Verizon: Bills, Franchise, Launch

[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted, Karen Brown & David Cohen]
Telecom giant Verizon received good news from three states about the company's ability to offer video services. Virginia's Senate and House of Delegates Monday approved bills to speed market entry into the multichannel-video business by telephone companies there. The small community of Hulmerville, Pa., became the first in the state to grant the regional Bell operating company a franchise to offer TV service using its FiOS fiber-to-the-home network. And Verizon FiOS TV debuted in Beaumont, Calif., Tuesday, with the telco saying it will begin taking orders immediately in the city with a population of 21,000. Finally, Verizon said Tuesday that it applied for video franchises in seven Rhode Island communities. The Virginia bills 1) compel cities to act on a local franchising request in 120 days, 2) have franchises last for 15 years, 3) require telco would pay a fee of 5% of revenue or the lowest franchise fee paid by an incumbent within the area the telco also serves and 4) let communities require buildout commitments (they could require new entrants to serve 65% of eligible residents in a franchise area within seven years and 80% in 10 years).
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6305618.html?display=Breaking+News
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See also --
* Verizon Seeks Franchise to Bring Rhode Island Residents Choice for Their TV Service
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