IP Democracy: Verizon's FiosTV Could Go Live This Week

Peter Grant at the Wall Street Journal has a piece today saying that Verizon could go live with FiosTV video service on its fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) system in Keller, TX as early as this week. With most cable channels in the mix, Verizon plans to charge $36.90 for about 140 channels, and $43.90 for 185 channels, slightly lower than the rates charged by cable or satellite (although local cable operator Charter has implemented rate reductions as a defensive measure).

Plans call for roll-out of FiosTV in other communities in the coming months, and Verizon claims it will have fiber deployed to about three mil. homes by year-end. But, the need for local franchises will certainly slow down the company’s offering of competitive video services. No wonder Dick Parsons is getting spooked about cable’s prospects.

Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg is clearly pushing hard on the franchising issue. During a speech in Long Island today, Seidenberg called for franchise reform. “We’re making progress in getting the franchises we need. But we think this could go faster - and the benefits of video competition could come quicker - if we could reform the whole franchise process.”

Verizon has brought FTTP to 80 communities in Long Island (Cablevision territory) and is building out 50 more communities, but must land 40 franchises before it can offer video services. Seidenberg said the goal is to bring FiosTV to the area early next year.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on September 21, 2005 9:42 AM to IP Democracy