State Commission Approves Verizon’s Video Franchise in NYC

Telco Clears Last Regulatory Hurdle To Sell FiOS Service to 3.1 Million Residents

By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 7/16/2008 3:15:00 PM

The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday confirmed the agreement between Verizon and the City of New York for the telecommunications company to provide FiOS TV service to all five boroughs of the city.

The PSC’s confirmation clears the last regulatory hurdle for Verizon to begin selling the FiOS TV video service to some 3.1 million city residents. In the Big Apple, the telco will compete with Time Warner Cable, Cablevision Systems and RCN.

Verizon struck an agreement between with the city's Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications on April 29. The city's Franchise and Concession Review Committee then approved the agreement May 27.

Monica Azare, Verizon senior vice president for New York and Connecticut, said in a statement the telco will launch FiOS TV service in New York City “in the coming weeks.”

“Already, interest by the average New Yorker has been staggering,” Azare said. “In the past few weeks, we have been taking orders in the New York City launch neighborhoods for Verizon's triple play of FiOS TV, FiOS Internet and wired, reliable telephone service.”