Philadelphia to get public access TV

PHILADELPHIA --After nearly a quarter-century of waiting, Philadelphia will finally have public access television.

On Tuesday, Mayor John F. Street said that the city has reached an agreement with Comcast Corp. to support public access channels.

Comcast, based in Philadelphia, will contribute an initial $1.8 million for a new studio and equipment, another $900,000 in two years and $500,000 a year for operating expenses. The city will provide the Widener branch library, which is vacant, as a studio and pay utilities for five years.

Comcast will set aside five channels -- one analog and four digital channels -- for public access, which will start broadcasting in January.

"We're thrilled," said Danielle Redden, campaign coordinator with the Philadelphia Community Access Coalition, a group that had long fought for public access channels through protests, prayer vigils and city council hearings.

The group sued the city in 2002 for not enforcing its franchise agreement with cable companies, which calls for public access TV support. Redden said the coalition dropped the lawsuit months later after the city entered negotiations on the issue.

The public access agreement is contingent upon passage of two ordinances that are to be introduced in the City Council within the next two weeks.