By Liz Goncalves and Katie Murphy

Our Goals:

• Background of the Comcast company• Its monopolistic tendencies• To discuss limited involvement in the

communities it services, specifically Holyoke and Springfield

• What can we do?

Comcast Company Profile

• Founded in 1963 by Ralph J. Roberts • Current CEO- Son, Brian L. Roberts• Largest Cable Provider in the nation, wiring over 24

million subscribers• In 2005, Comcast reported its highest yearly revenue

to date: $22.225 billion USD• Subscribers account for just over 28% of the 96.8

million US residents with cable or satellite TV service (2007).

Comcast’s Rise to the Top

• The 1996 Telecommunications Act deregulated the media market

• This resulted in allowing Comcast to wire a vastly bigger percentage of areas in the United States

• Comcast was able to break into the internet and phone industry, as well

Comcast vs. FCC

• FCC regulates a 30% limit for what cable operators can control

• Comcast is approaching the cap ownership at owning roughly 28% of U.S. cable market

• Comcast argues that limiting ownership is no longer necessary

Comcast vs. FCC

• Comcast complains that there is a sufficient amount of competition due to Video options on the internet (i.e., YouTube)

Cost of Deregulation?

• Deregulation of broadband has negatively impacted the market

• “U.S. badly lags behind many western European and Asian countries when it comes to broadband availability, speed, and price.”

• If the cable industry was deregulated, it could result in even higher costs and fewer service options to consumers

Comcast’s Rise to the Top

• In 2001, Comcast acquired AT&T’s cable division for 44.5 billion USD

• At that time AT&T was the largest cable provider in the nation

Comcast’s Rise to the Top

• In 2005, Comcast attempted a takeover of Disney that would have estimated for 65 billion USD

• If the deal would have gone through, Comcast would become the biggest media conglomerate in the world.

Comcast Adds More Subscribers

• In 2002, Adelphia, the third biggest cable provider, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

• The FCC approved Comcast and Time Warner’s sale bid of Adelphia for 17.5 billion USD

• Comcast and Time Warner Agreement

Subscribers in MA

• Comcast’s total subscribers in MA as of December 2002 = 1,506,432

• After the purchase of Adelphia, Comcast’s number of subscribers in MA have risen.

Comcast’s reign on Massachusetts• Comcast wires the majority of the

households in MA• It also services more than 78% of Holyoke

households• And 73% of Springfield households

Cable Industry Laws

• The FCC regulates that Comcast must strike up a contract with each community that it services

• Comcast is usually required to fund cable in public schools and public access channels

Comcast in the Holyoke Community

• Holyoke receives back $70,000 a year

• $46,000 of this goes to operating system government and cable/educational access

• No public access

• Annual scholarship for a Holyoke High School Graduate Resident for $2,000/year

Comcast in the Holyoke Community

• They invest money in school equipment. This includes a media room in Holyoke High School and other things that are media related.

• Help put on musicals in Holyoke.

• Has a little league soccer team, they also make donations to the local community, Holyoke College, and hospital.

Comcast in the Holyoke Community

• Mayor Sullivan claims Comcast’s revenue is “not required” information for him to know, but can be considered public information.

• Rates are negotiated by the FCC. Mayor Sullivan said that this leaves “Little to talk about” at meetings with Comcast.

Comcast in Springfield

• Estimated revenue in the Spfld. area: 25 million USD

• Comcast funds 3 organizations:

• Springfield Symphony Orchestra, United Way of Pioneer Valley, and Urban League of Springfield, Inc.

Comcast in Northampton

• Comcast Gross Revenues= $5,964,000 in March 2006.

• New non-profit cable access corporation to operate the new studio in the High School. The new studio will be open May 1.

Comcast’s role in communities?

• The Comcast Foundation, a social outreach program , was founded in 1999

• Since its start, Comcast has given over 30 million dollars back to the communities

• This comes out to be less than 1% of its revenue for the last ten years

Comcast Employees

• The average Comcast worker earns about $27,000 a year.

• Comcast is trying to get rid of their union workers and adds a negative stigma to unions. Non-union workers are hired and encouraged.

• Comcast workers report they’re illegally fired for supporting the union or trying to organize one.

• CWA (Communications Workers of America) and IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) are fighting to protect Comcast workers interests.

Grassroot efforts • http://www.comcastwatch.com/

• http://www.grassrootscable.org/

Legislation Ideas

• Write to your congressman• FCC lowering the cap to less than 30% • Requiring that Comcast be more active in the

communities that it services