Comment
Having served three terms as the Mayor of North Beach, Maryland I've worked closely with Comcast since their arrival in 2006. Comcast benefits North Beach every day as our town's cable provider and as a leading corporate citizen. I heartily and humbly recommend your committee's approval of the proposed transaction between Comcast and Time Warner Cable in New York State so the company's partnerships can expand and benefit many new communities. In August 2006, Comcast acquired our town's telecommunications system from Metrocast. At that time, we had rudimentary, unreliable service. We had extremely limited cable offerings, no HDTV, no On Demand, and no DVR services. We simply didn't have 21st century cable technology. Only a year after Comcast, acquired our system, the company completed a thorough upgrade to the entire network. They added 31 channels and a whole array of advanced, innovative programs like Digital Voice, on demand, high-speed broadband connections, high-definition television, and digital cable with over 250 channels. Our state as a whole has been the lucky recipient of around $3.5 billion in investment the last 20 years that have gone to revamping and expanding cable and broadband offerings, I understand that Comcast has pledged to similarly revolutionize service and infrastructure in former Time Warner Cable markets upon approval of this transaction. They've already indefinitely extended programs like Internet Essentials that help our low-income and needy residents get the digital tools they need. New York can be a part of this constant wave of innovation. Comcast doesn't just innovate, but engages in old-fashioned, sustainable community partnerships. For the past 7 years, Comcast has partnered with our town the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maryland to host a "Plant the Town" beautification project here in North Beach. This year, over 400 volunteers turned out to help plant flowers along the town's boardwalk and assist with a beach and marsh clean-up. That's over one-fifth of our town's entire population! Comcast's contributions extend beyond that one day. It is a year-round active supporter of local community non-profits. Comcast has awarded tens of thousands of dollars in Club Tech grants to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maryland that's based in our town. In addition, Comcast has supported End Hunger Now in Calvert, the United Way of Calvert, Calvert Alliance against Substance Abuse, Twin Beach Players Club, and the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce. I understand that these contributions and partnerships stretch throughout Maryland and all areas covered by Comcast. New York State has the opportunity to let flourish its communities and businesses by welcoming Comcast service. I urge your commission to make that happen.