Comcast pulls nonprofit's funding - temporarily - over Baker tweet

Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) continued its public relations spiral in the wake of hiring FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker. The MSO has had to apologize to nonprofit Reel Grrls in Seattle after Steve Kipp, the MSO's communications vice president in Lynwood, Wash. pulled $18,000 in funds over a tweet about hiring.

"OMG! @FCC Commissioner Baker voted 2 approve Comcast/NBC merger & is now lving FCC for A JOB AT Comcast?!?" the tweet went.

That didn't sit well with Kipp, who sent the organization an e-mail telling them he was "frankly shocked that your organization is slamming us on Twitter. I cannot in good conscience continue to provide you with funding--especially when there are so many other deserving nonprofits in town."

Reel Grrls YouTube video

Members of Reel Grrls, a nonprofit summer program, address Comcast directly about its decision to stop funding the program. Comcast reversed its position Thursday. Watch the YouTube video.

Sena Fitzmaurice, Comcast's spokeswoman in Washington, stepped in to apologize for the e-mail, promising to continue funding the group and noting, "This is not the way Comcast behaves toward its nonprofit partners."

Fun fact: The money is used for a summer program that lets 15 teenage girls produce films about nonprofits. They must have learned something in the past, because three Reel Grrls produced a film about Comcast's decision to pull the funds. It's now on YouTube.

For more:
- Washington Post has this story

Related articles:
Cable's arrogance has a trickle-down effect on customer relations
Comcast's Cohen defends Baker hiring, while ivi wants details of company dealings