New York City Grants Local Cable Franchise to Verizon FiOS

6:00 am on May 29, 2008 | Category: Business, Telecom Services, Television, Regulation

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New York City has approved a 12-year franchising deal allowing Verizon Communications to offer its FiOS television service throughout America’s most populous urban area.

Up until now, most New Yorkers have had access only to their local telecom incumbent: Time Warner Cable in Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and western Brooklyn; or Cablevision in eastern Brooklyn and the Bronx. Verizon ultimately plans to compete in all five boroughs.

“For too long, the people of New York had little to choose from when searching for a cable provider,” commented City Controller, William Thompson, a member of the city’s Franchise and Concession Review Committee.

The deal still needs to be approved by the state’s Public Service Commission, before taking effect.

“If we can get it before the Public Service Commission for a July decision, I think shortly after that we would be able to turn on that service,” said Verizon spokesman, John Bonomo, referring to FiOS TV. “We want to provide choice and competition as soon as possible.”

Verizon currently serves some 1.2 million FiOS TV customers, and expects to greatly increase this figure after getting its foot in the door in major American cities.

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    Published by TeleClick Enterprises
    Edited by Jeremy Maddock