Seattle to Comcast: We want contract deal like Philadelphia got

Seattle (WA) officials want the same brotherly love Comcast is giving to Philadelphia (PA). Mayor Ed Murray and City Councilmember Bruce Harrell sent a letter to the cable company saying the City Council won’t approve a new cable-franchise agreement for Comcast in Seattle until the city gets what Philadelphia is getting.

“We were disappointed to learn of the franchise agreed to between Comcast and the city of Philadelphia,” reads the letter from Murray and Harrell to the company’s regional vice president of government affairs. “Having seen the commitment toward equity and affordability in Philadelphia, we believe the people of Seattle deserve the same level of commitment." In their letter, Murray and Harrell say the city will hold off granting Comcast a new franchise “until Seattle’s agreement is significantly improved.” In conjunction with its proposed Comcast agreement, Seattle would get discounted Internet for low-income households with children. But Philadelphia will get discounted Internet for low-income seniors and Internet subsidies for households without children, as well, and other benefits not offered to Seattle.