Solicitor briefs board on Comcast franchise pursuit; board takes no action on Agricultural Security advertising

Solicitor Beth Kohl told the Longswamp Township Board on July 8 that Comcast is pursuing a franchise agreement to operate in the township, which would allow installation of fiber‑optic infrastructure and potential cable services without additional municipal approvals. Kohl said the Federal Cable Communications Act requires a municipal franchise before a provider can offer cable service, and she intends to draft agreement language consistent with existing Service Electric and Windstream/Kinetic agreements to avoid giving preferential treatment to any provider.

Kohl also reported that the owners of 120 Benfield Rd filed an appeal; she has submitted a new complaint to the Court of Common Pleas to resume enforcement actions. On the topic of Agricultural Security Area applications, she described the township’s options for advertising an open period (commonly done in August at roughly $300 per newspaper ad) and recommended posting the information on the township website instead; the board took no action on advertising at the meeting.

Kohl said she had not yet reviewed the steps necessary to assist the treasurer in closing the Debt Service Fund Balance account. No franchise agreement language or formal direction to negotiate was recorded in the minutes; the solicitor’s comments were informational and the board did not vote on a franchise at this meeting.