execs-2012-earnings-revealed.htmlhttp://www.phila.gov/cablefranchises/http://www.mediamobilizing.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.phila.gov/cablefranchises/Pages/default.aspx

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What does Philadelphia need from our Comcast Cable Franchise?