Comcast agrees to pay $350,000 to settle bias suit

Comcast Corp., the world's largest cable-television operator, has agreed to pay $350,000 to settle a race-bias suit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of a former supervisor at the company.

Angela Wilson, who was a call-center manager for Comcast in Delaware, said she was fired in 2002 for complaining after she was passed over for the post of human resources director. Wilson said she didn't get the job because she's a black woman. The suit was brought by the EEOC, which enforces U.S. laws prohibiting workplace bias.

In an agreement filed in federal court in Delaware, Comcast said it would set up a program to train employees to avoid discrimination and post a notice in its Delaware offices detailing employee rights. The Philadelphia-based company didn't admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

"Comcast has always had, and will continue to maintain, a commitment to provide a professional work environment free from discrimination of any kind," said Jenni Moyer, a company spokeswoman. The ruling "resolves all claims raised by the EEOC with respect to this case."

Comcast, with $18.3 billion in sales last year, reported a profit for the third quarter as it upgraded more basic-cable customers to digital packages in the face of competition from satellite-TV service providers.

Comcast was sued in the same court last year by four former employees who contended they were fired when they expressed support for Wilson, who was their supervisor.

That case had been scheduled for a jury trial beginning Oct. 25. The trial was canceled, and Moyer wouldn't say whether the case has been settled.