Comcast Plans to Bring High-Speed Service and Competition to Easton
Easton residents could soon have a new cable and internet provider, potentially spurring a price war that benefits local consumers. Comcast is in the process of finalizing a 10-year contract with the city, bringing its internet and cable services to the Lehigh Valley.
Comcast Cable Senior Director of Government Affairs, Brian Jeter, presented the ambitious proposal to City Council elaborating on the details of the rollout. Despite the name recognition, Comcast indicated the build will be a significant undertaking, spanning five years to reach the entirety of Easton.
“We’re the largest cable and broadband provider in the United States – we have over 24 million subscribers for video customers and almost 26 million internet customers across 39 states and the District of Columbia,” said Jeter, emphasizing Comcast’s national reach and experience.
Currently, Easton residents rely on RCN and Service Electric for internet and cable service, while DIRECTV offers cable services without internet connection. Frequent complaints about the price and service quality have opened a window of opportunity for Comcast to penetrate the market. The company has leaned into this strategy, hinting at introductory and promotional pricing to compete with existing providers. “You’ve seen a shift in competitiveness in pricing – whether it’s broadband, video, mobile service. You’ve seen bundles, contracts, non-contracts, you’ve seen that activity increase because there’s a new entrant and new competition in the marketplace," Jeter noted, highlighting the potential for customers to benefit from competition.
The Xfinity package, including internet and cable services, appears to start around $100 per month.
The construction process will require a $15 million investment in infrastructure, encompassing 78.4 miles of cable laid throughout the city. The majority of the network will be aerial, taking advantage of existing utility poles.
“We will partner with and work closely with Met-Ed and other pole owners to build this network" explained Jeter, emphasizing Comcast’s dedication to utilizing existing infrastructure where possible.
While acknowledging the complexity of implementing such a large-scale build, Comcast will work closely with the city to keep disruption to a minimum.
“We want to make sure that we’re being partners with the city and understanding the details of the city – finding existing conduits which could prove very useful – and certainly locating and work around any road moratoriums," said Jeter.
Regarding local coverage, Comcast hopes to mirror the success it’s seen in neighboring areas like Coopersburg and Upper Sachon.
Comcast also emphasized its commitment to bridging the digital divide.
"Someone needs to stand up and say, ‘Here’s a network designed to be affordable and low-cost’ and provide some solutions for digital literacy," said Jeter.
The assessment painted a picture of how Comcast plans to integrate into local communities. Emphasizing affordability, the company also highlighted its Xfinity Internet Essentials program, aimed at providing approximately $10-per-month internet service to eligible low-income residents.
“The studies that we see, and the connectivity to those types of audiences, show that broadband in the home has an exponentially better opportunity for them – for job skills and to do homework online. The studies speak for themselves,” Jeter emphasized, reinforcing their commitment to catering the needs of diverse economic demographics within Easton.
Comcast has invested nearly $700 million in digital literacy training and it has provided
around 135,000 low-income Americans with affordable, subsidized computers
