MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - At the February 17th Township Board meeting, a transfer control agreement with conditions was passed unanimously.

With the approval of the transfer of control agreement in Meridian Township, Comcast allowed for important assurances for the residents.

While most communities in the state of Michigan recently passed the cable transfer without any provisions, some developed only small resolutions with the provider.

But not Meridian Township. Communications Director, Deborah Guthrie, fought for a signed contractual agreement that ensures the communities’ schools, libraries and some municipal buildings continue to receive free cable services.

“We didn’t want a burden on the schools. We don’t know when the new company comes in what they’re going to be putting in place and so we wanted to make sure - we worked with the CEO of Greatland, and we worked with Comcast, and our attorneys to make sure that they knew that these were important things for us to continue having," Guthrie said.

Meridian Township is the only community in Michigan that has come to such an agreement and in doing so, subscriber rates will not increase under a rate protection, placing no additional burden on the residents.

Comcast also promised other in-kind services such as waiving the transport fee that allows the nine PEG channels Meridian Township offers, one of which is our own HOMTV, to be sent in at no additional cost.

“Those channels have been in place for a long time and those channels will continue to be in place with this transfer agreement," said Guthrie.

These provisions will be in place until July 31st when the contract expires. After that, a more permanent agreement between the township and Comcast must be made.