so the people in the main city planning/permit office dont know about the extra run around, how should comcast?

So you are saying Comcast is pleading ignorance?

Rules are rules and anyone who does business in Georgetown knows how that area runs.

Comcast obtained permits from the city. Im not sure if an entity following proper procedure for construction permits is at fault.
If the permit had to be put to some arts committee that isnt for Comcast to do.. or even know about.

"Any change to public space in historic Georgetown must first, by law, be reviewed and approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the Old Georgetown Board. Permits for the work were never submitted to either entity......A Comcast spokesperson said that the company obtained city permits and didn’t know the installation required further review. "

This is a joke. If this is such a big deal that municipality truly needs to clean up their internal processes and procedures to ensure an oversight like this doesnt occur again.