Comcast Xfinity will challenge Optimum for customers in Edison
EDISON – Township residents and businesses will have a choice who provides their internet and cable service.
The Township Council voted unanimously on Thursday to allow Comcast Xfinity to wire Edison for the service.
Councilman Joseph Coyle said the agreement with Comcast addresses Edison's most challenging issue for years.
"This is going to bring competition. We should support this, so we don't keep talking about Optimum's problems," Councilman Ajay Patil said before the vote.
Township Law Director Louis Rainone said Comcast will construct its own fiber network. He did not know how long it will take Comcast to wire the town but said he expected the work to begin immediately.
“We are continuously looking at opportunities to bring our state-of-the-art products and services to more consumers and businesses where it is geographically and economically feasible to do so, and we look forward to bringing our Xfinity 10G Network to Edison providing residents with access to Comcast’s full suite of Xfinity and Comcast Business services," Comcast said in a statement.
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Under the agreement, Comcast would pay the township an annual fee of 3.5 percent of gross revenues.
Some Edison residents have long complained about the level of internet service provided by Optimum, the only major internet service provider in the township.
When Mayor Sam Joshi ran for office in 2021, he campaigned on the need for faster, reliable and affordable internet service. He announced plans for Comcast to come into town last month during his annual State of the Township address.
Council President John Poyner said it's good to see competition and Comcast's technology installed will be up to date.
Council members have said the internet issues with Optimum involved mostly older lines, while residents with the new fiber optic lines had few complaints.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Comcast Xfinity internet, TV coming to Edison NJ
