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Committee recommends signing Comcast franchise agreement after audit uncovered billing discrepancies
Summary
The ACT committee recommended the borough sign a negotiated cable franchise agreement with Comcast and recorded a committee recommendation vote of 3‑2‑0; the packet included an audit that found billing discrepancies and committee members asked staff to confirm maintenance and contact procedures for dangling wires.
The committee reviewed a negotiated cable franchise agreement with Comcast that staff and outside counsel helped secure on behalf of several Chester County municipalities. Sean said the borough had no modern franchise agreement in place and that the negotiations included a joint group of municipal attorneys.
"We found out when we started this process with, 20 or so other municipalities is that we don't have a cable franchise agreement with Comcast," Sean said, noting the prior agreement dated from the 1960s. He said the review produced an audit that identified billing discrepancies and that the franchise language includes mechanisms to address those issues going forward.
Committee members asked whether the agreement requires Comcast to maintain overhead wiring and provide a responsive contact for hazards. Anne Carroll asked the board to ensure a contact and faster responses for dangerous or dangling equipment after describing a fallen box on Sharpless Street.
After discussion, the committee recorded a recommendation vote in favor of signing the franchise agreement as written by a 3‑2‑0 tally. The recommendation will go forward to the borough council for final action; staff was asked to verify maintenance obligations and contact procedures with Comcast counsel before council consideration.
