All of this sounds good, of course, but the elected officials at the hearing didn't seem to be buying it. James was joined by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and City Council Member Ben Kallos, both of whom cosigned a letter with the Public Advocate in October laying out certain conditions for the merger. These conditions include supplying New York City Housing Authority residents with free broadband, providing free Wi-Fi service in public parks, and offering broadband at senior, youth and community centers and homeless and domestic violence shelters.

Though Comcast claims their aim is to "close the digital divide," they have not officially agreed to these conditions, something MBP Brewer didn't seem thrilled about. "Just because you say it doesn't mean you're going to cut the digital divide," Brewer said. "All the things we're talking about today would be a handshake and not an agreement."